Rapid City's Danny Battochio Named CHL Rookie Of The Year
Published on March 18, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
(Tempe, AZ) - The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Rapid City goaltender Danny Battochio has been selected the recipient of the 2009-10 Central Hockey League Rookie of the Year award following balloting among CHL head coaches, communication's departments and selected media members in CHL markets. The Rookie of the Year award is 'presented annually to the Central Hockey League player adjudged to be the most proficient in his first year of professional competition.'
Battochio was selected on 22 of the 52 ballots submitted, finishing ahead of Corpus Christi's Ryan Garbutt who received 15 votes. Battochio was named the goaltender of the CHL All-Rookie Team earlier in the week.
The Lively, Ontario native has been close to unbeatable all season carrying a 28-5-3 record with a 2.57 goals against average and a.918 save percentage with two shutouts to his credit. His win total ranks second in the CHL, his GAA is third and his save percentage is tied for fourth in the league. The former Saint Francis Xavier University star has allowed two goals or fewer in 23 of his 41 games played and has the Rush at the top of the Northern Conference with a 43-13-6 record.
The 5-10, 180-pound goaltender started the season with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) and struggled to win upon his assignment to Rapid City going 3-3-1 in his first seven professional games but the winning came often afterwards as he posted 12 straight wins between November 25 and January 19 and has lost just two regular season games since November 20.
Other accolades received by Battochio this season include being named the Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week on January 18 and winning the Sher-Wood/TPS CHL Goaltender of the Month for January (posted a 7-1-0 record with a.922 save percentage in the month).
The CHL Coach of the Year will be announced later today (March 18, 2010) and the CHL Most Outstanding Defenseman and the CHL Most Outstanding Goaltender (Scott Brower Award) will be announced on Friday, March 19. The CHL Most Valuable Player recipient will be announced on Monday, March 22.
2010 CHL Awards that have already been announced are:
CHL Athletic Trainer of the Year - Stuart Nichols, Tulsa Oilers
CHL Gunner Garrett Equipment Manager of the Year - Tony Deynzer, Colorado Eagles
CHL Man of the Year - Justin Quenneville, Corpus Christi Ice Rays
CHL All-Rookie Team - F: Sean Muncy (RGV), Nick Sirota (MIZ), Ryan Garbutt (CRP), D: Jake Obermeyer (AMA), Sean Erickson (TUL), G: Danny Battochio (RPD)
All-CHL Team - F: Riley Nelson (COL), Kevin Ulanski (COL), Les Reaney (RPD), D: Aaron Schneekloth (COL), Derek Eastman (TUL), G: Joel Martin (ODE)
Central Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2010
- Rush Head Coach Joe Ferras Named CHL Coach Of The Year - Rapid City Rush
- Rapid City's Joe Ferras Named CHL Coach Of The Year - CHL
- Rush Goaltender Danny Battochio Named CHL Rookie Of The Year - Rapid City Rush
- Brahmas Host Final Home Game Before Playoffs This Weekend - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Rapid City's Danny Battochio Named CHL Rookie Of The Year - CHL
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