Alberta goaltender Zach Sawchenko named WHL Grad of the Month for January

Edmonton, Alta. – Alberta Golden Bears goaltender Zach Sawchenko is the Western Hockey League Graduate of the Month for January after posting a perfect 5-0-0 record over the month.

The second-year product of Calgary, Alta. becomes the second Alberta player this season to be honoured by Canada West and the WHL, after teammate and conference leading scorer Luke Philp was named the CW-WHL First Half Top Performer back in December.

Highlights:

• Zach Sawchenko is the WHL Grad of the Month for January after a perfect 5-0-0 record
• Sawchenko is among the nation’s top netminders this season, sporting the best GAA in the country (1.57)
• Click here for Sawchenko’s CW career stats, and here for his WHL stats
• Sawchenko, who spent four seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors before joining the Bears, currently sits first in Canada West with a sparkling 1.57 GAA, and is second in both wins (14), and save percentage (.921).

Over the month of January, Sawchenko stopped 88 of the 92 shots he faced, recording a pair of shutouts along the way. Through 17 games played this season, Sawchenko has four shutouts, which is tied for the conference lead with Saskatchewan’s Taran Kozun and Calgary’s Matthew Greenfield. The trio are also tied for the CW single-season record, along with six other goalies.

This is just the latest honour for Sawchenko thanks to his stellar start to 2019, as the Business student was also named the CW first star of the week for the period ending January 13th.

A two-time WHL all-star, Sawchenko has played a key role in Alberta’s current 16-0-1 streak, which has the Bears just a single point back of the Saskatchewan Huskies for top spot in the conference standings.

Alberta is at home this weekend to the Lethbridge Pronghorns, before wrapping up the CW regular season next weekend with a home-and-home against the Calgary Dinos.

2018-19 Recipients:
October: Carson Stadnyk, Saskatchewan
November: Riley Sheen, Calgary
January: Zach Sawchenko, Alberta

About Canada West 

Since 1972, Canada West (CW) has been a leader in Canadian university sport, working to provide our student-athletes the opportunities to excel in sport, the classroom, and their communities. CW and our 17 members from across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba collectively carry on a legacy of competitive excellence, as our champions proudly go on to represent the conference at U SPORTS national championships.
Canada West – training leaders, building champions.

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 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five 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 350 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.