Blades Maier sets all-time WHL wins record

By JAMES TUBB on April 12, 2022.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The Western Hockey League has a new all-time wins record holder and his name is Nolan Maier.

The 21-year-old Saskatoon Blades netminder picked up his 121st career regular season victory Friday night when he made 20 saves to shut out the Prince Albert Raiders 2-0.

The product of Yorkton, Sask. surpassed the former league record of 120 wins, shared by former Kamloops Blazers netminder Corey Hirsch and Vancouver Giants alumnus Tyson Sexsmith.

Maier tied the former record in Medicine Hat when he pitched another shutout, en route to a 4-0 Blades win over the Tigers.

The goaltender spoke to the News after the game in Medicine Hat and said it felt surreal to tie the record. 

“I’m more honoured to do all of this under one team with the Saskatoon Blades and just be up there with some of those names is really honouring to me,” Maier said.

Tying the milestone was something Maier said he wished he could have reached sooner in the season.

Maier’s first career WHL victory came on home ice on November 24, 2017 in a 6-5 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings. He will be the Blades go-to goaltender as they head into the playoffs possessing the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed.

Blades head coach Brennan Sonne said at the time watching Maier tie the record was even better because of how good he is as a person.

“It’s one of those things when you watch really good people have success and reach a milestone,” Sonne said. “It’s just so much sweeter when it’s a person like Nolan who’s 100 per cent class, 100 per cent professional, he’s a leader. He’s mature, he’s an adult and so when it’s someone as good of a human being as he is, it feels all the better.”

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