Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Stanford named CHL Goaltender of the Week

Press Release

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Steven Stanford of the Saskatoon Blades is the CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending March 21. Through the first week of 2010 WHL Playoff action, Stanford has been perfect with two shutout wins stopping all 57 shots faced for a goals-against-average of 0.00 and save percentage of 1.000.

Stanford has backstopped the Blades to a 2-0 first round playoff series lead over the Red Deer Rebels. He made 24 saves as second star of the 3-0 opening win on Saturday night and followed that up with his second straight shutout making 33 saves in Game Two action where he was named third star of the 4-0 win on Sunday.
Stanford, a 19-year-old from Calgary, AB, is playing in his third full WHL season. He finished the regular season with the eighth best goals-against-average in the WHL with a mark of 2.72 and won 28 games for the Blades who finished third in the WHL’s Eastern Conference standings.

Also considered for the award this week was Nicola Riopel of the Moncton Wildcats and Philipp Grubauer of the Windsor Spitfires. Both goalies backstopped their teams to two wins to open their first round playoff matchups. Riopel earned a shutout victory and posted a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .950 against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, while Grubauer carries a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .942 through two games against the Erie Otters.

(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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