Blazers forward Keller named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Jordan Keller of the Kamloops Blazers has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 3, 2024.
Keller led the Blazers with four goals, three assists and a plus-six rating in three matches and topped all WHL players with an average of 2.33 points per game.
The 18-year-old Kamloops, B.C. product kicked off the week with a buzzer-beater powerplay goal at 19:55 in the first period to tie the game at one against the Spokane Chiefs. Keller kept the train rolling with an assist on a Logan Bairos tally less than a minute into the second period to give the Blazers their first lead of the game. He capped off a 5-2 win with a beautiful backhand goal on the doorstep of the Spokane crease. Keller was named first star for his two-goal, one-assist performance. This marked the second three-point game of his young career.
Keller’s scoring touch carried over to a tilt against Seattle, where Keller stripped the puck away from a Thunderbirds defenceman to create a two-on-zero opportunity and set up Nathan Behm for a goal. With the match tied 2-2 at the midway point, Ashton Ferster dished a beautiful pass for Keller to fire into a yawning cage to restore the Kamloops lead. Seattle would complete the comeback for a 5-3 win, but Keller was still awarded second star for his efforts.
Kamloops would end the week on a winning note with Keller opening the scoring against Vancouver with a picture-perfect backhander on the rush. The hometown boy got the crowd at the Sandman Centre on their feet by assisting Matteo Koci’s game-winning goal and recording a fourth-straight multi-point game. Keller earned second star once again as Kamloops won its 20th game of the season.
The Blazers acquired Keller in the blockbuster trade that sent Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten to the Saskatoon Blades on November 24, 2023.
The 5-foot-11 centreman has netted 13 goals and 24 assists for 37 points in 38 games with his new squad. Including the 23 matches he played for Saskatoon, Keller is closing in on the 20-goal milestone with 18 tallies and 45 points.
Keller’s father, Aaron, captured two WHL championships and two Memorial Cups with the Blazers in 1994 and 1995 as a player and now works in the team’s front office as the Director of Player Personnel.
Kamloops (20-34-3-3) is 5-4-0-1 in its last 10 games and returns to the Sandman Centre to host the U.S. Division-leading Portland Winterhawks (41-15-2-1) on March 6 at 7:00 p.m. PST.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
February 26, 2024: Riley Heidt, Prince George Cougars (Minnesota Wild)
February 20, 2024: Graham Sward, Wenatchee Wild (Nashville Predators)
February 12, 2024: Emmitt Finnie, Kamloops Blazers (Detroit Red Wings)
February 5, 2024: Egor Sidorov, Saskatoon Blades (Anaheim Ducks)
January 29, 2024: Carter Yakemchuk, Calgary Hitmen
January 22, 2024: Luca Cagnoni, Portland Winterhawks (San Jose Sharks)
January 15, 2024: Matthew Savoie, Moose Jaw Warriors (Buffalo Sabres)
January 8, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 2, 2024: Chase Bertholet, Spokane Chiefs
December 18, 2023: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets
December 11, 2023: Dominik Rymon, Everett Silvertips
December 4, 2023: Conor Geekie, Wenatchee Wild (Arizona Coyotes)
November 27, 2023: Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 20, 2023: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
November 13, 2023: Gabe Klassen, Portland Winterhawks
November 6, 2023: Trevor Wong, Saskatoon Blades
October 30, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
October 23, 2023: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
October 16, 2023: Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert Raiders
October 10, 2023: Easton Armstrong, Wenatchee Wild
October 2, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
September 25, 2023: Zac Funk, Prince George Cougars
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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