WHL Player of the Week - Rihards Bukarts

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League announced today that Portland Winterhawks forward Rihards Bukarts has been named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 13th, 2015.

Bukarts recorded seven points (6g-1a) in three games to propel the Portland Winterhawks to a record of 2-1-0-0 for the week.

On Wednesday, December 9th against the Everett Silvertips, Bukarts scored three goals to pick up the hat trick and also tallied an assist in the Winterhawks' 7-5 victory. Bukarts was named the game's first star for his performance. On Friday, December 11th, Bukarts netted a pair of goals, including the game-winner, as the Winterhawks came back to defeat the Prince George Cougars by a score of 5-4. Bukarts was again named the game's first star. The following night against the Prince George Cougars, Bukarts earned third star honours after scoring a goal in the Winterhawks' 3-2 loss.

The 19-year-old Jurmala, Latvia native has collected 28 points (15g-13a) in 26 games this season with 19 of those points as a member of the Portland Winterhawk after being acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings earlier this season. The 5-9, 186 lb forward is in his third WHL campaign and has amassed 156 points (76g-80a) in 153 career WHL regular season contests.

The WHL has also nominated Connor Ingram of the Kamloops Blazers for the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week award. Ingram, a 1997-born netminder from Imperial, SK, posted a record of 2-0-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. On Friday, December 11th, Ingram turned aside 33 shots to claim second star honours in the Blazers' 6-2 victory against the Saskatoon Blades. The following night against the Raiders, Ingram remained consistent as he made 28 saves to guide the Blazers to a 5-2 win. Currently in his second season with Kamloops, Ingram has posted a 33-28-5-4 record with three shutouts in 77 career WHL regular season appearances.