Calgary, Alta.— Prince Albert Raiders defenceman Daxon Rudolph has been named WHL Rookie of the Month for January, the Western Hockey League announced Tuesday.
The 16-year-old led all first-year players with two goals and 13 assists for 15 points and a +15 rating in 13 games.
Rudolph went on a stellar 12-game point streak and only missed the scoresheet in one game in January. He registered his first WHL multipoint game with two assists as the Raiders edged the Edmonton Oil Kings 5-4 on January 10. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound blueliner followed it up with two more two-assists, including a third-star performance in a 3-0 shutout of the Red Deer Rebels on January 11.
https://twitter.com/TheWHL/status/1882961420272156775
Rudolph and his teammates’ impressive stretch saw the Raiders go 9-3-0-1 through January to jump from third in the East Division to first.
The Lacombe, Alta. product has four goals and 22 assists for 26 points in his first 42 WHL games, sitting fourth in scoring among all rookie defencemen.
Rudolph was selected by Prince Albert with the first overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.
In November, he helped Canada White clinch a gold medal at the 2024 U17 World Challenge in Sarnia, Ont.
Rudolph is eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Prince Albert (27-15-3-1) is on an 8-0-0-1 point streak as they make tracks for Calgary to take on the Hitmen (30-13-3-2) on Wednesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Month
September/October: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
November: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
December: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
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.