WHL Player of the Week - Conner Bleackley

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League announced today that Red Deer Rebels' captain Conner Bleackley is the Denny's WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 26, 2014.

Bleackley recorded six points on one goal and five assists, along with a +4 rating in two games over the past week, leading the Rebels to a pair of victories in that span.

On Friday, October 24th, Bleackley notched three assists, including drawing an assist on the game-winning goal, while also earning 3rd Star honors in a 6-3 triumph over the visiting Prince George Cougars. On Saturday, October 25th, Bleackley scored the game-winning goal and chipped in two assists for his second straight three-point outing, and was named the game's 1st Star in a 5-1 win over the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.

Bleackley, an 18-year-old from High River, AB, is in his third season in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels, and currently sits tied for second on the team in scoring with 12 points in 11 games. The Rebels' first-round pick, 21st overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, Bleackley has amassed 43 goals and 100 points in 164 career regular season games. Bleackley was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft.

The WHL has also nominated Jackson Whistle of the Kelowna Rockets for the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week award. A 19-year-old from Kelowna, B.C., Whistle appeared in two games over the past week, posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a shutout, allowing just one goal on 54 shots for a 0.50 goals-against average and a .981 save percentage in that span. On Wednesday, October 22nd, Whistle stopped all 22 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season, and was named the game's 3rd Star in a 4-0 win over the visiting Tri-City Americans. On Saturday, October 25th, he made 31 saves on 32 shots while claiming 1st Star honors in a 6-1 win over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings. Whistle is in his fourth season in the WHL, and third campaign with the Kelowna Rockets. He has posted a 45-14-1-3 record with five shutouts in 76 career regular season games. A fourth-round pick, 79th overall, by the Vancouver Giants in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, Whistle is eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft.