BRENDAN GALLAGHER WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Press Release

CALGARY, AB. – The WHL Player of the Week is forward Brendan Gallagher of the Vancouver Giants.

Gallagher picked up 10 points, scoring five goals and five assists to go with a +6 rating, in three games this past week, helping the Giants to 2-1-0-0 record.

On Friday, February 25th, the Giants played host to BC Division rivals the Chilliwack Bruins. Gallagher scored one goal, two assists and was named the games 1st Star in a losing effort as the Bruins downed the Giants 6-4. In the back half of the home-and-home series on Saturday, February 25th, the Bruins welcomed the Giants to Prospera Centre in Chilliwack. Gallagher had another big night finding the net for two goals, added one assist and was again named the games 1st Star in the Giants 5-1 victory over the Bruins. The Giants were back at home on Sunday, February 27th to take on the Tri-City Americans at the Pacific Coliseum. Gallagher scored two goals, including the game winner, and added a pair of assists in the Giants 5-0 win over the Ams. He was also named the games 1st Star for the third time in three nights.

Gallagher is currently on a seven game point streak and presently sits 4th among all WHL scorers with 87 points (43 goals, 44 assists) in 61 games played. The Giants have won 14 of their last 20 games and currently sit fifth in the WHL Western Conference with a 33-24-1-4 record for 71 points; just two back of the BC Division leading Kelowna Rockets.

Gallagher, an 18 year-old from Delta, BC, is playing his third full season with the Giants who selected him in the ninth round of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. He has since gone on to appear in 185 career WHL regular season games collecting 199 points (94 goals, 105 assists) and 32 WHL Playoff contests scoring 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists).

The WHL has also nominated Thomas Heemskerk of the Moose Jaw Warriors for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Heemskerk posted a 1-0-0-1 record this past week with one shut-out, stopping 61 of 62 shots faced for a 0.48 goals-against average and a 0.984 save percentage. Heemskerk, a native of Chilliwack, BC, led the Warriors to a 3-0 shut-out win over the Swift Current Broncos, and then succumbed to the League leading Saskatoon Blades 2-1 in the shoot-out.

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