Winterhawks netminder Špunar named WHL Goaltender of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Portland Winterhawks netminder Jan Špunar has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 15, 2023.
Špunar, 19, started the weekend by turning aside 26 of 27 shots Friday, October 13 to backstop his Club to a 4-1 home victory over the Kamloops Blazers.
Wrapping up the weekend, Špunar earned himself Third Star recognition Sunday, October 15 as he stopped all 22 shots sent his way in a resounding 7-0 win over the Tri-City Americans. The shutout represented the first of Špunar’s WHL career.
A 6-foot-3, 199-pound native of Olomouc, Czechia, Špunar attended training camp with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens this fall.
Through five games this season, the import netminder is a perfect 5-0-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .963 save percentage and one shutout. He leads the WHL in GAA and SV%, while his five victories are good for second in the WHL.
Originally selected by the Portland Winterhawks in the first round (52nd overall) of the 2022 CHL Import Draft, Špunar has appeared in 36 career WHL Regular Season contests, registering a record of 22-7-2-1 with a 2.37 GAA, .916 SV% and one shutout.
Jan Špunar and the Portland Winterhawks return to action Wednesday, October 18 (7 p.m. PT) when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings at Veterans Memorial Coliseum before embarking on a string of nine games away from home.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
October 10, 2023: Kyle Kelsey, Red Deer Rebels
October 2, 2023: Ethan Chadwick, Everett Silvertips
September 25, 2023: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
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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