Prince George Cougars goalie Josh Ravensbergen continues to reap the rewards of his stingy puck-stopping antics.
The 17-year-old was named the Western Hockey League’s Kal Tire rookie of the week. He went 3-0 in his three starts last week and also turned in a relief appearance and in those four games combined he compiled a 0.84 goals-against average and .978 save percentage.
Ravensbergen made 33 saves Sunday in Portland for his fifth shutout in 11 starts this season, tops in the WHL. He’s now just one shutout away from the Cougars’ team record of six, set by Scott Bowles in 2005-06.
Through 14 games this year, the six-foot-four, 180-pound native of North Vancouver also leads the WHL in goals-against average (1.63) and save rate (.944.).
Twice this season, on Oct. 30 and Nov. 6, Ravensbergen was picked for WHL goaltender of the week honours and he was selected goalie of the month in November.
After he scored seven goals in three games in the Cougars’ U.S. Division tour over the weekend, forward Zac Funk almost certainly gained some consideration as WHL player of the week but the award went to Wenatchee Wild forward Connor Geekie.
Geekie, a first-round, 11th-overall pick of the Ariziona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Draft, scored six goals and had seven assists in three games for the Wild last week.
The Cougars (21-7-0-0) remain one point ahead of Wenatchee (19-8-3-0) for first overall in the league.
Prince George hosts the Victoria Royals (16-11-0-2) Friday and Saturday at CN Centre.
