The Western Hockey League announced today that Kootenay Ice forward Cody Eakin is the WHL Player of the Week.
Eakin picked up four points, scoring two goals and two assists to go with a +2 rating in two road games over the last week, helping the Ice to a 2-0 series lead over the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship Series.
On Friday, April 22nd, the Kootenay Ice were in Medicine Hat for the Eastern Conference Championship series opener against the Tigers at The Arena. Eakin scored the OT winner in the first extra frame to lift the Ice to a 6-5 win over the Tigers. The next night, Saturday, April 23rd, Eakin scored the game winning goal, added two assists and was named the games 1st Star as the Ice shut-out the Tigers 3-0.
The Kootenay Ice have a 2-0 series lead over the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship with the series shifting to Cranbrook, BC for games three and four, scheduled for Tuesday, April 26th and Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00pm MT in the Rec Plex.
Eakin, a 19 year old from Winnipeg, MB, joined the Ice at the 2011 WHL Trade Deadline after spending over three seasons with the Swift Current Broncos. The Broncos made him their 1st round (6th overall) selection at the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft and was selected in the 3rd round (85th overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals. Eakin helped Team Canada to a Silver Medal at the 2011 World Junior Championships and was recently named a 2010-11 WHL Eastern Conference Second Team All Star.
The WHL has also nominated Mac Carruth of the Portland Winterhawks for the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Carruth posted a 1-1-0-0 record this past week, stopping 75 of 78 shots faced for a 1.51 goals-against average and 0.962 save percentage. Carruth, a native of Shorewood, MN, helped the Winterhawks to a 1-1 series tie this past week in the Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Championship against the Spokane Chiefs.