RAIDERS’ GARDINER NAMED CHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Reid Gardiner of the Prince Albert Raiders is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 17 after recording seven points in three games including three goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-5.

Gardiner led the Raiders to a pair of victories in three games helping the club earn five of a possible six points to keep pace in the WHL’s East Division where they currently rank second with 57 points.  He posted back-to-back first star performances contributing to all seven Raider goals in two games beginning Wednesday night with a goal and two assists in a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings, and on Friday night scoring two goals and two assists in a 4-2 win against the Kootenay Ice.  He was held scoreless on Saturday in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

A 19-year-old from Humboldt, SK, Gardiner is playing in his fourth WHL season with the Raiders and is tied for fourth in league scoring with 29 goals and 35 assists for 64 points in 45 games.  Gardiner appeared on the NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings listed at 167 among North American Skaters.

Also considered for the award this week was Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Olivier LeBlanc of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles who scored three goals and two assists for five points in two games, and Arizona Coyotes prospect Ryan MacInnis of the Kitchener Rangers who scored once with four assists for five points in two games.

2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Reid Gardiner (Prince Albert Raiders)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Maxime Comtois (Victoriaville Tigres)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Brendan Lemieux (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Christian Dvorak (London Knights)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Mitchell Marner (London Knights)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Nikolas Brouillard (Quebec Remparts)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Alex Forsberg (Victoria Royals)