February 14, 2017
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that New York Islanders prospect Mathew Barzal of the Seattle Thunderbirds is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 12 after recording 15 points including one goal and 14 assists along with a plus-minus rating of plus-7 in four games.
Barzal helped the Thunderbirds overtake the WHL’s U.S Division lead following a four-win week powered by four multi-point performances.
His week began with back-to-back second star efforts against the Victoria Royals including Tuesday night with a pair of assists in a 3-1 victory, and Wednesday night with four helpers in a 5-4 triumph.
Back in Seattle for a pair of weekend games against division rivals, the captain delivered three assists and earned second star recognition for a third time Friday as part of a 6-2 win over the Tri-City Americans, then recorded a career-high six points on Saturday with a goal and five assists as first star of an 8-5 win over the Portland Winterhawks.
The Thunderbirds have won 16 of 19 games since the calendar turned to 2017 and hold a 35-16-3-2 record.
A 19-year-old from Coquitlam, BC, Barzal is playing in his fourth WHL season with the Thunderbirds who selected him first overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.
Since returning from the Islanders in November, the 2015 first round NHL Draft pick has eight goals and 48 assists for 56 points in 30 games and helped Canada earn silver at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Also considered for the award this week was Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Daniel Sprong of the Charlottetown Islanders who scored five goals and one assist for six points in two games, and Los Angeles Kings prospect Spencer Watson of the Mississauga Steelheads who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in three games.
2016-17 CHL Players of the Week:
Feb. 6 – Feb. 12: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Jan. 30 – Feb. 5: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Jan. 23 – Jan. 29: Tyler Boland (Rimouski Oceanic)
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Alexis D’Aoust (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Kole Sherwood (Flint Firebirds)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Brayden Burke (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Adam Brooks (Regina Pats)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Vitalii Abramov (Gatineau Olympiques)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Hayden Hodgson (Saginaw Spirit)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Sergey Zborovskiy (Regina Pats)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Jayden Halbgewachs (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Alexander Katerinakis (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Nico Hischier (Halifax Mooseheads)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Bobby MacIntyre (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Kale Clague (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Jeremy Bracco (Kitchener Rangers)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Cameron Askew (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Sam Steel (Regina Pats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Kameron Kielly (Charlottetown Islanders)