Last season’s W-H-L Rookie-of-the-Year is showing no signs of a sophomore jinx as Prince Albert winger Ryder Ritchie (pictured) is the league’s latest Player-of-the-Week.
The 17-year-old Calgary product put up six points, including two goals, as the Raiders went 2-0-1. Ritchie is tied for fifth in W-H-L points with 14, including seven goals. He and P-A are off until Friday when they welcome Regina.
Meantime, by the time they play again Saturday in Red Deer, the Saskatoon Blades could drop from first to fifth and last in the tightly-bunched East Division of the W-H-L. The 7-2-0 Bridge City Bunch are sporting a five-game winning streak following Sunday night’s 3-2 shootout triumph in Prince Albert. The Raiders and Regina are one point back of the Blades, Moose Jaw is two points back and Brandon is only three. All of those teams play at least once, if not twice or three times in the Wheat Kings’ case on their U-S road trip. Following is the news release from the W-H-L about all the weekly award winners…..
RAIDERS FORWARD RITCHIE NAMED TEMPO WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2023
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Prince Albert Raiders forward Ryder Ritchie has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 15, 2023.
Ritchie, who is a top prospect eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft, recorded six points (2G-4A) in three games this week as the Raiders went 2-0-0-1 this past week.
The 6-foot, 173-pound right winger from Calgary, Alta., started his week with a three-assist performance Friday, October 13 as the Raiders bounced the Calgary Hitmen by a 7-2 margin. Ritchie’s second assist of the night was of the primary variety as he set up Aiden Oiring for the game-winning goal.
The 17-year-old followed up with a goal and an assist Saturday, October 14 as the Raiders doubled up the Moose Jaw Warriors by a score of 6-3. A mere 49 seconds after the Warriors had erased a 3-0 deficit, Ritchie scored a highlight-reel goal midway through the third period. The marker – Ritchie’s sixth of the campaign – went on stand as the game-winning goal. He added a primary assist on another goal by Oiring earlier in the contest.
Wrapping up the week, Ritchie put forward a First Star performance as the Raiders fell to the Saskatoons Blades by a 3-2 score, losing in a shootout. Ritchie collected his seventh goal of the season late in the second period and was the only Raider to strike in the shootout.
On the strength of having collected points in five consecutive games (4-0-0-1), the Prince Albert Raiders sit second in the WHL’s East Division, one point behind the division-leading Blades.
Ritchie’s big week moved him into a tie for fifth in scoring across the entire WHL, having secured 14 points (7G-7A) in 10 games.
Originally selected by the Prince Albert Raiders in the first round (14th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Ritchie has notched 69 points (27G-42A) in 71 games. He earned the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year after piling up 55 points (20G-35A) in 61 games during the 2022-23 season.
Ryder Ritchie and the Prince Albert Raiders return to action Friday, October 20 (7 p.m. MT) when they host the Regina Pats at the Art Hauser Centre.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
October 10, 2023: Easton Armstrong, Wenatchee Wild
October 2, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
September 25, 2023: Zac Funk, Prince George Cougars
WINTERHAWKS NETMINDER ŠPUNAR NAMED WHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Portland Winterhawks netminder Jan Špunar has been named WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 15, 2023.
Špunar, 19, started the weekend by turning aside 26 of 27 shots Friday, October 13 to backstop his Club to a 4-1 home victory over the Kamloops Blazers.
Wrapping up the weekend, Špunar earned himself Third Star recognition Sunday, October 15 as he stopped all 22 shots sent his way in a resounding 7-0 win over the Tri-City Americans. The shutout represented the first of Špunar’s WHL career.
A 6-foot-3, 199-pound native of Olomouc, Czechia, Špunar attended training camp with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens this fall.
Through five games this season, the import netminder is a perfect 5-0-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .963 save percentage and one shutout. He leads the WHL in GAA and SV%, while his five victories are good for second in the WHL.
Originally selected by the Portland Winterhawks in the first round (52nd overall) of the 2022 CHL Import Draft, Špunar has appeared in 36 career WHL Regular Season contests, registering a record of 22-7-2-1 with a 2.37 GAA, .916 SV% and one shutout.
Jan Špunar and the Portland Winterhawks return to action Wednesday, October 18 (7 p.m. PT) when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings at Veterans Memorial Coliseum before embarking on a string of nine games away from home.
2023-24 WHL Goaltender of the Week
October 10, 2023: Kyle Kelsey, Red Deer Rebels
October 2, 2023: Ethan Chadwick, Everett Silvertips
September 25, 2023: Max Hildebrand, Prince Albert Raiders
BRONCOS COUPLAND NAMED KAL TIRE WHL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Swift Current Broncos forward Ty Coupland has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending October 15, 2023.
Coupland, 16, recorded five points (3G-2A) in three games this week as the Broncos went 1-2-0-0 to start a B.C. Division road swing.
After being held off the scoresheet to open the road trip Wednesday, October 11 in Prince George, Coupland responded in a big way in the Lower Mainland.
A native of North Vancouver, Coupland notched three points, including two goals, as the Broncos defeated the Vancouver Giants by a 6-3 margin Friday, October 13. The 5-foot-10, 161-pound right wing collected his first two goals of the season, including the game’s insurance marker, and added a secondary assist on Mathew Ward’s game-winning goal. Coupland was named Third Star of the contest for his performance.
Rounding out the weekend, Coupland factored into both Broncos goals Saturday, October 14 in a 7-2 loss at Victoria. A Third Star performance at Victoria included Coupland’s third goal of the season as well as a secondary assist on a goal from Tyson Laventure.
With seven points (3G-4A) in seven games to start the season, Coupland is fourth on the Broncos and third among all WHL East Division rookies in scoring.
Originally selected by the Swift Current Broncos in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, Coupland has tallied eight points (4G-4A) in nine career WHL Regular Season contests. He made his WHL debut in 2022-23, appearing in two contests with the Broncos.
Ty Coupland and the Swift Current Broncos continue their five-game B.C. Division road trip when they visit the Kamloops Blazers Tuesday, October 17 (7 p.m. PT).
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
October 10, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
October 2, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
September 25, 2023: Oscar Lovsin, Wenatchee Wild
