Thanks to being involved almost half of the Saskatoon Blades’ 16-goal explosion over the weekend, 20-year-old centre Tristen Robins (pictured) has been named the W-H-L’s latest Player-of-the-Week.

A second round pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 N-H-L Draft, Robins posted seven points, including two goals, as the Bridge City Bunch walloped Medicine Hat 9-2 on Friday and bounced league-leading Winnipeg 7-2 on Saturday. Now tied for third place in the W-H-L scoring race, five points back of line-mate Kyle Crnkovic, Robins had two goals and an assist against the Tigers and chipped in with four helpers, including his 100th career W-H-L assist, in the Blue and Gold’s heady triumph over the ICE. The Clear Lake, Manitoba, product has 20 goals amongst his 52 points in 35 games this season. Robins and the Blades are slated to start a four-game week Tuesday in Medicine Hat. The top goaltender for the week is Dylan Garand of Kamloops. Following is the news release from the W-H-L…..

SHARKS PROSPECT ROBINS NAMED WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2022

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Saskatoon Blades forward Tristen Robins has been named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 23, 2022.

Robins, a prospect of the San Jose Sharks, recorded seven points (2G-5A) in a pair of Blades home victories this past weekend versus the Medicine Hat Tigers and Winnipeg ICE, registering his 100th career WHL assist in the process.

The product of Clear Lake, Man. started his week by with a three-point performance (2G-1A) Friday, January 21 against the Tigers. Robins got the Blades offence started with a first-period goal before adding a short-handed marker in the middle stanza as Saskatoon defeated Medicine Hat 9-2.

He then added four assists in a 7-2 victory over Winnipeg Saturday, January 22.

Robins was named second star in both contests.

The 20-year-old currently leads the WHL in short-handed points (six), while also sitting second among WHL skaters in power-play points (24).

He was previously named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 17, 2021. He was also honoured as the McSweeney’s WHL Player of the Month for the month of October.

Robins was originally selected by the Regina Pats in the fourth round of the 2016 WHL Draft. In 185 career WHL games with the Pats and Blades, he has tallied 174 points (72G-102A).

The San Jose Sharks selected Robins in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, signing him to an entry-level contract in January of 2021.

Robins and the Saskatoon Blades are next in action Tuesday, January 25 when they begin a two-game Alberta road trip against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

RANGERS PROSPECT GARAND NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

The Western Hockey League announced today that Kamloops Blazers goaltender Dylan Garand has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 23, 2022.

Garand, a prospect of the New York Rangers, posted a 1.50 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in a pair of victories versus the Prince George Cougars.

The product of Victoria, B.C. started his week with a 31-save performance Friday, January 21 as the Blazers posted a 5-1 victory at Prince George.

Garand then stopped 23 shots Saturday, January 22 as Kamloops marked its return to the Sandman Centre with a 3-2 win over the Cougars.

The 19-year-old was previously named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 7, 2021. He also earned WHL Goaltender of the Month honours for the month of November.

He currently leads the WHL with a 2.04 goals-against average and is tied for top spot among WHL goaltenders with 19 wins this season.

Garand was originally selected by the Kamloops Blazers in the third round of the 2017 WHL Draft. In 116 career WHL regular season appearances, all with the Blazers, the 6-foot-1, 181-pound netminder has compiled a 75-28-4-2 record, to go along with a 2.33 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and 10 shutouts.

He was selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, signing his entry-level contract in December of 2021.

Garand and the Kamloops Blazers are scheduled to play four games this coming week, beginning with a home contest Wednesday, January 26 versus the Vancouver Giants.