Monday, October 3, 2011

WHEAT KINGS' STONE WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Brandon Wheat Kings’ forward Mark Stone is the WHL Player of the Week.

Stone picked up nine points, scoring four goals and five assists to go with a +3 rating, in three games over the past week helping the Wheaties to a 2-0-0-1 record.

On Wednesday, September 28, the Wheat Kings were in Swift Current for the first half of a home-and-home series with the Broncos. Stone scored the over-time game winning goal and added a pair of assists in their 6-5 win over the Broncos. On Friday, September 30, back at Westman Place in the Brandon, Stone collected two assists in the Wheat Kings 5-4 shoot-out loss to Swift Current. The next night, Saturday, October 1, the Wheaties played host to East Division rivals the Saskatoon Blades. Stone scored his second career hat-trick, finding the net three times, added an assist and was named the games 1st Star, in the Wheat Kings 6-0 triumph over the visiting Blades.

Stone currently leads the young WHL season in scoring with 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) in five games played, helping the Wheat Kings to a strong 3-1-0-1 start for 2011-12. A 19-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, Stone is entering his fourth full season with the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Manitoban enjoyed career highs in all offensive categories last season, scoring 37 goals and 69 assists for 106 points, third best in the WHL last year. Stone recently signed an NHL entry level contract with Ottawa Senators after attending his second rookie camp with the organization this year. This is his second WHL Player of the Week Award.

The WHL has also nominated Nathan Lieuwen of the Kootenay Ice for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Lieuwen posted a 1-1-0-0 record this past week with the shut-out, stopping 47 of 50 shots faced for a 1.510 goals-against average and 0.940 save percentage. Lieuwen, a native of Abbotsford, BC, currently boasts the best goals-against average in the WHL at 1.470.

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

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