WHL announces nominees for Del Wilson Memorial Trophy

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today the 2023-24 Division nominees for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL Goaltender of the Year.

All individual WHL Division Award winners will be eligible for the 2024 WHL Awards, which will be announced from Tuesday, April 30 through Thursday, May 9.

WHL Goaltender of the Year – Division Winners
B.C. Division – Brett Mirwald (Saskatoon, Sask.), Vancouver Giants
Central Division – Harrison Meneghin (South Surrey, B.C.), Lethbridge Hurricanes
East Division – Jackson Unger (Calgary, Alta.), Moose Jaw Warriors
U.S. Division – Jan Spunar (Olomouc, Czechia), Portland Winterhawks

WHL Goaltender of the Year Biographies

 

Brett Mirwald (Vancouver Giants)

The 20-year-old product of Saskatoon, Sask., finished among the WHL leaders in a number of major goaltending categories, including saves (1,723, first), minutes played (3,190, first), save percentage (.913, T-3rd) and wins (29, T-3rd).

The veteran puckstopper played a vital role in Vancouver securing the sixth seed in the Western Conference, as he logged a record of 29-22-3-0 in 55 appearances.

Mirwald turned in 10 outings with 40 or more saves, including two appearances in which he made 50 or more stops. Mirwald’s season high 51 stops came December 8 at Everett, while he made another 50 saves December 31 at Portland. One of his most impressive performances came January 6 at Brandon, as he turned aside all 48 pucks sent his way, backstopping the Giants to a 4-0 win at Brandon.

On five occasions this season, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound netminder was named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week.

Originally selected by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the seventh round (154th overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft, Mirwald owns a career record of 42-43-8-1 with a 3.23 GAA, .907 SV% and two shutouts.

 

Harrison Meneghin (Lethbridge Hurricanes)

The 19-year-old product of South Surrey, B.C., ranked among the WHL leaders in a number of major goaltending categories, including save percentage (.919, second), shutouts (3, T-4th), minutes played (3,040, fourth) and saves (1,483, fifth).

In a career-high 53 appearances, the 6-foot-3, 170-pound Meneghin went 27-20-5-0 with a 2.59 goals-against average, .919 SV% and three shutouts.

Meneghin logged four outings with 40 or more stops, including a 53-save effort March 22 versus Medicine Hat.

He was named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of January 2, 2024.

Eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, Meneghin is listed 26th among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Unselected in the WHL Draft, Meneghin signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Hurricanes on September 20, 2021. In 90 career WHL Regular Season appearances, Meneghin is 46-32-7-2 with a 2.72 GAA, .913 SV% and four shutouts.

 

Jackson Unger (Moose Jaw Warriors)

The 19-year-old product of Calgary, Alta., led all WHL goaltenders in wins with 35 this season. He also finished second in minutes played (3,133) and third in saves (1,593).

The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Unger went 35-15-0-2 with a 3.08 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and three shutouts in a career-high 54 appearances during the 2023-24 campaign.

On seven occasions, Unger recorded 40 or more saves, including a 52-save effort November 25 at Prince Albert.

The veteran puckstopper was named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week on December 4, 2023.

Eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, Unger is listed 18th among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Originally selected by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the third round (53rd overall) of the 2020 WHL Draft, Unger owns a career record of 58-38-0-2 with a 3.50 GAA, .894 SV% and four shutouts in 105 career WHL Regular Season appearances.

 

Jan Spunar (Portland Winterhawks)

The 19-year-old product of Olomouc, Czechia, finished as a leader among all qualified goaltenders with a 2.12 goals-against average (second) and a .913 save percentage (T-3rd).

In his second season in the WHL, the 6-foot-3, 199-pound netminder appeared in a career-high 35 games, going 25-6-2-1 with two shutouts, helping the Winterhawks claim the U.S. Division title.

Arguably one of Spunar’s best performances of the season, he made 42 saves in a 4-1 win over Everett on October 6.

On October 16, the Czech puckstopper was named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for his outstanding performance.

Eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, Spunar is listed 21st among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Originally selected by the Winterhawks in the first round (52nd overall) of the 2022 CHL Import Draft, Spunar has secured a career record of 42-13-4-2 with a 2.35 GAA, .910 SV% and two shutouts.

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.