Monday, November 16, 2009

WHL Boston Pizza Player of the Week

Press Release

ALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Matt Calvert of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Calvert collected 11 points, scoring five goals and six assists to go with a +2 rating, in three games over the past week, helping the Wheat Kings post a 2-1 record in that span.

On Wednesday, November 11th, the Wheat Kings hosted the Prince George Cougars for a Remembrance Day afternoon game at Westman Place. Calvert scored two goals and added an assist as the Wheat Kings defeated the Cougars 7-3 and was named the games 1st Star. Two nights later, on Friday, November 13th, East Division rivals the Saskatoon Blades rolled into Brandon to face the Wheaties. Calvert had one goal and one assist in a losing effort as the Blades downed the Wheat Kings 4-3; he was named the games 2nd Star. On Sunday, November 15th, the Regina Pats made their first visit to Brandon of the season. Calvert netted two goals and four assists as the Wheat Kings scored in the overtime to cap a wild 8-7 win over the Pats. He was also named the games 2nd Star.

Calvert’s 11 points over the last three games has him sitting 8th among all WHL scorers with 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 20 games played. The Brandon Wheat Kings have posted a 6-3-0-1 record in their past ten contests and currently sit third place in the WHL East Division with a 13-9-0-2 record for 28 points, just two back of the second place Moose Jaw Warriors.

Calvert, a Brandon, Manitoba native in his 20 year-old season, has spent his entire three year WHL career with the Wheat Kings. A fifth round selection of the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Calvert was offered his first professional contract this past summer but chose to return to the Wheat Kings for his final season of WHL eligibility and play for his hometown team at the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Brandon.

The WHL has also nominated Calvin Pickard of the Seattle Thunderbirds for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Pickard posted a 3-0-0-0 record this past week with two shut-outs, stopping 76 of 78 shots faced for a 0.670 goals-against average and a 0.974 save percentage. Pickard, a 17-year-old top NHL prospect from Winnipeg, Manitoba, has appeared in 19 games this season posting a 7-8-1-3 record with three shut-outs. His 2.57 GAA currently has him sitting seventh among all WHL goaltenders. Pickard will also represent Team WHL during the 2009 SUBWAY® Super Series games in Victoria on November 25 and Kelowna on November 26.

Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Matt Calvert, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Brendan Shinniman, Tri-City Americans
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon Blades
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Brandon Kozun, Calgary Hitmen
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Mark Isherwood, Medicine Hat Tigers
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Jason Bast, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Jordan Weal, Regina Pats
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Andrew Hayes, Brandon Wheat Kings
Sept. 17 – Sept. 20: Tyler Fiddler, Calgary Hitmen

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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