Atlantic City's Stirling Named Sher-Wood ECHL Most Valuable Player

April 9, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL announced on Friday that Atlantic City goaltender Scott Stirling is the 2003-04 Sher-Wood ECHL Most Valuable Player as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches. Stirling becomes only the second goaltender in league history to win the MVP award joining Frederic Cloutier of Louisiana, who won in 2001-02.

Stirling on Thursday became the first goaltender in league history to be named Goaltender of the Year twice, having earned the honor as a rookie with Trenton in 2000-01 when he was also named Rookie of the Year and All-ECHL First Team.

Named to the All-ECHL First Team for the second time last week, Stirling was 31-13-5 with four shutouts while leading the league with a goals against average of 1.91 and a save percentage of .933 in 49 regular season games. Under contract to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League, Stirling surpassed his team record of 24 wins set in 2001-02 and tied the team record for shutouts.

Columbia forward Tim Smith (69 gp, 33g, 62a, 95 pts, +40) finished second in the voting followed by Pensacola goaltender Brian Eklund (62 gp, 38-17-7, 3.01 GAA, .921 save pct.), Wheeling left wing Jason Jaffray (54 gp, 37g, 37a, 74 pts, +20) and San Diego left wing Mark Pederson (70 gp, 44g, 37a, 81 pts, +15).

Stirling's goals against average of 1.91 is a team record and ties Curtis Sanford of Peoria (2000-01) for the second-lowest goals against average in league history. His save percentage of .933 is a team record and ties Jeff Salajko of Columbus (1997-98) for the third-highest save percentage in league history. Stirling, who won 32 games as a rookie with Trenton, is one of only four goaltenders in ECHL history to win more than 30 games twice.

Returned from a call-up to the AHL on Tuesday, Stirling is 1-0-0 with a goals against average of 0.00 and a 1.000 save percentage with Bridgeport, making 21 saves in a 6-0 win against Albany on April 4. He is also 1-0-0 with a goals against average of 0.00 and a save percentage of 1.000 with Portland after making 21 saves, including two in overtime, in a 1-0 win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 13.

Named to replace injured Arturs Irbe as the starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game, Stirling holds the record for most ECHL All-Star Game appearances and starts by a goaltender. He was named the MVP in 2003 after making 11 saves in the first period of an 8-2 win.

In his fourth professional season, Stirling is 108-39-15 with 13 shutouts, a goals against average of 2.33 and a save percentage of .921 in 169 career regular season ECHL games. In the ECHL postseason, he is 24-11 with a goals against average of 2.15. He helped Atlantic City win the Kelly Cup in 2003 and advance to the Northern Conference Finals in 2002 while helping Trenton advance to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2001. In 13 career regular season games in the AHL, Stirling is 11-2-0 with two shutouts, a goals against average of 2.14 and a save percentage of .922.

Sher-Wood ECHL Most Valuable Player Award Winners

2003-04
Scott Stirling, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies

2002-03
Buddy Smith, Arkansas RiverBlades

2001-02
Frederic Cloutier, Louisiana IceGators

2000-01
Scott King, Charlotte Checkers

1999-00
Andrew Williamson, Toledo Storm

1998-99
Chris Valicevic, Louisiana IceGators

1997-98
Jamey Hicks, Birmingham Bulls

1996-97
Mike Ross, South Carolina Stingrays

1995-96
Hugo Belanger, Nashville Knights

1994-95
Vadim Slivchenko, Wheeling Thunderbirds

1993-94
Joe Flanagan, Birmingham Bulls

1992-93
Trevor Jobe, Nashville Knights

1991-92
Phil Berger, Greensboro Monarchs

1990-91
Stan Drulia, Knoxville Cherokees

1989-90
Bill McDougall, Erie Panthers

1988-89
Daryl Harpe, Erie Panthers

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