Pats’ Steel named WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Regina Pats forward Sam Steel has been named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 26, 2017.
Steel registered six points (1G-5A) in two games, helping the Pats jump out to a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round playoff series with the Calgary Hitmen.
On Friday, March 24, Steel notched one assist in a 5-2 win versus Calgary before following up with an impactful five-point night on Saturday, March 25, in a 5-1 win versus Calgary in which he tallied one goal and four assists to earn first-star honours.
Steel, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks in December 2016, finished the 2016-17 regular season as the leading scorer in the entire Canadian Hockey League and earned the WHL’s Bob Clarke Trophy as Top Scorer with 131 points (50G-81A) in 66 contests.
A first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks at the 2016 NHL Draft, Steel has accumulated 255 points (90G-165A) in 204 career WHL regular season outings. Additionally, he has 22 points (7G-15A) to his credit through 16 career WHL playoff games.
This is Steel’s second WHL Player of the Week honour in 2016-17. He was previously recognized for the week ending October 2, 2016.
The 6-foot, 180-pound product of Sherwood Park, Alta., was originally a first-round selection (second overall) of the Regina Pats at the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.
Steel and the Pats will look to maintain momentum in their best-of-seven first-round series with the Calgary Hitmen as the series shifts to the Scotiabank Saddledome for Game 3, scheduled for Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. MT.
WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 23 – Sept. 25: Chad Butcher, Medicine Hat Tigers
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Sam Steel, Regina Pats
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Cody Glass, Portland Winterhawks
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Tyler Benson, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Kale Clague, Brandon Wheat Kings
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane Chiefs
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Connor Hobbs, Regina Pats
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Adam Brooks, Regina Pats
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Alexander True, Seattle Thunderbirds
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jayden Halbgewachs, Moose Jaw Warriors
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Sergey Zborovskiy, Regina Pats
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Calvin Thurkauf, Kelowna Rockets
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Deven Sideroff, Kamloops Blazers
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Adam Brooks, Regina Pats
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brayden Burke, Moose Jaw Warriors
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Tyler Wong, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Tyler Soy, Victoria Royals
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jake Bean, Calgary Hitmen
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Kole Lind, Kelowna Rockets
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Mathew Barzal, Seattle Thunderbirds
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Nick Henry, Regina Pats
Feb. 27 – March 5: Tyler Wong, Lethbridge Hurricanes
March 6 – March 12: Cody Glass, Portland Winterhawks
March 13 – March 19: Brandon Hagel, Red Deer Rebels
March 20 – March 26: Sam Steel, Regina Pats