Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Pickard Goaltender of the Week

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Calvin Pickard of the Seattle Thunderbirds is the CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 15. Pickard posted a 3-0-0-0 record earning two shutout victories stopping 76 of 78 shots for a goals-against-average of 0.670 and save percentage of .974.

Pickard’s week included three road games in three nights beginning Friday night against the Kamloops Blazers where he made 22 saves in a 7-2 win. He would be perfect the rest of the week including Saturday night in Everett against the Silvertips where he made 29 saves including 13 in the third period to grab the 4-0 win as second star of the game, and then again on Sunday where his 25 saves held off the Giants in Vancouver as second star of the 5-0 game earning his third shutout of the season.

Pickard, a 17-year-old from Winnipeg, MB, is playing in his second WHL season with the Thunderbirds. He has already matched a career-high with three shutouts this season which is second amongst WHL goaltenders. He currently has a record of 7-8-1-3 and the fifth best goals-against-average at 2.57 and is tied with a league-best .926 save percentage. Pickard is eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and will compete for Team WHL at the 2009 SUBWAY® Super Series in Victoria on November 25 and in Kelowna on November 26.

Chris Perugini of the Ottawa 67’s was also considered after winning two games including one shutout victory. He allowed just one goal on 51 shots in two games and stopped all six shooters as first star of a 2-1 shootout win over the Niagara IceDogs on Sunday. For the second straight week Mathieu Corbeil-Thériault of the Halifax Mooseheads was considered after collecting two wins in two starts with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .971.

2009-10 CHL Goaltenders of the Week
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Calvin Pickard, Seattle Thunderbirds
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: James Reid, Spokane Chiefs
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Garrett Zemlak, Prince Albert Raiders
Oct. 19 – 25: Matt Hackett, Plymouth Whalers
Oct. 12 – 18: Troy Passingham, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 5 – 11: Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs
Sept. 21-27: Andrew Hayes, Brandon Wheat Kings
Sept. 14-20: Maxime Clermont, Gatineau Olympiques

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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