Ducks prospect Sidorov named Tempo WHL Player of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Saskatoon Blades winger Igor Sidorov has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 21, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

This is the second time Sidorov has won the award in 2023-24.

The Anaheim Ducks prospect led all skaters in points and goals with a pair of hat tricks and two assists for eight points and a +5 rating in two games.

Sidorov’s efforts made all the difference in a high-flying 8-5 win over the Red Deer Rebels in Game 3.

In front of a hostile Alberta crowd, Sidorov jetted down the wing on a partial breakaway to snap his fifth goal of the season home and give the Blades a 3-1 lead in the first period. The 6-foot, 180-pound winger showed patience on his second goal of the night, outwaiting a wave of Rebels defenders before firing the puck over the shoulder of the Red Deer netminder. Sidorov used his speed again to breeze around the offensive zone before cutting to the net and wristing the puck past the screened goaltender to complete his first WHL playoff hat trick and give Saskatoon a commanding 3-0 series lead.

With a chance to move on to the WHL Eastern Conference Championship, Sidorov continued his rampage in Game 4 on April 17. On a delayed penalty early in the first period, Sidorov’s point shot found the back of the net after tipping off the Rebels goaltender. Late in the first frame, he pulled off a spin-o-rama backhand move to net his second and put the Blades up 3-0. He finished off another hat trick by hauling down the ice to negate an icing call and going between the legs for a blink-and-you’ll miss it highlight reel goal. Saskatoon would win 7-0 to complete the sweep and move on to the Eastern Conference Championship for a second straight year.

Sidorov is the first WHL player to record hat tricks in back-to-back playoff games since Prince Albert’s Aliaksei Protas in Games 5 and 6 of the 2019 postseason.

The Vitebsk, Belarus product has 10 goals and four assists for 14 points in nine postseason matches, leading all WHL skaters in goals and game-winning goals (three).

The regular season champion Blades now prepare to take on the Moose Jaw Warriors with a berth in the WHL Championship on the line.

Game 1 is set for Friday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. ST at the SaskTel Centre.

 

2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week

April 15, 2024: Denton Mateychuk, Moose Jaw Warriors (Columbus Blue Jackets)

April 9, 2024: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets

April 1, 2024: Briley Wood, Wenatchee Wild

March 25, 2024: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)

March 18, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars

March 11, 2024: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)

March 4, 2024: Jordan Keller, Kamloops Blazers

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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