Warriors netminder Fortin named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Dimitri Fortin of the Moose Jaw Warriors has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending March 17, 2024.
The 17-year-old netminder posted a 2-0-0-0 record in two appearances with a 1.70 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage against provincial opponents.
Fortin was thrown into the fire against the league-leading Saskatoon Blades on March 16 as he was called in to relieve Jackson Unger in the first period with the Warriors trailing 3-0. Fortin was tested early and often, making a sensational early stop with a glove save on Misha Volotovskii. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound netminder stopped all 24 shots he faced as Moose Jaw roared back to a 6-3 victory on home ice in front of more than 4,000 fans. Fortin was named second star of the night for his efforts- a first in his career.
Fortin started the following night as Moose Jaw traveled up the highway to face the rival Regina Pats. The Winnipeg, Man. product pulled out stops on 21 of 24 shots in a 6-3 Moose Jaw win- including a 10-bell save on a partial breakaway by Anthony Wilson.
Fortin sports a 6-3-0-1 record to go along with a 3.19 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in his first WHL season.
He was originally selected by Moose Jaw in the tenth round, 204th overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. Fortin was named the Winnipeg AAA U18 Goaltender of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
Moose Jaw (43-20-0-3) is now 8-1-0-1 in its last 10 games to clinch third place in the Eastern Conference with two regular-season games remaining.
The Warriors play their penultimate game of the regular season against Brandon (31-28-6-1) on March 21 at 7:00 p.m. CST.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
March 11, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 4, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
February 26, 2024: Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver Giants
February 20, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
February 12, 2024: Hunter Laing, Prince George Cougars
February 5, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
January 29, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 22, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 15, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 8, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 2, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
December 18, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
December 11, 2023: Max Curran, Tri-City Americans
December 4, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
November 27, 2023: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 20, 2023: Dakota MacIntosh, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 13, 2023: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
November 6, 2023: Ethan McCallum, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 30, 2023: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips (NHL CSS: C)
October 23, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 16, 2023: Ty Coupland, Swift Current Broncos
October 10, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 2, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
September 25, 2023: Oscar Lovsin, Wenatchee Wild
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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