Zapolski Receives ECHL Goaltender of the Year Honors
April 4, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release
North Charleston, S.C. - The South Carolina Stingrays, celebrating 20 seasons of hockey in the Lowcountry and proud ECHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL), announced today that goaltender Ryan Zapolski has been named the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Year for 2012-13.
Zapolski, who was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and All-ECHL First Team last week and on Monday was named the ECHL Rookie of the Year, is the first rookie to be named the Goaltender of the Year since Alaska's Jean-Philippe Lamoureux in 2008-09. He joins Louisiana's Frederic Cloutier (2001-02), Trenton's Scott Stirling (2000-01), Hampton Roads' Jan Lasak (1999-00) and Richmond's Maxime Gingras (1998-99) as winners of both the Rookie of the Year and Goaltender of the Year in the same season.
The Erie, Pennsylvania, native led the ECHL this season with a 1.64 goals-against average, a .942 save percentage and eight shutouts, while finishing tied for second with 27 wins and fifth with 2,378 minutes played. Zapolski set a new ECHL single-season record for lowest goals-against average, while tying the mark for most shutouts in a season and tying the second best save percentage in league history. Zapolski also earned Most Valuable Player honors at the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game, stopping all 17 shots he faced in the second period of the ECHL All-Star 7-3 win against Colorado.
Zapolski is the second Stingray to be named ECHL Goaltender of the Year behind Todd Ford in 2009-10. Current Stingrays goaltender Jeff Jakaitis won the award last season as a member of the Gwinnett Gladiators.
The Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year award is presented annually to the goaltender selected to be the best at his position as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media members.
Mark Guggenberger of Alaska finished second, followed by Idaho's Josh Robinson, Joel Martin of Kalamazoo and Gwinnett's Mike Lee.
Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Year Award Winners
2012-13 Ryan Zapolski, South Carolina Stingrays
2011-12 Jeff Jakaitis, Gwinnett Gladiators
2010-11 Gerald Coleman, Alaska Aces
2009-10 Todd Ford, South Carolina Stingrays
2008-09 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, Alaska Aces
2007-08 Anton Khudobin, Texas Wildcatters
2006-07 Adam Berkhoel, Dayton Bombers
2005-06 Matt Underhill, Alaska Aces
2004-05 Chris Madden, Florida Everblades/Long Beach Ice Dogs
2003-04 Scott Stirling, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
2002-03 Alfie Michaud, Peoria Rivermen
2001-02 Frederic Cloutier, Louisiana IceGators
2000-01 Scott Stirling, Trenton Titans
1999-00 Jan Lasak, Hampton Roads Admirals
1998-99 Maxime Gingras, Richmond Renegades
1997-98 Nick Vitucci, Toledo Storm
1996-97 Marc Delorme, Louisiana IceGators
1995-96 Alain Morissette, Louisville RiverFrogs
1994-95 Chris Gordon, Huntington Blizzard
1993-94 Cory Cadden, Knoxville Cherokees
The Stingrays kick off the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs with Game 1 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Friday, April 5 against the Gladiators at 7:35 p.m. at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. Listen to all the action live at StingraysHockey.com ! Game 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) is at the North Charleston Coliseum on Wednesday, April 10, Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 at 7:05 p.m.! 2013 Kelly Cup Playoff Packages are on sale now! Visit StingraysHockey.com or call (843) 744-2248 to find out how you can join the Stingrays in the chase for the Kelly Cup!
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from April 4, 2013
- Eagles Flip Script, Take Game 2 in OT to Even Series at 1-1 - Colorado Eagles
- Titans (Final) Week in Review - Trenton Titans
- Royals Announce Playoff Roster Transactions - Reading Royals
- Thunder Weekly - Stockton Thunder
- Park 77 Bar to Host Road Playoff Game Watch Parties - San Francisco Bulls
- ECHL Transactions - April 4 - ECHL
- Zapolski Receives ECHL Goaltender of the Year Honors - South Carolina Stingrays
- South Carolina's Zapolski Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Year - ECHL
- ECHL Today - April 4 - ECHL
- Reign Break Records in 7-2 Win over Grizzlies - Ontario Reign
- Ontario Takes 2-0 Series Lead with 7-2 Win - Utah Grizzlies
- Idaho Rallies for OT Win in Playoff Opener - Idaho Steelheads
- Pair of Fluky Goals Help Idaho to 4-3 Overtime Win in Game 1 - Colorado Eagles
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.