Winterhawks captain Klassen named WHL Player of the Month for November
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Portland Winterhawks captain Gabe Klassen has been named WHL Player of the Month for November.
Klassen, 20, recorded 25 points (7G-18A) in 11 games to lead all WHL point scorers during the month of November.
On November 13, the product of Prince Albert, Sask., was named Tempo WHL Player of the Week after posting nine points (4G-5A) and a plus-7 rating in two games.
The 5-foot-10, 178-pound centre registered seven multipoint performances during the month of November, highlighted by a five-point effort (2G-3A) Wednesday, November 8 in a 7-3 win at Kamloops. Klassen also secured two four-point outings, including Wednesday November 1 in a 6-3 win at Medicine Hat (1G-3A) and Friday, November 10 in a 5-1 win at Vancouver (2G-2A).
With 41 points (14G-27A) to his credit through 23 games, Klassen is tied for fourth among all WHL point getters heading into the month of December. His 27 assists rank tied for fourth as well.
In total, Klassen has notched 12 multipoint games this season.
The veteran forward found the scoresheet during eight out of 11 games during the month of November, including a four-game point-scoring streak that saw him collected 10 points (2G-8A) from Sunday, November 19 through Saturday, November 25.
Selected by the Winterhawks in the first round (19th overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft, Klassen has been a mainstay in Portland since debuting during the 2019-20 season. In 204 career WHL Regular Season games, he has registered 200 points (97G-103A).
Klassen’s 200th career WHL point came Saturday, November 25, as he provided a secondary assist on a third-period goal by Josh Davies in a 5-4 overtime triumph against the Saskatoon Blades.
The 2022-23 WHL Regular Season represented a career best for Klassen, as he notched 69 points (35G-34A) in 64 games. It was the second consecutive season in which he reached the 30-goal and 60-point plateau.
In 20 career WHL Playoff games, Klassen has secured 15 points (6G-9A).
Heading into December, the Portland Winterhawks rank fourth in the WHL’s Western Conference with a record of 15-7-0-1. With Klassen as a catalyst, the Winterhawks are the second-highest scoring team in the WHL, with 108 goals-for in 23 games (4.70 goals per game).
Gabe Klassen and the Portland Winterhawks return to action Friday, December 1 (7 p.m. PT) when they visit the Wenatchee Wild at Town Toyota Center.
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.