Rockets’ Gardiner named WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that Kelowna Rockets forward Reid Gardiner has been named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 23, 2017.
Gardiner registered five points (3G-2A) in two games, helping the Rockets earn a split with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the opening two games of the Western Conference Championship series. This is the second consecutive week Gardiner has been named WHL Player of the Week, after he notched 12 points (6G-6A) in three games during the week ending April 23.
On Friday, April 21, Gardiner scored once and added two primary assists in a 5-4 loss at Seattle. The following night, Gardiner scored twice – once while shorthanded, the other in overtime – as the Rockets collected a 4-3 win at Seattle to even the Western Conference Championship series. The effort earned Gardiner first-star recognition.
Gardiner’s shorthanded goal on Saturday night – his 14th of the post-season – established a new Kelowna Rockets record for playoff goals, erasing the previous mark of 13 set by Jamie Benn in 2009.
Acquired by the Rockets from the Prince Albert Raiders prior to the WHL Trade Deadline, Gardiner currently leads the WHL Playoffs in scoring with 27 points (15G-12A) in 13 games.
The 21-year-old product of Humboldt, Sask., finished the WHL regular season with 37 points (18G-19A) in 28 games after returning from the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins where he started the campaign.
The 5-foot-11, 198-pound right winger accumulated 257 points (124G-133A) in 290 career WHL regular season outings. Additionally, he has 36 points (20G-16A) to his credit through 27 career WHL playoff games.
He was originally a first-round pick (eighth overall) of the Raiders at the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.
Gardiner and the Rockets host the Seattle Thunderbirds for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference Championship, with Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday, April 25 (7:05 p.m. PT) at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 23 – Sept. 25: Chad Butcher, Medicine Hat Tigers
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Sam Steel, Regina Pats
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Cody Glass, Portland Winterhawks
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Tyler Benson, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Kale Clague, Brandon Wheat Kings
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane Chiefs
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Connor Hobbs, Regina Pats
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Adam Brooks, Regina Pats
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Alexander True, Seattle Thunderbirds
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jayden Halbgewachs, Moose Jaw Warriors
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Sergey Zborovskiy, Regina Pats
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Calvin Thurkauf, Kelowna Rockets
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Deven Sideroff, Kamloops Blazers
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Adam Brooks, Regina Pats
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brayden Burke, Moose Jaw Warriors
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Tyler Wong, Lethbridge Hurricanes
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Tyler Soy, Victoria Royals
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Jake Bean, Calgary Hitmen
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Kole Lind, Kelowna Rockets
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Mathew Barzal, Seattle Thunderbirds
Feb. 13 – Feb. 19: Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds
Feb. 20 – Feb. 26: Nick Henry, Regina Pats
Feb. 27 – March 5: Tyler Wong, Lethbridge Hurricanes
March 6 – March 12: Cody Glass, Portland Winterhawks
March 13 – March 19: Brandon Hagel, Red Deer Rebels
March 20 – March 26: Sam Steel, Regina Pats
March 27 – April 2: Ethan Bear, Seattle Thunderbirds
April 3 – April 9: Giorgio Estephan, Lethbridge Hurricanes
April 10 – April 16: Reid Gardiner, Kelowna Rockets
April 17 – April 23: Reid Gardiner, Kelowna Rockets
