Raiders’ Leason named CHL Player of the Week
Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2019 NHL Draft prospect Brett Leason of the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders is the CHL Player of the Week for the regular season week ending November 25 after earning 10 points (6G-4A) in three games with a plus-minus rating of plus-eight.
Leason produced a trio of multi-point performances and earned first star honours in all three victories last week for the Raiders, who extended their winning-streak to a franchise record 16 games. On Tuesday, he scored his first career hat-trick as part of a 5-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes improving the Raiders undefeated home record to 13-0-0-0. Leason’s week continued Friday with two goals including a short-handed game-winner while adding two assists in a 7-3 road win against the Medicine Hat Tigers, then wrapped up Saturday with a goal and two assists in a 5-1 road victory against the Kootenay ICE. The Raiders remain the CHL’s top-ranked team with a 23-1-0-0 record.
A 19-year-old from Calgary, Alta., Leason is enjoying a breakout season atop the CHL scoring ranks with 54 points (25G-29A) in 24 games. He also carries a plus-40 rating, which leads all CHL skaters. These figures have already shattered his previous bests of 33 points (16G-17A), collected across 66 games between the Raiders and Tri-City Americans last season. In 159 WHL regular season games, Leason has 105 points (49G-56A).
Leason was originally selected by the Americans in the third round, 50th overall, of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. The 6-foot-4, 199-pound forward was recently recognized by NHL Central Scouting with a ‘C’ rating for the 2019 NHL Draft.
Also considered for the award this week was Detroit Red Wings prospect Joseph Veleno of the Drummondville Voltigeurs who scored five goals and five assists for 10 points in three games, and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds who scored twice with seven assists for nine points in three games.
The Raiders will look to extend their 16-game winning streak when they roll into Central Alberta to face the Red Deer Rebels Tuesday, November 27 (7:00 p.m. MT) at the Enmax Centrium.
2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Brett Leason (Prince Albert Raiders)
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Peter Abbandonato (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Jason Robertson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Joachim Blichfeld (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Ivan Chekhovich (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Damien Giroux (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Dawson Davidson, Saskatoon Blades
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luka Burzan (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades)
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 consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 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.