Monday, February 7, 2011

NUGENT-HOPKINS WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. – The WHL Player of the Week is forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Red Deer Rebels.

Nugent-Hopkins picked up 12 points, scoring five goals and seven assists in three games this past week, helping the Rebels to 2-1-0-0 record.

On Tuesday, February 1st, the Rebels were in Saskatoon to face the Blades in a battle for top spot in the WHL Eastern Conference. Nugent-Hopkins scored one goal and one assist in the see-saw affair that saw the Blades come out on top 7-5. The next night, Wednesday, February 2nd, the Rebels took on the Raiders at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. Nugent-Hopkins netted one goal, added three assists and was named the games 1st Star as the Rebels downed the Raiders 7-4. Back at home on Friday, February 4th, the Rebels played host to the Moose Jaw Warriors. Nugent-Hopkins scored his second career hat-trick, which included the game winner, added three assists and was named the games 1st Star in the Rebels 8-1 win over the Warriors.

Nugent-Hopkins’ 12 points in the past three games now has him ranked 3rd among all WHL scorers with 79 points (19 goals, 60 assists) in 52 games played. The Rebels have won 13 of their past 14 contests and currently sit second in the WHL Eastern Conference with a 37-13-1-4 record for 79 points.

Nugent-Hopkins, a 17 year-old from Burnaby, BC, is playing his second full season with the Rebels who made him the 1st overall pick in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft. The 2009-10 WHL Rookie of the Year was recently named Team Orr Player of the Game at the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Nugent-Hopkins also is the WHL’s highest-ranked NHL Draft-eligible prospect in NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Term rankings, sitting 3rd among players eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

The WHL has also nominated Ty Rimmer of the Prince George Cougars for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Rimmer posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week with one shut-out, stopping 48 of 50 shots faced for a 1.00 goals-against average and a 0.960 save percentage. Rimmer, a native of Edmonton, AB, helped the Cougars’ to a pair of wins over the Kelowna Rockets 4-2 and 3-0.

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

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