Rebels netminder Wutzke named WHL Goaltender of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Red Deer Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 10, 2023.
The 17-year-old went 2-0-0-0 in two starts and denied all eight shots he faced in one relief appearance, sporting a .88 goals-against average and .970 save percentage.
Wutzke, who was born in Debden, Saskatchewan, was first called upon to finish the final period of a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Brandon Wheat Kings but stopped the eight shots he faced.
The rookie netminder stood on his head the following night, flexing his athleticism against the high-scoring Moose Jaw Warriors. Wutzke flashed the leather to deny Lynden Lakovic in a highlight-reel moment, and later, with the game tied 1-1, Wutzke sprawled and snapped out his right leg to cover the puck and deny Dakota MacIntosh the go-ahead goal. Wutzke stopped 21 of 22 shots in the eventual 5-1 victory and earned First Star.
He’d get the First Star nod once more in his final appearance of the week as the Rebels edged the Prince Albert Raiders 2-1. This time, Wutzke would be forced to make 35 stops to preserve the victory.
Wutzke is 5-2-0-1 in his first full season with the Rebels, sporting a 2.61 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.
The Rebels selected him in the second round, 40th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, and previously backstopped Team Canada Red to a silver medal at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.
The Rebels (14-12-0-3) are fourth in the central division with points in seven of their past 10 games while allowing the fourth-fewest goals-against in the league.
Red Deer concludes a five-game road stretch with a tilt against the Calgary Hitmen (11-15-3-0) at the Scotiabank Saddledome on December 13 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
December 4, 2023: Jackson Unger, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 27, 2023: Dawson Cowan, Spokane Chiefs
November 20, 2023: Rhett Stoesser, Red Deer Rebels
November 13, 2023: Evan May, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 6, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
October 30, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
October 23, 2023: Daniel Hauser, Wenatchee Wild
October 16, 2023: Jan Špunar, Portland Winterhawks
October 10, 2023: Kyle Kelsey, Red Deer Rebels
October 2, 2023: Ethan Chadwick, Everett Silvertips
September 25, 2023: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
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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