Colts' Mathias Niederberger Named OHL Player of the Week
February 6, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release
Toronto, ON - The Ontario Hockey League today announced that goaltender Mathias Niederberger of the Barrie Colts is the OHL Player of the Week after recording two shutout victories in two starts for the week ending February 5 posting a perfect goals-against-average of 0.00 and save percentage of 1.000.
Niederberger follows last week's award winner Mark Visentin of the Niagara IceDogs as just the second OHL goaltender to claim the honour this season. On Friday night Niederberger made 23 saves as first star of a 1-0 win over the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors earning his first career shutout which also marked the first team shutout for the Colts since January, 2010. On Saturday night he backstopped the Colts to a 5-0 win over Sault Ste. Marie where he made 23 saves including a second period penalty shot stop against Greyhounds' top scorer Nick Cousins as part of his first star effort. Niederberger's two wins last week give the Colts four straight victories and 59 points where they sit fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Niederberger, a 19-year-old German native is playing in his first OHL season after being selected 25th overall by the Colts in the 2011 CHL Import Draft. In 34 games this season he carries a record of 19-10-1-1 with a goals-against-average of 2.77 and save percentage of .915. In December he was one of five OHL players that earned gold with Germany in the 2012 IIHF Division I Group A World U20 Championship.
Also considered for the award this week was Brandon Saad of the Saginaw Spirit who picked up seven points in three games scoring three goals and four assists, while Mike Halmo of the Owen Sound Attack scored two goals and four assists for six points in two games.
2011-12 OHL Players of the Week:
Jan. 30 - Feb. 5: Mathias Niederberger, Barrie Colts
Jan. 23 - Jan. 29: Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs
Jan. 16 - Jan. 22: Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers
Jan. 9 - Jan. 15: Josh Shalla, Saginaw Spirit
Jan. 2 - Jan. 8: Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67's
Dec. 26 - Jan. 1: Beau Schmitz, Plymouth Whalers
Dec. 12 - Dec. 18: Andrew Agozzino, Niagara IceDogs
Dec. 5 - Dec. 11: Philip Lane, Brampton Battalion
Nov. 28 - Dec. 4: Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals
Nov. 21 - Nov. 27: Brendan Gaunce, Belleville Bulls
Nov. 14 - Nov. 20: Tanner Pearson, Barrie Colts
Nov. 7 - Nov. 13: Ryan Spooner, Kingston Frontenacs
Oct. 31 - Nov. 6: Matt Puempel, Peterborough Petes
Oct. 24 - Oct. 30: Shane Prince, Ottawa 67's
Oct. 17 - Oct. 23: Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit
Oct. 10 - Oct. 16: Nail Yakupov, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 3 - Oct. 9: Greg McKegg, Erie Otters
Sept. 26 - Oct. 2: Seth Griffith, London Knights
Sept. 21 - Sept. 25: Tanner Pearson, Barrie Colts
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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2012
- Colts' Mathias Niederberger Named OHL Player of the Week - OHL
- Gibson to Undergo Surgery - Kitchener Rangers
- Majors Complete Lost Weekend - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
- Halmo Named Becker Shoes Attacker of the Week - Owen Sound Attack
- Vail, Spits Prevail Over Majors - Windsor Spitfires
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