Wild prospect Heidt named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt of the Prince George Cougars has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 25, 2024.
The Wild prospect recorded 11 points (4G-7A) in four games to help pace the Cougars this past week.
Heidt, a 5-foot-11, 182-pound product of Saskatoon, Sask., started the week with a three-point effort (2G-1A) Monday, February 19 as the Cougars knocked off the Seattle Thunderbirds by an 8-1 score at CN Centre.
Heidt’s second goal of the game came late in the second period and represented his 30th of the campaign – marking the first time in his WHL career the former second-overall WHL selection has reached the 30-goal plateau. He was named first star of the game for his performance.
The following night, Heidt recorded two more points (1G-1A) as the Cougars secured a 5-1 victory over the Thunderbirds. The Wild prospect opened the scoring 3:04 into the first period before providing the primary assist on Carlin Dezainde’s first-period tally to make it a 3-1 game.
Friday, February 23, Heidt notched another multi-point outing, contributing two assists as the Cougars defeated the Kamloops Blazers by a 5-1 score at Sandman Centre.
The 18-year-old centre wrapped up his week with a four-point outburst (1G-3A) Saturday, February 24, as the Cougars locked up the franchise’s second B.C. Division title with a 6-5 shootout victory over the Kelowna Rockets.
Heidt recorded his 32nd goal of the season midway through the second period, giving the Cougars a 4-2 lead at the time. With the marker, Heidt reached the 100-point plateau, becoming the first player in the entire Canadian Hockey League to accomplish the feat during the 2023-24 campaign.
Through 56 games, Heidt now has 101 points (32G-69A) to lead the WHL in scoring. His 32 goals and 101 points both represent career bests, while his 69 assists are three shy of his career mark of 72, set during the 2022-23 season. His 69 assists rank second in the WHL this season.
Heidt is riding a seven-game point streak, having notched 17 points (5G-12A) since Saturday, February 10.
Originally selected by the Cougars with the second-overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, Heidt has collected 264 points (80G-184A) in 211 WHL Regular Season games. He has added another 11 points (3G-8A) in 12 WHL Playoff games. He was named to the WHL’s B.C. Division Second All-Star Team in 2022-23.
Following a two-game swing through the B.C. Interior, Riley Heidt and the Prince George Cougars return home for four straight games, beginning Friday, March 1 (7 p.m. PT) when the Spokane Chiefs visit the CN Centre.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
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.