Evan Daum, Canada West Communications
Highlights:
- Goaltender Matt Hewitt is the WHL Graduate of the Month for January after going 6-1-0 during the month
- The former Regina Pat posted a .945 save percentage over that period, as UBC clinched a Canada West playoff berth
- 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 – Matt Hewitt's strong start to 2018 has landed the UBC Thunderbird goaltender the honour of WHL Grad of the Month for January.
The former Regina Pat was tremendous in goal for the T-Birds, as the Coquitlam, B.C. product posted a 6-1-0 record and a remarkable .945 save percentage over the first month of the New Year. Hewitt's stellar play helped UBC clinch a Canada West playoff berth, as the West Coast squad currently sits fourth in the standings with 29 points – just one point back of third-place Manitoba.
JANUARY WHL GRAD OF THE MONTH VIDEO
UBC can lock down a home playoff date this weekend as early as Friday with a regulation win over Mount Royal. It would mark just the second time since 1971 that the T-Birds have earned a home playoff date, after hosting the CW quarter-finals back in 2015.
Prior to joining UBC for the 2013-14 season, Hewitt played three seasons in the Western Hockey League – all in Regina. The Arts student appeared in 146 regular season games with the Pats, and was the team's No. 1 netminder in both 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Entering this weekend, Hewitt sits second in Canada West in save percentage at .921 and is third in minutes played at just over 1000.
UBC returns to the ice this weekend looking to keep their strong play alive, following a sweep of the second-place Saskatchewan Huskies a week ago. The T-Birds are in Calgary Friday and Saturday to take on the MRU Cougars, with all action available 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
December: Garret Hughson, Lethbridge
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