Aeros' duo wins AHL's Harry "Hap" Holmes Award
April 13, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League has announced that Nolan Schaefer and Barry Brust of the Houston Aeros have won the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for the 2007-08 season. Since 1972, the award has been presented to the goaltender(s) appearing in at least 25 games for the team which allows the fewest goals in the regular season.
Houston allowed just 183 goals in 2007-08 and finished the regular season with a record of 45-29-2-4. The Aeros are on their way back to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the sixth time in seven years as a member of the American Hockey League, and will open their division semifinal series against Rockford on Friday night.
Schaefer concluded the regular season atop the AHL in goals-against average at 2.06. A participant in the 2008 AHL All-Stat Classic, Schaefer posted a record of 19-13-0 in 34 games and finished tied for second in the league with six shutouts and fourth in save percentage (.924). Brust appeared in a career-high 43 games for the Aeros this season and ended the year at 24-16-3 with a 2.27 goals-against average, good for sixth in the league.
The Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award, which was first awarded in 1948 to the goaltender with the best goals-against average in the AHL, is named for Hockey Hall of Famer Harry "Hap" Holmes, a prominent figure in early professional hockey and an outstanding goaltender of his time. Previous winners or co-winners of the award include Gil Mayer (1951, '53, '54, '55, '56), Johnny Bower (1957, '58), Marcel Paille (1961, '62), Gerry Cheevers (1965), Gilles Villemure (1969, '70), Pete Peeters (1979), Pelle Lindbergh (1981), Olaf Kolzig (1994), Mike Dunham (1995), Manny Legace (1996), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (1998), Martin Biron (1999), Mika Noronen (2001), Joey MacDonald (2003), Wade Dubielewicz (2004), Jason LaBarbera (2005, 2007) and Dany Sabourin (2006).
Currently in its 72nd season of play, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 83 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 6 million fans have attended AHL games across North America in each of the past six seasons. Sixteen clubs will continue to vie for the league's coveted championship trophy when the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs get underway on Wednesday night.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2008
- Krog wins AHL's scoring Triple Crown - AHL
- Aeros' duo wins AHL's Harry "Hap" Holmes Award - AHL
- Admirals Battle Wolves in Playoffs, Start Wednesday - Milwaukee Admirals
- Phantoms Close Regular Season With 3-2 Win Over Albany - Adirondack Phantoms
- Crunch Clinch Home Ice in Calder Cup Playoffs - Syracuse Crunch
- AHL announces opening schedules for 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs - AHL
- Phantoms Announce Year-End Awards - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wolves Battle Admirals in West Division Semifinal - Chicago Wolves
- Wolves clinch best record in western conference in final tune up before playoffs - Chicago Wolves
- Krog wins AHL's scoring Triple Crown - Chicago Wolves
- Aeros' duo wins AHL's Harry "Hap" Holmes Award - Houston Aeros
- 'Dogs crunched in season finale - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Sound Tigers conclude season with a 3-2 loss to Connecticut rival - Bridgeport Islanders
- Moose open Calder Cup playoffs Friday in Syracuse - Manitoba Moose
- Moose head to playoffs on winning notes - Manitoba Moose
- P-Bruins Fall To Devils 4-1 - Providence Bruins
- Sharks Thank Fans With 4-2 Win In Season Finale - Worcester Sharks
- Marlies Announce 2007-08 Individual Award Winners - Toronto Marlies
- Amerks Close Regular Season Tonight Against Lake Erie - Rochester Americans
- AHL Morning Skate - AHL
- Wolves Sign Esposito - Chicago Wolves
- Aeros In Three Way Tie For Third With One Game Left - Houston Aeros
- Stars Drop 4-1 Decision At Peoria - Iowa Chops
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.
