Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Giffen Nyren named Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is defenceman Giffen Nyren of the Calgary Hitmen.

Nyren picked up five points, scoring one goal and four assists to go with a +3 rating in three games over the last week, helping the Calgary Hitmen capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup defeating the Tri-City Americans 4-1 in the 2010 WHL Championship Series.

Games three and four of the 2010 WHL Championship Series went at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington on Tuesday, May 4th and Wednesday, May 5th. In game three Nyren picked up a pair of assists and was named the games 2nd Star as the Hitmen downed the Ams’ 4-1 to take a 3-0 series lead. In game four Nyren found the back of the net scoring his fifth goal of the post-season, however the Americans staved off elimination defeating the Hitmen 4-2. Game five was back in Calgary at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Friday, May 7th, with a chance for the Hitmen to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup in front of 15,335 fans. Nyren assisted on two Hitmen goals to help lead Calgary to their second franchise WHL title with a 4-1 victory.

The Calgary Hitmen will now represent the WHL at the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup along with official tournament hosts the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Wheat Kings will host the Calgary Hitmen, Windsor Spitfires and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Champions (Saint John or Moncton) from May 14 – 23, 2010.

Nyren, a 20-year-old (playing his 19-year-old season) from Calgary, Alberta, is in his third fourth full season in the WHL. During the 2010 WHL Playoffs Nyren was second among all WHL defencman in scoring, and tenth among all players, with 18 points (5 goals, 13 assists) in 23 games.

The WHL has also nominated Martin Jones of the Calgary Hitmen for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Jones posted a 2-1 record this past week, stopping 87 of 93 shots faced for a 2.030 goals-against average and 0.935 save percentage. Jones, a 19-year-old from Vancouver, British Columbia, is currently playing his fourth season with the Calgary Hitmen and was recently named the 2010 recipient of the Del Wilson Trophy as the WHL’s Top Goaltender.


(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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