COUGARS’ WITALA NAMED WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, AB – The Western Hockey League announced today that Prince George Cougars forward Chase Witala has been named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 31st, 2016.
Witala recorded seven points (3g-4a) to go along with a plus-5 rating in three games as Prince George sits in third place in the BC Division standings with a record of 30-18-2-1.
On Monday, January 25th against the Medicine Hat Tigers, Witala tallied an assist to go along with a plus-2 rating in the Cougars 4-3 loss. On Friday, January 29th, Witala scored a pair of goals, including his 30th of the season as Prince George fell to the Swift Current Broncos 4-3 in overtime. Witala was named the game’s second star for his efforts. The following night, Witala turned in a first star performance as he recorded four points (1g-3a) to lead the Cougars to a big 6-2 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The 20-year-old Prince George, BC native has collected 57 points (31g-26a) in 51 games this season to lead the Club in scoring. The 6-0, 170 lb forward is in his fifth WHL campaign with Prince George and has amassed 217 points (111g-106a) in 217 career WHL regular season contests.
The WHL has also nominated Coleman Vollrath of the Victoria Royalsfor the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week award. Vollrath, a 1995-born netminder from Calgary, AB posted a record of 2-0-0-0 with a 1.00 goals against average and a .950 save percentage. On Friday, January 29th, Vollrath stopped 16 shots to help propel the Victoria Royals to a 3-1 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The following night, Vollrath was solid as he turned aside 33 shots to guide the Royals to a 4-1 win against the Kelowna Rockets. Vollrath was named the game’s third star for his performance. Currently in his fourth season with Victoria, Vollrath has posted a 74-47-4-6 record with eight shutouts in 153 career WHL regular season appearances.
WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 24 – Sept. 27: Alex Forsberg, Victoria Royals
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Reid Gardiner, Prince Albert Raiders
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Brayden Point, Moose Jaw Warriors
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Jon Martin, Swift Current Broncos
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Jesse Gabrielle, Prince George Cougars
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Mathew Barzal, Seattle Thunderbirds
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Nick Merkley, Kelowna Rockets
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Jackson Houck, Calgary Hitmen
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Tyson Baillie, Kelowna Rockets
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Justin Gutierrez, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Tyler Benson, Vancouver Giants
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Rihards Bukarts, Portland Winterhawks
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane Chiefs
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Adam Brooks, Regina Pats
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Adam Helewka, Spokane Chiefs
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Reid Gardiner, Prince Albert Raiders
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Giorgio Estephan, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Chase Witala, Prince George Cougars
Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week (WHL Nominee)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 27: Landon Bow, Swift Current Broncos
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Coleman Vollrath, Victoria Royals
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Coleman Vollrath, Victoria Royals
Oct. 12 – Oct 18: Ian Scott, Prince Albert Raider
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Adin Hill, Portland Winterhawks
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Adin Hill, Portland Winterhawks
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Landon Bow, Swift Current Broncos
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Carter Hart, Everett Silvertips
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Declan Hobbs, Kootenay ICE
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Carter Hart, Everett Silvertips
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Ty Edmonds, Prince George Cougars
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Connor Ingram, Kamloops Blazers
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Nick Schneider, Medicine Hat Tigers
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Carter Hart, Everett Silvertips
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Landon Bow, Seattle Thunderbirds
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Zach Sawchenko, Moose Jaw Warriors
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Jordan Papirny, Brandon Wheat Kings
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Coleman Vollrath, Victoria Royals