Warriors forward Kovacevic named Tempo WHL Player of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Moose Jaw Warriors forward Rilen Kovacevic has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, December 22, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

Kovacevic, who helped the Warriors to a WHL Championship in May 2024, recorded four points (1G-3A) in one game this past week, powering Moose Jaw to a 5-4 shootout victory at Brandon.

The 5-foot-11, 182-pound product of Kelowna, B.C., leads all Warriors in goals with 20. This represents the first WHL season in which the 20-year-old Kovacevic has reached the 20-goal plateau.

On Tuesday, December 17, at Brandon, Kovacevic was named first star of the game thanks to three primary assists and one power-play goal. He set up defenceman Aiden Ziprick to open the scoring in the first period, before giving Moose Jaw a 2-1 advantage on the power play early in the second period. Midway through the second, Kovacevic assisted as Lynden Lakovic tied the game 3-3. With time winding off the clock in the second period, Kovacevic and Lakovic connected once again. Kovacevic gained the offensive zone before dishing to Lakovic on the right wing, who beat the netminder and the clock, scoring with one second remaining to tie the game 4-4.

Having collected 33 points (20G-13A), Kovacevic has already reached a career high in points through only 27 games. His 33 points are good for second on the Warriors, trailing only Lakovic.

Heading into the holiday break, the Warriors have strung together two consecutive victories, thanks in part to a six-game point string from Kovacevic. Dating back to Tuesday, December 3, Kovacevic has tallied 11 points (7G-4A).

Kovacevic’s hard-nosed play has earned him the attention of NHL scouts, as he attended rookie camp with the Colorado Avalanche, including dressing for two preseason contests, ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Acquired by the Warriors in 2023-24, Kovacevic has registered 53 points (25G-28A) in 61 games since landing in Moose Jaw. He added another 15 points (4G-11A) in 20 games last spring as the Warriors marched to a franchise-first WHL Championship.

Originally selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the 10th round (204th overall) of the 2019 WHL Draft, Kovacevic has appeared in 192 career WHL regular season contests, notching 102 points (53G-49A) along the way.

Kovacevic and the Warriors (8-19-3-1) will look to make it three wins in a row when they return to action Friday, December 27, with a visit to the Saskatoon Blades (17-10-2-2) at SaskTel Place (7 p.m. ST).

2024-25 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
September 23, 2024: Roger McQueen, Brandon Wheat Kings
September 30, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
October 7, 2024: Shea Van Olm, Spokane Chiefs
October 15, 2024: Mazden Leslie, Vancouver Giants
October 21, 2024: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
October 28, 2024: Nathan Behm, Kamloops Blazers
November 4, 2024: Brady Birnie, Swift Current Broncos
November 11, 2024: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
November 18, 2024: Tomas Mrsic, Prince Albert Raiders (St. Louis Blues)
November 25, 2024: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
December 2, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 9, 2024: Tyson Jugnauth, Portland Winterhawks (Seattle Kraken)
December 16, 2024: Gracyn Sawchyn, Edmonton Oil Kings (Florida Panthers) 

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, Alta. 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.