Prince George Cougars netminder Joshua Ravensbergen has been named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending April 28, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
Ravensbergen has been recognized as the league’s top rookie twice, in addition to three Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week wins and Goaltender of the Month honours for November.
The 17-year-old went 1-1-0-0 in the first two matches of the WHL Western Conference Championship, leading all WHL netminders with a 2.05 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage and one shutout.
Facing the formidable Portland Winterhawks, Ravensbergen turned in one of his most stunning performances of the 2024 WHL Playoffs in Game 1. The West Vancouver, B.C. product set the tone for the night with a sensational pair of pad saves in close on Winterhawks Captain Gabe Klassen early in the first period. Ravensbergen would steer aside 33 saves- the most he’s faced in the postseason- to preserve a 5-0 shutout and dish Portland its first loss of the playoffs. He was named first star of the night.
Game 2 proved even busier as Ravensbergen was peppered with 15 shots in the opening frame, registering highlight-reel saves on Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson and Edmonton Oilers prospect James Stefan. The Winterhawks would break through and level the series with a 5-3 win over Prince George, with Ravensbergen saving 33 of 37 shots faced. The series is tied 1-1.
Ravensbergen is 8-1-0-0 in the postseason. His .934 save percentage and three shutouts lead all starting netminders in the playoffs, while his 1.89 goals-against average ranks second.
In Round Two, he became the first Cougars netminder to record back-to-back postseason shutouts with clean sheets against Kelowna in Games 1 and 2.