Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Andrew Cristall of the Kelowna Rockets has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 10, 2024.
The Washington Capitals prospect led all WHLers with nine points (three goals, six assists) and a +3 rating in three games.
Cristall kicked off the week with an assist on Captain Gabriel Szturc’s game-winning goal in a 6-1 win over the Tri-City Americans.
With a chance to clinch a WHL playoff berth on the line, Cristall erupted for a seven-point night against Kamloops on March 8. After notching four straight helpers to put Kelowna up 4-0 over Kamloops, the Burnaby, B.C. product tore past the Blazers netminder and deftly tucked the puck in for his 36th goal of the season and 100th point of the campaign. Cristall would add another in the third period with a nifty deke and backhand goal to make it 7-1. The Rockets alternate captain capped off the night with an assist on Max Graham’s powerplay marker to seal a 9-1 Kelowna victory and berth in the 2024 WHL Playoffs. Cristall’s career-best two-goal, five-assist night earned him first-star honours.
It was a different story on March 9, with the Blazers leading 3-1 midway through the second period. Cristall helped kickstart the comeback with a sharp wrist shot to bring Kelowna within one. The Rockets would complete the comeback with a 4-3 win to jump up to second in the B.C. Division.
Cristall has 38 goals and 65 assists for 103 points to sit fifth in the WHL points race. He’s the first Rockets player to eclipse 100 points since Colin Long hit the century mark in the 2007-08 season.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound forward was selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round, 40th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and signed a three-year, entry-level contract that July.
He was named a WHL B.C. Division All-Star in 2022-23 and has helped Team Canada win gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and Bronze at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Hockey Championship.
Kelowna (31-28-3-1) looks to extend its 7-0-0-1-point streak when it hosts the Western Conference-leading Prince George Cougars on March 13 at 7:05 p.m. PST.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
March 4, 2024: Jordan Keller, Kamloops Blazers
February 26, 2024: Riley Heidt, Prince George Cougars (Minnesota Wild)
February 20, 2024: Graham Sward, Wenatchee Wild (Nashville Predators)
February 12, 2024: Emmitt Finnie, Kamloops Blazers (Detroit Red Wings)
February 5, 2024: Egor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (Anaheim Ducks)
January 29, 2024: Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen
January 22, 2024: Luca Cagnoni, Portland Winterhawks (San Jose Sharks)
January 15, 2024: Matthew Savoie, Moose Jaw Warriors (Buffalo Sabres)
January 8, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 2, 2024: Chase Bertholet, Spokane Chiefs
December 18, 2023: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets
December 11, 2023: Dominik Rymon, Everett Silvertips
December 4, 2023: Conor Geekie, Wenatchee Wild (Arizona Coyotes)
November 27, 2023: Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 20, 2023: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
November 13, 2023: Gabe Klassen, Portland Winterhawks
November 6, 2023: Trevor Wong, Saskatoon Blades
October 30, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
October 23, 2023: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
October 16, 2023: Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert Raiders
October 10, 2023: Easton Armstrong, Wenatchee Wild
October 2, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
September 25, 2023: Zac Funk, Prince George Cougars (Washington Capitals)
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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