Joel Hofer to represent Canada at 2023 IIHF World Championship

Portland, Ore. – The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club is proud to share that alumnus Joel Hofer will compete for Hockey Canada at the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship, which takes place in Finland and Latvia from May 12 to May 28. The news comes one day after former Hawk Cody Glass was named to the Canadian roster.

Hofer, 22, recently completed his third season with the St. Louis Blues organization. He played 47 games this year with the Blues’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds and owned a 27-15-5 record with five shutouts.

The Winnipeg, Man. native solidified himself as a top goaltender in the AHL, ranking third in save percentage (.921), eighth in goals-against average (2.50), and he was recognized as an AHL Second Team All-Star. Hofer also earned Team MVP honors at the Thunderbirds end-of-season awards and he participated in his first AHL All Star Game.

Hofer may be young, but he can make old-school saves 😎#stlblues | @pncbank pic.twitter.com/qKOeT28xgS

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 20, 2023

In eight NHL appearances over the last two seasons, Hofer has posted a 4-2-1 record with the Blues. He combined with Thomas Greiss for his first career NHL shutout on March 19, 2023, stopping 33 shots in a 3-0 win against the Winnipeg Jets.

Hofer played parts of two seasons in Portland from 2018 to 2020 and held a 43-16-3-2 career record with the Winterhawks. He helped the Hawks win a Scotty Munro Championship during the 2019-20 season and got his first taste of international competition that same season. Hofer captured gold with Canada at the 2020 World Juniors and was named the Top Under-20 Goaltender thanks to an unblemished 5-0-0 record, 1.30 goals-against average, and .946 save percentage at the event.

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