Evan Daum, Canada West Communications
Highlights:
- After a pair of wins December 2-3, goalie Garret Hughson of the Lethbridge Pronghorns is the WHL Graduate of the Month for December
- Hughson played 105 regular season games with the Spokane Chiefs before joining the ‘Horns for the 2016-17 season
- Following each month of the Canada West men’s hockey season, the conference and WHL honour a WHL graduate, who is now excelling as a student-athlete with one of eight CW men’s hockey programs
- Each year hundreds of WHL graduates attend a post-secondary institution of their choice thanks to the WHL Scholarship Program, which provides players with tuition, compulsory fees, and required textbooks for each season played in the WHL
EDMONTON – For the second consecutive season, a Lethbridge Pronghorn heads into Canada West’s annual December break as the WHL Graduate of the Month.
Second-year goalie Garret Hughson was named the WHL Grad of the Month for December Friday, as the former Spokane Chief helped lift the ‘Horns to a pair of wins over provincial rival Calgary earlier this month (December 2-3). A year ago, Jay Merkley became the first U of L player to claim the award since Dustin Moore in 2012.
DECEMBER WHL GRAD OF THE MONTH VIDEO
Hughson, who played 105 regular season games with the Chiefs between 2012 and 2015, backstopped Lethbridge to a 4-1 win Friday, Dec. 2 and 4-3 overtime victory Saturday, Dec. 3 against the Dinos. The Foremost, Alta. product was particularly stellar Friday, stopping 46 shots, while Saturday he made 29 stops and chipped in offensively with an assist. The wins were even more impressive given Lethbridge had a short bench due to injuries, dressing only 14 skaters.
The sweep improved the Pronghorns’ record to 6-8-1, as the Southern Alberta squad heads into the CW mid-season break having won five of their last six games to jump into sixth in the conference standings.
Lethbridge resumes Canada West play in the New Year when they host the Saskatchewan Huskies January 5 and 6 at Nicholas Sheran Arena. You can catch the action online by watching Canada West TV – the official streaming home of every CW men’s hockey game.
Previous Canada West WHL Graduates of the Month
2017-18 Recipients:
October: Luke Philp, Alberta
November: Zak Zborosky, Regina
2016-17 Recipients:
October: Jamie Crooks, Alberta
November: Elgin Pearce, Calgary
December: Jay Merkley, Lethbridge
January: Jesse Forsberg, Saskatchewan
February: Connor Rankin, Mount Royal
March: Connor Gay, Saskatchewan