Buffalo Sabres prospect Savoie named Tempo WHL Player of the Week

Calgary, Alta. –  The Western Hockey League announced today that Matthew Savoie of the Moose Jaw Warriors has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 14, 2024.

In his first WHL game since December 9, 2023, Savoie stunned in his Warriors debut with two goals and three assists in a 7-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants.

With less than 30 seconds remaining in the first period, The Warriors forced a Giants turnover and sent Savoie off to the races, dishing the puck to Jagger Firkus, whose shot tipped off the pad of Brett Mirwald and into the Giants net.  The pair would link up again on a second-period powerplay, with Savoie wiring a pass through traffic for Brayden Yager to bury the redirection on the doorstep. Savoie would create another golden opportunity on the penalty kill, cutting from the wing to the high slot and firing his first Warriors goal blocker side. The 5-foot-10 forward followed it up by cruising in tight and tucking the puck under the pad of Mirwald to make it 5-2 for the home side. Savoie wrapped his night up with another clean pass to Firkus for a glorious short-side shot.

Savoie was acquired by Moose Jaw on January 4, 2024, in a blockbuster deal that sent seven WHL draft picks to the Wenatchee Wild.

Savoie has only been held off the scoresheet once this season and his 13 goals and 16 assists in 12 games, leading the WHL in points-per-game with 2.42.

He was selected first overall by Winnipeg in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft before being selected by the Buffalo Sabres ninth overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Moose Jaw (24-15-0-2) is second in the East Division with points in seven of its past 10 games.

The Warriors wrap up a three-game homestand on when they host Lethbridge (20-17-3-0) on January 17.

 

2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week

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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