Royals netminder Hicks named WHL Goaltender of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Victoria Royals netminder Johnny Hicks has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending Sunday, March 30, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

This is the second time he’s won the weekly award in 2024-25.

Hicks led all starting netminders with a 2-0-0 record, a 1.00 goals-against average, a .962 save percentage and a shutout in his WHL playoff debut.

The 5-foot-11, 154-pound netminder steered aside all 22 shots he faced in a 3-0 win against the Tri-City Americans on Friday, March 28. He denied all three Americans powerplay attempts and made the save on the night with a point-blank stop on a spinning Savin Virk after a Royals turnover in the third period. Hicks was named first star of the game. The win marked Victoria’s first home playoff victory since 2019.

Hicks was considerably busier in Game 2, though the Royals stood tall with a dominant 6-2 win. He battled through more traffic in front of his crease and didn’t allow an even-strength goal while stopping 29 of 31 shots. Both of Tri-City’s goals came on two of their seven powerplay opportunities.

The Kamloops, B.C. product joined the Royals on January 3, 2025, after starting his season with the BCHL’s Brooks Bandits. He went 10-4-0-1 in the home stretch of the regular season with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

He’s committed to Tennessee State University after his time in Victoria.

Victoria is battling to advance to the second round of the WHL Playoffs for the first time since 2019.

The Royals were the league’s second-best road team (23-8-2-1) in the regular season and will try to take a stranglehold on their series when puck drops on Game 3 on Tuesday, April 1 at 7:05 p.m. PST in Kennewick, Wash.

All WHL Playoff games will be streamed for free on Victory+.

2024-25 WHL Goaltender of the Week
September 23, 2024: Koen Cleaver, Lethbridge Hurricanes
September 30, 2024: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
October 7, 2024: Spencer Michnik, Victoria Royals
October 15, 2024: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
October 21, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades (Columbus Blue Jackets)
October 28, 2024: Jesse Sanche, Everett Silvertips
November 4, 2024: Carson Bjarnason, Brandon Wheat Kings (Philadelphia Flyers)
November 11, 2024: Nathan Preston, Tri-City Americans
November 18, 2024: Dawson Cowan, Spokane Chiefs
November 25, 2024: Alex Worthington, Edmonton Oil Kings
December 2, 2024: Anders Miller, Calgary Hitmen
December 9, 2024: Raiden LeGall, Everett Silvertips
December 16, 2024: Jackson Unger, Lethbridge Hurricanes
December 23, 2024: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
December 30, 2024: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
January 6, 2025: Burke Hood, Vancouver Giants
January 13, 2025: Jayden Kraus, Victoria Royals
January 20, 2025: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
January 27, 2025: Harrison Meneghin, Medicine Hat Tigers (Tampa Bay Lightning)
February 3, 2025: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
February 10, 2025: Johnny Hicks, Victoria Royals
February 18, 2025: Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle Thunderbirds (Buffalo Sabres)
February 24, 2025: Daniel Hauser, Calgary Hitmen
March 3, 2025: Daniel Hauser, Calgary Hitmen
March 10, 2025: Burke Hood, Vancouver Giants
March 17, 2025: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades (Columbus Blue Jackets)
March 24, 2025: 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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