Monday, January 10, 2011

STEFAN ELLIOTT WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. – The WHL Player of the Week is defenceman Stefan Elliott of the Saskatoon Blades.

Elliott picked up 6 points, scoring two goals and four assists to go with a +7 rating, in two games over the past week, helping the Blades to a 2-0-0-0 in that span.

On Tuesday, January 4th, the Saskatoon Blades played host to the Calgary Hitmen at the Credit Union Centre. Elliott collected one goal, three assists and was named the games 1st Star as the Blades shut-out the Hitmen 5-0. On Friday, January 7th the Blades were in Prince Albert to face the Raiders. Elliott picked up one goal, an assist and his second straight 1st Star nod in the Blades 5-1 triumph over the Raiders.

Elliott’s 6 points in the past two games has him ranked 1st among all WHL defenecman in scoring with 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 40 games played. The Blades currently lead all WHL Clubs with a 31-9-0-1 record for 63 points.

Elliott, a 19 year old from North Vancouver, BC, is playing his fourth full season with the Saskatoon Blades. Originally a first round selection of the Prince George Cougars in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft, his rights were traded to the Saskatoon Blades as part of the Devin Setoguchi deal. In the 2009 NHL Draft the Colorado Avalanche selected Elliott in the 2nd round – 49th overall.

The WHL has also nominated Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Kuemper posted a 1-0-0-1 record this past week, stopping 50 of 52 shots faced for a 0.960 goals-against average and a 0.962 save percentage. Kuemper, a native of Saskatoon, SK, came up just short in a 2-1 shoot-out loss to Regina and led the Rebels to a 6-1 win over the Kootenay Ice.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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