MCNEILL NAMED DENNY'S WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Prince Albert Raiders forward Mark McNeill is the Denny’s WHL Player of the Week.   

McNeill collected seven points, scoring two goals and five assists to go with a +3 rating, in three games over the past week helping the Raiders to a 2-1-0-0 road record.   

On Wednesday, November 7, the Raiders played host to East Division rivals the Swift Current Broncos at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert.  McNeill tallied one goal, three assists and was named the game’s 1^st Star as the Raiders edged the Broncos 6-5.  On Friday, November 9, the Seattle Thunderbirds were in Prince Albert to face the Raiders.  McNeill collected one goal, one assist and was named the game’s 2^nd Star as the Raiders blanked the Tbirds 3-0.  On Saturday, November 10, McNeill picked up one assist in the Raiders 4-1 road loss to the Swift Current Broncos.

McNeill currently leads the Raiders in scoring and sits 23^rd among all WHL players with 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists) in 21 games played.  The Raiders currently hold top spot in the WHL East Division and 2^nd in the Eastern Conference with a 13-6-0-2 record for 28 points.

A 19-year-old from Edmonton, AB, McNeill is playing his fourth straight year with the Prince Albert Raiders.  A 5^th overall selection by the Raiders in the 2008 WHL Draft, McNeill was selected 18^th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Draft.  McNeill is slated to complete with Team WHL against the Russian National Junior Team this Wednesday in Vancouver in game five of the 2012 Subway Super Series.  For more information visit www.subwaysuperseries.ca.  

The WHL has also nominated Mac Carruth of the Portland Winterhawks for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award.  Carruthposted a 4-0-0-0 record this past week, stopping 89 of 92 shots faced for a 0.967 save-percentage and 0.92 goals-against average.  Carruth, a 20-year-old from Shorewood, MN, currently leads all WHL goaltenders with a sizzling 0.963 save percentage and 0.97 goals-against average.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)