LEIPSIC NAMED DENNY'S WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

Leipsic collected 9 points, scoring four goals and five assists, while posting a +3 rating in three games over the past week as the skated to a 2-1 record in three games of their Kal Tire WHL Western Conference quarter final series versus the Everett Silvertips.

On Wednesday, March 27th, Leipsic scored once and set up two more while earning 2nd Star honors in a 7-3 road victory over the Silvertips in Game 3 of the series.  On Friday, March 29th, Leipsic scored twice and picked up three assists for a five-point effort while earning 2nd Star honors in an 11-4 win over the Silvertips in Everett in Game 4 of the series.  On Saturday, March 30th, Leipsic scored for a third straight game as the Winterhawks fell 3-2 to the visiting Silvertips in Game 5 of the series.

Leipsic, an 18-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, is in his third full season in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks.  The 5’9”, 170-lb center currently shares the WHL lead in post-season scoring with 11 points in just five games.  A Nashville Predators prospect, Leipsic shared the WHL regular-season scoring lead with Portland line mate Nic Petan, each posting 120 points, and led all WHL players with 49 goals.

The WHL has also nominated Laurent Brossoit of the Edmonton Oil Kings for the CHL Goaltender of the Week award.  Brossoit, a 19-year-old from Surrey, B.C., managed a perfect 3-0 record, including a shutout, in three starts for the Oil Kings over the last week as they eliminated the Kootenay Ice in their Husky WHL Eastern Conference quarter-final series.  Brossoit allowed just two goals on 70 shots in three games last week for a sparkling 0.67 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage in that span.

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