2026 NHL Draft eligible netminder Ruzicka named Mary Brown’s Chicken WHL Goaltender of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today 2026 NHL Draft eligible netminder Filip Ruzicka of the Brandon Wheat Kings has been named Mary Brown’s Chicken WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending Sunday, February 22, 2026.

This marks the second time this season Ruzicka has been recognized as Mary Brown’s Chicken WHL Goaltender of the Week, after he was previously honoured for his performance December 29, 2025.

Ruzicka, a 17-year-old product of Trinec, Czechia, went 1-0-0-0 with a 0.00 goals-against average, 1.000 save percentage, and one shutout this past week. The towering goaltender was recently listed 13th among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings.

The 6-foot-7, 230-pound puckstopper was perfect in his lone appearance this past week, turning aside 47 shots Friday, February 20, as the Wheat Kings stymied the visiting Penticton Vees to earn a 4-0 victory.

Ruzicka was named first star in a contest that saw the host Wheat Kings outshot by a 47-27 margin, including an 18-shot barrage in the first period and a 20-shot push in the third period.

The WHL rookie netminder is 21-10-0-0 with a 3.15 GAA, .904 SV%, and two shutouts in 32 appearances this season.

Ruzicka was selected by the Wheat Kings in the second round (104th overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft.

Winners of six consecutive games, the Wheat Kings ranked fifth in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a record of 34-22-1-0.

Next up, Ruzicka and the Wheat Kings host the Prince George Cougars (34-20-2-0) Tuesday, February 24 (7 p.m. CT).

Mary Brown’s Chicken WHL Goaltender of the Week

September 22, 2025: Ethan Eskit, Victoria Royals
September 29, 2025: Logan Edmonstone, Kamloops Blazers
October 6, 2025: Parker Snell, Edmonton Oil Kings
October 14, 2025: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
October 20, 2025: Burke Hood, Vancouver Giants
October 27, 2025: Andrew Reyelts, Penticton Vees
November 3, 2025: Eric Tu, Calgary Hitmen
November 10, 2025: Michal Orsulak, Prince Albert Raiders
November 17, 2025: Anders Miller, Everett Silvertips
November 24, 2025: Harrison Boettiger, Kelowna Rockets
December 1, 2025: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
December 8, 2025: Matthew Hutchison, Regina Pats
December 15, 2025: Eric Tu, Calgary Hitmen
December 22, 2025: Marek Sklenicka, Seattle Thunderbirds
December 29, 2025: Filip Ruzicka, Brandon Wheat Kings
January 5, 2026: Xavier Wendt, Tri-City Americans
January 12, 2026: Ethan Eskit, Victoria Royals
January 19, 2026: Carter Esler, Spokane Chiefs
January 26, 2026: Ethan McCallum, Penticton Vees
February 2, 2026: Jayden Kraus, Brandon Wheat Kings
February 9, 2026: Logan Edmonstone, Kamloops Blazers
February 16, 2026: Grayson Malinoski, Seattle Thunderbirds

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 consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the 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.