Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today New York Islanders prospect and Penticton Vees forward Jacob Kvasnicka has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Month for January, Fuelled by Co-op.
Kvasnicka, an 18-year-old product of Burnsville, Minn., recorded 27 points (12G-15A) and a plus-21 rating in 13 games during the month of January, helping the expansion Vees go 12-1-0-0 to rise to the top of the WHL’s B.C. Division.
Selected by the Islanders in the seventh round (202nd overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound right winger registered points in 12 of 13 contests during the month of January, including 10 multi-point outings.
Kvasnicka’s best performance of the month came Saturday, January 10, when he tallied four points (2G-2A) as the Vees slipped past the Kamloops Blazers in overtime by a 5-4 score. The contest saw Kvasnicka score on a third period penalty shot before ending the game 29 seconds into overtime with his 22nd goal of the campaign.
Including his outburst Saturday, January 10, Kvasnicka enjoyed a hot start to the month, securing multi-point performances in each of the first six games of January. The stretch, which started Thursday, January 1, and concluded January 10, resulted in the Isles prospects notching 16 points (7G-9A) to propel the Vees.
After being held off the scoresheet Friday, January 16, in a 4-2 win at Vancouver, the WHL rookie rounded out January with another six-game point-scoring streak as he posted 11 points (5G-6A) from Saturday, January 17, through Saturday, January 31.
With 64 points (27G-37A) in 46 games, Kvasnicka leads the Vees in scoring, while ranking seventh among all WHL skaters. He is one of two American-born WHL players currently situated in the top-10 of league scoring, joining Kamloops Blazers forward JP Hurlbert, who ranks atop the WHL scoring charts with 76 points (32G-44A) in 48 games.
Kvasnicka’s 27 goals are tied for ninth among all WHL skaters, while his 37 assists are tied for 12th.
Heading into February, Kvasnicka is tied for the WHL lead in shorthanded goals with four. He registered two of those during the month of January – the first came Saturday, January 3, in a 5-1 win at Spokane, while the second occurred Friday, January 23, in a 6-0 win versus Spokane.
Kvasnicka has been named Sandman WHL Rookie of the Week on three occasions this season, including back-to-back weeks this past month – January 5 and January 12.
Originally selected by the Winnipeg ICE in the second round (34th overall) of the 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, Kvasnicka was acquired by the Vees from the Wenatchee Wild this past summer. He then signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Vees in September prior to the start of the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season.
Heading into the first week of February, Kvasnicka and the expansion Vees are 31-10-4-3, sitting atop the WHL’s B.C. Division and ranking second in the Western Conference.
Next up, Kvasnicka and the Vees visit the Spokane Chiefs (23-23-1-0) Wednesday, February 4 (7:05 p.m. PT) at Numerica Veterans Arena. Watch all the action FREE on Victory+.
Tempo WHL Player of the Month
September / October: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
November: Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets
December: Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers
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 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 over 50 years. The WHL is also the 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.
