Monday, January 14, 2013

RUTKOWSKI DENNY'S WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The Western Hockey League announced today that Portland Winterhawks defenceman Troy Rutkowski is the Denny’s WHL Player of the Week.    

Rutkowski collected 10 points, scoring six goals and four assists to go with a +8 rating, in four games over the past week, helping the Winterhawks to a 4-0-0-0 record in that span.   

On Tuesday, January 8, the Winterhawks hosted Prince George in the first of back-to-back games versus the Cougars at home.  Rutkowski gathered two goals, one assist and was named the games’ 2nd Star in the ‘Hawks 6-4 win over the Cougars.  The next night, Wednesday, January 9, Rutkowski scored the game winning goal in the Winterhawks 3-0 shut-out victory over the Cougars.  On Friday, January 11, the Winterhawks welcomed U.S. Division rivals the Spokane Chiefs to the Rose Garden in Portland.  Rutkowski picked up one goal, two assists and was named the games’ 1st Star in the Winterhawks 5-2 triumph over the Chiefs.  The Winterhawks wrapped up a busy week Saturday, January 12, in Everett taking on the Silvertips.  Rutkowski scored two goals, one assist, and was again named the game’s 1st Star in the ‘Hawks 8-0 blanking of the ‘Tips.

Rutkowski currently sits 2nd among all WHL defenceman in scoring with 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists) in 43 games played thus far this season.  The Winterhawks have won 14 straight games and sit atop the WHL Western Conference and entire League with a remarkable 37-5-1-0 record for 75 points.

A 20-year-old from Edmonton, AB, Rutkowski is in his fifth and final season with the Portland Winterhawks.  Originally a list player by the Winterhawks, Rutkowski has gone on to appear in 322 regular season games gathering 56 goals, 137 assists for 193 points.  The Colorado Avalanche selected him in the 5th round of the 2010 NHL Draft.

The WHL has also nominated Laurent Brossoit of the Edmonton Oil Kings for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award for the second straight week.  Brossoitposted a 2-1-0-0 record this past week with one shut-out, stopping 93 of 96 shots faced for a 0.969 save-percentage and 1.01 goals-against average.  Brossoit, a 19-year-old from Surrey, BC, was a Star in all three games and helped lead the Oil Kings to a 34 saves 2-1 win over the Saskatoon Blades and a 28-save 4-0 shut-out victory over the Tigers in Medicine Hat

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

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