Thunderbirds forward Pekar named WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Seattle Thunderbirds forward Matej Pekar has been named WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, January 26, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
The 17-year-old led all first-year players with four goals in three games.
Pekar netted the game-winning goal in a 7-1 rout of the Vancouver Giants on January 21. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound left winger drove the blue paint to bat the puck past a sprawling Giants netminder.
The Prerov, Cze. product came up big for his team in a heated home match against the B.C. Division-leading Victoria Royals on January 24. With the Royals leading 1-0 in the second period, Pekar deked a Victoria defender and ripped a shot through traffic to get Seattle on the board. The Thunderbirds Czech contingent linked up to put an exclamation point on the game as top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Radim Mrtka slid a centering pass to a trailing Pekar for a sensational one-timer to cap off a 4-1 win. Pekar was named third star of the night with his second WHL two-goal game.
Seattle’s win streak would come to an end in a 6-1 loss to the league-leading Everett Silvertips on January 26, but Pekar would deny the Tips the shutout with a gritty goal after a scramble in the Everett crease.
Pekar has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 42 games in his first season in North America.
Last season, he suited up for the Swiss club HC Ambri-Piotta’s U17 and U20 squads, totaling 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 43 contests.
The Thunderbirds selected Pekar with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft.
He’s represented his Czechia four times on the international stage, most recently earning silver with a goal and three assists at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, Alta.
Pekar is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Seattle (16-27-2-1) is 5-5-0-0 in its last 10 games to stay in the Western Conference playoff hunt.
The Thunderbirds open a three-game homestand against the Vancouver Giants (23-17-6-0) on Friday, January 31 at 7:05 p.m. PST.
2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Week
September 23, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
September 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
October 7, 2024: Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades
October 15, 2024: Josh Banini, Moose Jaw Warriors
October 21, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
October 28, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 4, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
November 11, 2024: Ondrej Stebetak, Portland Winterhawks
November 18, 2024: Kason Kobelka, Calgary Hitmen
November 25, 2024: Jordan Duguay, Portland Winterhawks
December 2, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
December 9, 2024: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 16, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
December 23, 2024: Parker Rondeau, Swift Current Broncos
December 30, 2024: Joe Iginla, Edmonton Oil Kings
January 6, 2025: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
January 13, 2025: Tommy Lafreniere, Kamloops Blazers
January 20, 2025: Ryan Lin, Vancouver Giants
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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