By Mitch Bach

Sogaard earns CHL’s weekly award, embracing ‘underdog mentality’ at World Juniors

Dec 18, 2018 | 2:42 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Christmas break has sunk in for the Medicine Hat Tigers, and every player is enjoying a 13-day rest ahead of the season’s second half.

Every player, except for Mads Sogaard.

The 18-year-old rookie net-minder has arrived on the west coast ahead of the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championships, where he’ll lace up with Team Denmark for the next few weeks.

On Tuesday, Sogaard claimed the weekly honour as the Canadian Hockey League’s top goaltender after stopping 85 of 88 shots in two victories.

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He currently has the best save percentage (0.931) and goals against average (2.31) of any rookie goalie in the Western Hockey League. Both of those stats are in the top five among all goaltender who’s played 14 or more games.

This next opportunity follows an impressive list of accolades that’s helping put the Danish product on radars across the NHL.

Sogaard is listed with a ‘B’ ranking in the NHL’s most recent North American Central Scouting charts. He will also play in the NHL / CHL’s Top Prospects Game next month in Red Deer.

CHAT Sports caught up with the 6’7″ goaltender to discuss his thoughts on representing his home country on the international stage, and how Team Denmark is embracing an ‘underdog mentality’ leading up to its opening game against Team Canada on Dec. 26.

Plus, several members of the Tigers give their thoughts on Sogaard’s progression in his first WHL season.

Team Denmark’s first pre-tournament game is set for Wednesday, Dec. 19 against Team Finland from the Langley Events Centre at 8:00 p.m MST.