The ECHL has named Wheeling Nailers forward Gabe Klassen the ECHL Player of the week for March 31st-April 6th. In three games last week, the Prince Alberta, Saskatchewan, Native put up four goals and two assists for six points. He finished the year with five goals and six assists for 11 points in 12 games against the Reading Royals, and had at least one point in 10 of those games. The 21-year-old center is in his rookie year with Wheeling, putting up 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 65 games. Klassen has also seen two games at the AHL level with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, as he’s currently on an AHL contract. He becomes the second Nailer this season to be named Player of the Week, joining Jack Beck (December 23-29).
Prior to going pro, Gabe Klassen spent parts of five seasons in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks, where he put 118 goals and 147 assists for 265 points in 248 games. Klassen would wear an “A” in for the 2021-22 season and then served as the captain for his final two seasons. He would score 30+ goals in each of his last three seasons in Portland and led the team in points in 2023 and 2024. He would be named to the WHL (US) First All-Star Team in 2023 and 2024. During the 2023-24 season, he would finish the year with 106 points, the most by a Winterhawk since the 2018-19 season when Joachim Blicfeld had 114 points.
ITR 45: Everything Is Happening – Inside The Rink
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