Saskatchewan goaltender Nolan Maier named WHL Grad of the Month

March 17, 2026 – Fresh off an MVP performance for the ages, Saskatchewan Huskies goaltender Nolan Maier has been named the conference's WHL Grad of the Month honour for February and March.

The Yorkton, Sask. product was sensational down the stretch for the Dogs, posting a perfect 6-0 record in the Canada West playoffs. That run included a two-game sweep of Mount Royal in the conference final, as Saskatchewan captured its second straight conference crown.

It has been a memorable season for Maier, whose journey brought him back to Saskatoon after opening the year with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL and later joining the Huskies as a key midseason addition.

In many ways, the move was a return home. From 2017 to 2022, Maier starred for the Saskatoon Blades, building a legacy as one of the franchise’s most decorated players. By the end of his WHL career, he had set the league record for career wins by a goaltender with 122.

“Nolan is a proven winner, a true pro, and an outstanding teammate,” Huskies head coach Brandin Cote said when Maier committed to Saskatchewan. “His competitiveness and character make everyone around him better.”

That winning pedigree translated quickly to the university game. The 5-foot-11 netminder won six of his first seven starts in green and white, finishing the regular season with a 6-2 record, a 2.98 goals-against average and an .889 save percentage.

When the postseason began, Maier elevated his game even further.

He opened the playoffs by backstopping Saskatchewan to a quarter-final sweep of Alberta, highlighted by a 25-save shutout in Game 1 before a 3-2 overtime win in Game 2.

Maier then helped the Huskies upset the top-seeded UBC Thunderbirds with a road sweep in the semifinal, including a dramatic game-saving stop in the final minute of Game 1 to preserve the victory.

He carried that momentum into the conference final against the Cougars, recording another shutout in Game 1 before helping Saskatchewan complete a sweep and secure the Canada West banner.

In all, Maier delivered one of the most remarkable playoff performances by a goaltender in recent Canada West history, finishing with a 6-0 record, a 1.13 goals-against average and a .962 save percentage. His stellar postseason was recognized with Championship MVP honours.

Maier is utilizing his WHL Scholarship to pursue an Arts & Science degree at the University of Saskatchewan. For each season played in the WHL, a player is awarded 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 nearly 8,000 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.

About WHL Grad of the Month

The WHL Grad of the Month is a partnership between the WHL and Canada West, recognizing former WHL players excelling in the classroom and on the ice at the U SPORTS level. Coaches from all nine Canada West programs vote to select the recipient 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 who 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 23 member Clubs with 17 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.