Wild forward Kraft named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Wenatchee Wild forward Mason Kraft has been named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, December 28, 2025.

The 18-year-old product of Moorhead, Minn., registered four points (1G-3A) in two games as the Wild split a home-and-home series with the Spokane Chiefs this past weekend.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound centre started his week by scoring the game-winning goal in a 5-4 road win Saturday, December 27, at Spokane. Only 2:21 into the third period, Kraft took a feed from Luke Shcherbyna and made no mistake, firing a quick wrist shot to the back of the net from the faceoff circle to give Wenatchee a 5-3 lead at the time. The Chiefs pulled back within one late in the third period, and it was Kraft’s seventh goal of the season that ultimately stood up as the game winner.

Kraft put his name back on the scoresheet with three assists Sunday, December 28, in a 4-3 loss versus Spokane. The Minnesota native contributed power-play assists on a pair of second period goals – one from Shcherbyna and the other from Josh Toll, as Wenatchee built a 2-0 lead at home. He then set up defenceman Boston Tait for the game-tying goal, though Sam Oremba spoiled the effort with a last-second game-winning goal for Spokane. Kraft was named third star of the game for his three-assist effort.

In his first WHL season, Kraft ranks third on the Wild with 22 points (7G-15A) in 25 games, trailing only Toll (25 points), and Shcherbyna (24 points).

The Wild acquired Kraft from the Victoria Royals in exchange for a fourth-round pick (2026) and a third-round pick (2027) on May 8, 2025. Prior to his acquisition by the Wild, Kraft was named the 2025 winner of the Mr. Hockey Award, presented annually by the Minnesota All Sports Alliance to the outstanding senior high school boys’ hockey player in the state of Minnesota. Kraft earned the recognition after captaining Moorhead High School to a state championship while recording 95 points (46G-49A) in 31 games.

The Wild are 12-20-1-1 coming out of the weekend and return to action Wednesday, December 31 (5 p.m. PT), when they host the Seattle Thunderbirds (14-14-2-2) at Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee.

Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week

September 22, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
September 29, 2025: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
October 6, 2025: Jacob Kvasnicka, Penticton Vees
October 14, 2025: Carter Casey, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 20, 2025: Andrei Molgachev, Calgary Hitmen
October 27, 2025: Chase Surkan, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 3, 2025: Dylan Dean, Edmonton Oil Kings
November 10, 2025: Kale Dach, Calgary Hitmen
November 17, 2024: Brock England, Seattle Thunderbirds
November 24, 2025: Colt Carter, Moose Jaw Warriors
December 1, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
December 8, 2025: Boston Tait, Wenatchee Wild
December 15, 2025: Tyson Moss, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 22, 2025: Ludovic Perreault, Victoria Royals

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 50 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.