This Week Award Winners

WHL Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants.

Kane picked up seven points, scoring three goals and four assists to go with a +2 rating, in two games over the past week, helping the Giants post a 1-0-0-1 record in that span.

On Friday, October 10th at the Pacific Coliseum, the Vancouver Giants hosted their Okanagan rivals, the Kelowna Rockets. Kane netted three goals, to pick up his first career hat-trick, and added two assists as the Giants downed the Rockets 7-1. He was also named the games 1st Star.

The next evening, Saturday, October 11th, the Prince Albert Raiders rolled into the coliseum to face the home Team Vancouver Giants. Kane picked up two assists in a game that saw the Giants erase a 3-0 deficit after the first period, but eventually succumb to the Raiders in the shoot-out losing 4-3.

With the victory and shoot-out loss the Vancouver Giants have yet to lose a game in regulation (7-0-0-2) and find themselves in top spot in the WHL Western Conference.

Kane, a 17 year-old left winger from Vancouver, British Columbia, is in his second season with the Giants. In his rookie campaign last year Kane picked up 24 goals and 17 assists for 41 points and was the WHL Western Conference Rookie of the Year nominee. This highly touted forward has been projected to be an early pick at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

The WHL has also nominated Calvin Pickard of the Seattle Thunderbirds for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Pickard posted a 1-0-0-1 record this past week with a shut-out, allowing just one goal on 45 shots for a 0.480 goals-against average and a .978 save percentage. The shut-out and victory were both career firsts as the 16 year-old Winnipeg, Manitoba native slowly creeps his way out of the long shadow cast by big brother and the reigning WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year, Chet Pickard.

Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 18 – Sept. 21: Jordan Weal, Regina Pats
Sept. 22 – Sept. 28: Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 29 – Oct. 5: Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 6 – Oct. 12: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants

QMJHL Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, October 13, 2008 – Rimouski Océanic forward Jordan Caron and Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Alex Grant today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from October 6 to 12.

In three Océanic wins, Caron registered five goals, including two game-winners, and maintained a +2 rating. He enjoyed his best outing of the week on Wednesday against the Juniors, collecting two goals in a 4-0 win. The feisty winger was also named the game’s first star. The Océanic have won seven of their last ten games to creep up on the Remparts in the TELUS Eastern division standings.

Benjamin Breault (Remparts), Olivier Fortier (Océanic) and Mike Hoffman (Voltigeurs) were also considered.

The defensive player of the week is defenseman Alex Grant. The blueliner managed a goal and two assists while posting a +3 rating in two Saint John wins. Moreover, he was a physical presence in both games, distributing five bodychecks. Finally, the Sea Dogs were perfect with a man down as opponents failed to register a goal in seventeen power-play opportunities. Saint John is slowly climbing the Atlantic division standings.

Gabriel Lemieux (Cataractes), Maxim Gougeon (Océanic) and Robert Mayer (Sea Dogs) were also strong candidates.

Once the OHL releases their Player of the Week, the story will be updated.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)