2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward Laing named Kal Tire WHL Rookie ...
Calgary, Alta. – Prince George Cougars winger Hunter Laing has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending May 5, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the second time the 2024 NHL Draft-eligible forward has earned the recognition.
Laing scored his first WHL playoff goal in dramatic fashion, keeping Prince George’s season alive and forcing a sixth game in the Western Conference Championship.
With the Cougars holding a narrow 2-1 lead in Game 5, Laing parked on the doorstep of the Winterhawks’ net on a critical powerplay, beating four diving Portland players to the puck and popping it over the goaltender and into the open net. The goal would provide some much-needed insurance as Prince George went on to a 6-1 road win.
The goal stands as Laing’s first postseason point.
Originally selected by Prince George in the second round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Laing is coming off a productive rookie season that saw him net 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 66 regular-season games.
The 6-foot-6, 192-pound winger is ranked 86th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s final rankings ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
The Western Conference Championship returns north for a do-or-die Game 6 for the Cougars on Monday night.
Puck drops between Prince George and Portland at 7:00 p.m. PST at the CN Centre.
2023-24 WHL Rookie of the Week
April 29, 2024: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
April 22, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
April 15, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
April 9, 2024: Chase Wutzke, Red Deer Rebels
April 1, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 25, 2024: Reese Hamilton, Calgary Hitmen
March 18, 2024: Dimitri Fortin, Moose Jaw Warriors
March 11, 2024: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
March 4, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
February 26, 2024: Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver Giants
February 20, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
February 12, 2024: Hunter Laing, Prince George Cougars
February 5, 2024: Evan Gardner, Saskatoon Blades
January 29, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 22, 2024: Gavin McKenna, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 15, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 8, 2024: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips
January 2, 2024: Cole Reschny, Victoria Royals
December 18, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars
December 11, 2023: Max Curran, Tri-City Americans
December 4, 2023: Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George Cougars
November 27, 2023: Ethan Eskit, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 20, 2023: Dakota MacIntosh, Moose Jaw Warriors
November 13, 2023: Ben Kindel, Calgary Hitmen
November 6, 2023: Ethan McCallum, Medicine Hat Tigers
October 30, 2023: Julius Miettinen, Everett Silvertips (NHL CSS: C)
October 23, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 16, 2023: Ty Coupland, Swift Current Broncos
October 10, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
October 2, 2023: Terik Parascak, Prince George Cougars (NHL CSS: B)
September 25, 2023: Oscar Lovsin, Wenatchee Wild
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 offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six 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 close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 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.
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