Red Deer's Nate Danielson was named the Western Hockey League Player of the Week after leading the Portland Winterhawks to the WHL Championship series.
Last week, the Detroit Red Wings prospect led all WHL skaters with one goal and six assists for seven points in three games in the Western Conference Finals.
After recording three assists in Game 2 of the series against the Prince George Cougars, Danielson notched three more in Game 3. He set up teammate Marcus Nguyen for two of his three goals to help him complete his first playoff hat trick. The Winterhawks took its first lead of the series in a 4-1 victory.
Danielson kept his hot streak going in Game 4 scoring a goal and adding three assists to secure a 5-2 victory and a 3-1 series lead.
The Cougars responded in Game 5 holding Danielson off the score sheet in a 6-1 win to keep their season alive.
On Monday in Game 6, Danielson scored the opening goal off the feed from Jack O'Brien in a 2-1 win in double overtime on the road to advance to the league finals.
The 21-year-old will make his first trip to the WHL Championship and has had a postseason to remember with 21 points in 14 games. It's also the Winterhawks' first trip to the finals since 2014.
"I think the key thing is you saw a series played with two really good hockey teams," said Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston following Monday's game.
"Tonight was a game that I thought early in the season we played up here it was 2-1 games and it was that same type of game. It was tight checking with phenomenal goaltending on both ends," he said
"It was one of those games where you're going to have to get a break, an opportunity, and Josh got it. He got a little bit of space and placed a great shot on [Cougars goaltender Joshua] Ravensbergen... It was one of those series, much like the Saskatoon and Moose Jaw series, where somebody's going to win and one's going home. I'm sure happy we're the ones moving on in this series."
Johnston also gave credit to Danielson who is top five in playoff scoring behind Egor Sidorov, Jagger Firkus, and Denton Mateychuk.
"I thought Dani night in and night out is a key powerplay guy, a great penalty killer, and is really important on the face-offs. Then you see his transition game he can really turn it up and when he challenges guys he can protect the puck so well," Johnston said.
"The difference I think for him is that he's really good in the room, really good on the bench. His maturity, focus, and demeanour have really added a lot to our team."