Ballard Named CHL Goaltender of the Week

March 22, 2005 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Oklahoma City Blazers News Release


Oklahoma City, Okla. –Oklahoma City Blazers goaltender Boyd Ballard was named the Oakley Central Hockey League Goaltender of the Week for the final week of the season, the Blazers front office announced today.

Ballard, a 5-10, 180-pound native of Weyburn, Sask. posted a 2-0-0 record, stopping 57 of the 59 shots for the week. March 15, against Bossier-Shreveport, he was pressed into service after scheduled starter Sean Connors aggravated an ankle injury and could not play. The short notice didn't phase Ballard. He stopped all 26 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season and fifth of his Blazers career. In his next start on March 19, Ballard stopped 31 of 33 Topeka Tarantula shots and all four shooters in the shootout to guide the Blazers to a 3-2 victory.

Entering the game on March 19 against Topeka, Ballard was riding a 104 minute 31 second shutout streak dating back to February 18. A goal by Tarantulas forward Mike Lukajic 25 seconds into the second period snapped the shutout streak at 124 minutes 56 seconds. That is the longest shutout streak of the season for the Blazers and the sixth longest in franchise history. Ballard finished the season with a 9-11-3 record, 2.65 goals against average and .917 saves percentage. Both his goals against average and saves percentage rank him in the top 10 in the league's final statistics for goaltenders.

This marks the second consecutive week that a Blazers goaltender has earned Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week honors. Last week, Sean Connors garnered the honor.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 22, 2005


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