Farkas named WHL Grad of the Month for January

Feb. 9, 2024 – It was a banner start to the new year for Mount Royal University goaltender Shane Farkas, picking up six wins in six games en route to being named the conference's Western Hockey League Grad of the Month for January.

The second-year from Penticton, B.C. had the hot hand while leading the Cougars to an undefeated month, picking up three shutouts while going 6-0 overall. That stretch included two key wins over cross-city rival Calgary, including a memorable shootout victory in the Crowchild Classic in front of over 10,000 fans at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Jan. 24.

Farkas has been the backbone of a strong Cougars side who will enter the Canada West playoffs with championship ambitions. The goaltender has gone a sparkling 17-2 this season with a 0.919 save percentage, driving the Cougars to a 20-6 overall record and a share of second place in the CW standings. MRU will look to catch first place UBC this weekend, as the two teams clash in Vancouver for what should be an epic final weekend of the regular season.

Racking up victories is nothing new to Farkas, who compiled an impressive 65-31-4-4 record during four seasons in the WHL. He experienced great success over three seasons with Portland, including posting a career-high 30 wins in 2018-19. He finished his junior career with the Victoria Royals in 2019-20, going 18-7-1 with a 0.929 save percentage.

Farkas currently leads Canada West in wins (17), and ranks third in save percentage (0.919%) and goals against average (2.09).

Farkas is a Sport and Recreation Management student who is utilizing his WHL Scholarship to attend Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alta. For each season played in the WHL, a player is awarded with a one-year post-secondary scholarship, which includes tuition, compulsory fees, and required textbooks. In partnership with Canada West universities, numerous WHL Scholarship recipients each year are also awarded additional financial assistance from their university to receive Western Canada’s Premier Hockey Scholarship.

Since 1993, the WHL has awarded over 7,500 scholarships to graduate players. The WHL is the leading supplier of hockey scholarships in Western Canada and offers one of the most comprehensive scholarships in North America.

WHL Grad of the Month

The WHL Grad of the Month is a partnership between the WHL and Canada West. CW coaches vote to select the winner each month. All nominees must have played at least one full season in the WHL and be in good standing in Canada West.

About Canada West

As the leading university athletic conference in the country, Canada West is home to student-athletes that excel in the classroom and their communities. The conference is comprised of 17 member institutions spanning from Victoria to Winnipeg, with over 3,200 student-athletes competing across 14 sports. Canada West’s mission is to train leaders and build champions by providing leadership in the delivery, regulation, and promotion of university level high performance sports programs throughout western Canada.

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.