Not every player in the Western Hockey League can say they opened up their season with a perfect record, but Royals’ goaltender Ethan Eskit sure can.
Eskit has been officially dubbed the WHL’s ‘Goalie of the Week’ for the week starting September 21st, following a lights-out performance during the Royals’ home opener this past Friday.
The 19-year-old Calgary product nabbed a 26-save shutout in his first regular season game as a Royal at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, when his team blanked the Penticton Vees by a 5-0 score.
Eskit now leads the WHL after opening weekend with his perfect 0.00 goals-against average and 1.000 save percentage, and was one of only two netminders in the league to log a shutout after the season’s kickoff.
The Royals’ goaltender was recently acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he was drafted in the sixth round (114th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
In 54 career WHL regular season outings, Eskit sits at 23-17-2-3 with a 3.38 GAA, .892 SV%, and three shutouts.
He recorded career numbers in 2024-25, going 12-6-1-3 with a 2.85 GAA, .906 SV%, and one shutout.
After a stellar home opener for the Royals which saw tallies from Wyatt Danyleyko, Hayden Moore, Reggie Newman, Max Finley and Daniel Morozov, the Victoria team will set their sights on this weekend, where they will face the Vancouver Giants.
It will be a home-and-home series with the Royals away on Friday, September 26th, then back home for a game on Saturday, September 27th. Puck drop for that one is at 6:05 p.m., and tickets are still available here!
Victoria Royals vs. Vancouver Giants
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
- When: Saturday, September 27th at 6:05 p.m.
- Tickets: Available online here
