Hitmen forward Katsuro named Ricky’s WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Calgary Hitmen forward Artem Katsuro has been named Ricky’s WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, September 27.
Katsuro, a 17-year-old right winger from Moscow, Russia, recorded three points (2G-1A) in one game, helping the Hitmen dispatch the Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday, September 25.
Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome, Katsuro registered the game-winning goal in a 6-1 victory over the Oil Kings. The Russian rookie found the back of the net 4:41 into the second period, giving Calgary a 2-1 advantage. He added a power-play assist early in the third period, helping on a strike from Pittsburgh Penguins prospects Carter Sanderson, to make it 4-1. Katsuro completed Calgary’s scoring for the evening by potting his third goal of the season with 6:36 to go in regulation.
Through three games, Katsuro is tied for the Hitmen scoring lead with five points (3G-2A). Thanks in part to the exploits of Katsuro, the Hitmen are the only undefeated team remaining in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.
Selected by the Hitmen in the second round (82nd overall) of the 2026 CHL Import Draft, Katsuro is in his first season in the WHL, after signing a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement on August 11.
Katsuro and the Hitmen (3-0-0-0) return to action Saturday, October 3, when they take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes (0-3-0-0) at VisitLethbridge.com Arena. Stream the action FREE on YouTube.
Ricky’s WHL Rookie of the Week
September 21, 2026: Dayne Beuker, Lethbridge Hurricanes
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 60 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.
