Porter named WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today that James Porter of the Kelowna Rockets has been named the WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week and league nominee for the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 20, 2019.
Playing in two games this week, Porter posted a 1-0-0-0 record, 0.00 goals-against-average, stopped 44 of 44 shots for a 1.000 save percentage, and recorded one shutout, allowing the third-place Rockets to remain within striking distance of the Victoria Royals for second place in the B.C. Division.
On Friday against the Everett Silvertips, Porter had a phenomenal game, stopping eight shots in the first period, 19 in the second, and 13 in the third to earn his first shutout of the 2018-19 WHL Regular Season. Able to hold off the Everett power play three times, Porter’s 40 saves contributed to the Rockets’ 2-0 win over the Silvertips. Porter’s performance earned him first star of the game as well as first star of the night in the WHL. The shutout by Porter was the first by a Rockets goaltender in Everett since Kelly Guard accomplished the feat on November 28, 2003.
Porter also saw eight minutes and 40 seconds of action on Wednesday game against the Moose Jaw Warriors, where he stopped all four shots that came his way from the Warriors.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Bonners Ferry, Idaho native is playing his second season with the Rockets, posting a 6-9-2-1 record, 3.06 GAA and 0.907 SV% in 21 games. Originally selected in the seventh round, 153rd overall, by the Rockets at the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Porter has appeared in 63 WHL regular season games, posting a 28-18-6-2 record, 3.21 GAA, 0.899 SV%, and four shutouts. Last season, Porter was named the WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending December 31, 2017, earning Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week honours as well.
The Rockets will play host to their B.C. Division rivals, the Victoria Royals, Friday, January 25 (7:05 p.m. PT) at Prospera Place.
WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week/Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week nominee
Jan. 14 – Jan. 20: James Porter, Kelowna Rockets
Jan. 7 – Jan. 13: Taylor Gauthier, Prince George Cougars
Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Nolan Maier, Saskatoon Blades
Dec. 27 – Dec. 30: Dean McNabb, Regina Pats
Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Mads Sogaard, Medicine Hat Tigers
Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: Dustin Wolf, Everett Silvertips
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Jiri Patera, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Dustin Wolf, Everett Silvertips
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Ian Scott, Prince Albert Raiders
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Max Paddock, Regina Pats
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Ethan Anders, Red Deer Rebels
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Dustin Wolf, Everett Silvertips
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Trent Miner, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Ian Scott, Prince Albert Raiders
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Trent Miner, Vancouver Giants
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Ian Scott, Prince Albert Raiders
Sept. 21 – Sept. 23: Dylan Ferguson, Kamloops Blazers
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.