WHL Firsts: Quartet of players tally first goal of WHL career

 

With the 2018-19 Western Hockey League Regular Season nearly two-thirds complete, teams are beginning to utilize younger players to further test who can help their team down the stretch run towards the 2019 WHL Playoffs. Check out the four Western Hockey League players that scored their first career WHL goal this week; adding their names to the WHL Firsts list.

Wednesday, January 16

Contributing to Kootenay ICE’s second win in as many nights, Valtteri Kakkonen’s first career WHL goal was one of four goals for the ICE in Wednesday night’s game against the Regina Pats. After receiving a smart pass from beside the net from Connor McClennon, Kakkonen was able to snap it past Regina’s goaltender at 11:09 in the second period.

The 6-foot, 164-pound product of Jyvaskyla, Finland was selected in the first round, 11^th overall, by the Kootenay ICE in the 2018 WHL Import Draft.

ICE defenceman @Vkakkone scored his first WHL goal tonight against the Pats.

Congrats Val. pic.twitter.com/JypICpxNPp

— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) January 17, 2019

An innocent wrist shot by Drae Gardiner from the boards was enough to notch his first career WHL goal when playing the Kelowna Rockets. As a Moose Jaw Warriors rookie, Gardiner has played 25 games this season and also earned his first ever plus-two rating in the WHL on Wednesday night.

Drae Gardiner (@drae_gardiner) scores his first WHL goal to give Moose Jaw a 4-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/wwSvmVHstq

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) January 17, 2019

Saturday, January 19

In a solid 5-3 win over the Swift Current Broncos, Medicine Hat’s Nick McCarry scored his first career WHL goal, 2:37 into the first period. After the puck was misplayed by the Broncos goaltender, it popped right out in front of the net where McCarry was able to snap it into the mesh.

 

ICYMI Nick McCarry scores his first career WHL goal tonight to open the scoring! We now lead 3-0!#livebreatheorange #tigershockey #MHvsSC pic.twitter.com/o95y98HXAR

— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) January 20, 2019

After playing five WHL games this season, highly-touted rookie defenseman Carson Lambos captured his first career WHL goal in Brandon when playing the Wheat Kings. With a tied game, 1-1, Lambos took a step in off the blue line and scored on the Kootenay ICE power play.

Hailing from Winnipeg, Man., the 6-foot, 203-pound defenseman was selected in the first round, 2^nd overall, by the Kootenay ICE in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. Last year, Lambos was awarded the Canadian Sport School Bantam Hockey League (CSSBHL) Top Defenseman of the year after recording 46 points (19G-27) for the Rink Hockey Academy Bantam Prep team and Rink Hockey Academy Prep team.

ICE prospect @Carsonlamb7 scored his first WHL goal tonight against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Congrats Carson! 👊 pic.twitter.com/oMp2WYwaBN

— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) January 20, 2019