Monday, March 5, 2012

WINTERHAWKS' BARTSCHI WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Portland Winterhawks’ forward Sven Bartschi is the WHL Player of the Week.

Bartschi collected 10 points, scoring eight goals and two assists to go with a +4 rating, in four games over the past week helping the Winterhawks to a 3-1-0-0 record.

On Tuesday, February 28, Bartschi collected one goal, two assists and was named the games 3rd Star in the ‘Hawks 5-2 win over the visiting Kamloops Blazers. On Friday, March 2, in Tri-City, Bartschi scored one goal in the Winterhawks 6-4 victory over the Americans. On Saturday, March 3, Bartschi scored four goals and was named the games 1st Star in the Winterhawks 7-3 triumph over the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds. On Sunday, March 4, the Tri-City Americans were in Portland to face the ‘Hawks. Bartschi scored two goals and was named the games 2nd Star in a hard fought game the Ams’ won 4-3 over the Winterhawks.

Bartschi currently leads all WHL players averaging 2 points per game and ranks 9th among all scorers with 94 points (33 goals, 61 assists) in just 47 games played. The Winterhawks have won eight of their last 10 games and currently sit first in the WHL Western Conference and entire League with a 46-16-3-1 record for 96 points.

A 19-year-old from Langenthal, SUI, Bartschi is playing his second full season with the Portland Winterhawks after being a 7th overall selection in the 2010 CHL Import Draft. The Calgary Flames made Bartschi the 13th overall selection in the recent 2011 NHL Draft and signed the WHL Star to an entry-level contract this past summer. This is his third career WHL Player of the Week Award.

The WHL has also nominated Jon Groenheyde of the Swift Current Broncos for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Groenheyde posted a 1-1-0-0 record this past week with one shut-out, stopping 77 of 79 shots faced for a 0.975 save-percentage and 1.01 goals-against average. Groenheyde, a 20-year-old from White Rock, BC, led the Broncos to a 4-0 win over the Red Deer Rebels and put in a valiant effort in their 2-1 loss to the conference leading Edmonton Oil Kings.

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

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