Panthers prospect Sawchyn named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Edmonton Oil Kings forward Gracyn Sawchyn has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, December 15, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
The Florida Panthers prospect led all WHL skaters with four goals, four assists and a +7 rating in just two games.
Sawchyn kicked the week off with a two-goal, two-assist effort against the upstart Swift Current Broncos on December 14. With the tilt tied at one in the first period, Roan Woodward tipped Sawchyn’s wrister past Reid Dyck to restore the Edmonton lead. Sawchyn would get on the board himself eight minutes later with a quick powerplay wraparound for his 15th of the season. The Oil Kings alternate captain and Woodward linked up again in the second period as Woodward whipped a centering pass to Sawchyn in the slot for a picture-perfect redirect. He capped off his night with a primary assist on Landon Hanson’s insurance tally as Edmonton cruised to a 7-3 victory. Sawchyn was named second star of the night.
The 5-foot-11, 155-pound centreman kept it rolling on the back-to-back as he put up a second-straight four-point night- this time against the Kamloops Blazers. The B.C. Division visitors drew first blood just 38 seconds into the game, but Edmonton struck back less than two minutes later. Sawchyn dished to his younger brother, Lukas, who put a shot off a Kamloops defender and into the net. Gracyn picked up a second assist with a quick touch back to Ethan MacKenzie for his first goal of the year as Edmonton took its first lead of the night in the first period. Sawchyn’s first goal of the night was a thing of beauty as he dipped around the Blazers defenders, created some space and abruptly cut towards the net to shovel a backhander high into the twine. The 19-year-old capped off his night with a shorthanded empty-net goal for a second-straight 7-3 win. Sawchyn also picked up back-to-back second-star honours.
The Grande Prairie, Alta. product is enjoying a career-best season with the Oil Kings with 18 goals (including the 2024 Teddy Bear Toss goal) and 24 assists for 42 points and a +15 rating in 27 games. He’s leading Edmonton in all four categories and is tied for third among all WHL skaters in game-winning goals (five).
The Florida Panthers selected Sawchyn with the 63rd overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He put pen to paper on his entry-level contract on November 4, 2024.
Originally selected by Red Deer with the first overall pick in the 2020 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, Sawchyn’s rights were traded to Seattle and he joined the Thunderbirds in 2022-23. He put up 11 points in 17 games in his first trip to the WHL Playoffs, helping the T-Birds lift the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2023. He joined the Oil Kings in a major swap in December of 2023.
Sawchyn has potted 55 goals and 109 assists for 164 points in 139 regular-season games.
Edmonton is riding a four-game winning streak and boasts wins in eight of their last 10 games. While they currently sit fourth in the competitive Central Division, they’re only five points behind the first-place Medicine Hat Tigers.
The Oil Kings (16-12-1-1) close out their pre-holiday schedule with a tilt against the visiting Prince Albert Raiders (14-10-3-0) on Tuesday, December 17.
2024-25 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
September 23, 2024: Roger McQueen, Brandon Wheat Kings
September 30, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
October 7, 2024: Shea Van Olm, Spokane Chiefs
October 15, 2024: Mazden Leslie, Vancouver Giants
October 21, 2024: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
October 28, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
November 4, 2024: Brady Birnie, Swift Current Broncos
November 11, 2024: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
November 18, 2024: Tomas Mrsic, Prince Albert Raiders (St. Louis Blues)
November 25, 2024: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
December 2, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 9, 2024: Tyson Jugnauth, Portland Winterhawks (Seattle Kraken)
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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