Moose Jaw Warriors netminder Jackson Unger has been named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending April 28, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
This is the second time the 19-year-old has won the award.
Unger posted a 1-0-1-0 record, a 2.47 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage to open up the WHL Eastern Conference Championship, presented by Nutrien.
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound goaltender steered aside 28 of 31 shots in Game 1 of the series against the regular-season champion Saskatoon Blades, holding the Blades scoreless on the powerplay and denying all three shots he faced in the extra frame. Moose Jaw star and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Brayden Yager netted the overtime winner as the Warriors seized a 4-3 win and 1-0 series lead.
In Game 2, Unger turned in another solid performance, denying 34 of 37 shots and allowing one goal on four Blades powerplay opportunities. His finest save came in the third period as Egor Sidorov flew down the right wing and cut to the net, with Unger staying in position to make a pad stop in tight. The match required overtime for a second straight night, where Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten solved Unger to level the series, 1-1.
Unger is 9-1-1-0 in the 2024 WHL Playoffs with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
He’s the busiest netminder remaining in the 2024 WHL Playoffs, stopping 333 shots in 11 games for an average of 30 saves per match.
Unger is the East Division nominee for the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the WHL Goaltender of the Year. He made a career-high 54 appearances in the 2023-24 regular season, leading all netminders with 35 wins and putting together a 3.08 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage and three shutouts.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible netminder is ranked 27th among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s final rankings ahead of June’s draft.
The WHL Eastern Conference Championship now shifts south to Moose Jaw.
Puck drops on Game 3 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m. ST.