Columbia's Minard Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Saver of the Week

December 7, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - Mike Minard of Columbia is the Reebok Hockey ECHL Saver of the Week for November 29-December 5.

Under contract to Manitoba of the American Hockey League, Minard was 2-0-0 with a shutout, a goals-against average of 0.50 and a save percentage of .981 as the Inferno went 2-1-0 for the week and 8-6-3 overall, tied for third place in the East Division with 19 points.

Minard had 26 saves in a 6-0 win, his second shutout of the season, over division rival South Carolina on Thursday, allowing Columbia to move into a third-place tie with South Carolina. He then had 27 saves in a 5-1 win at second-place Charlotte, allowing the Inferno to remain tied with Greenville and South Carolina for third place.

Since returning from a call-up to Manitoba on November 22, Minard has started four games for Columbia, going 4-0-0 with a shutout, a goals-against average of 1.00 and a save percentage of .967. Minard is 5-0-2 and tied for third in the ECHL with two shutouts while ranking fourth in goals-against average (1.61) and save percentage (.946).

Selected in the fourth round (83rd overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Minard began his professional career in 1996-97 with Wheeling of the ECHL while also playing in the AHL with Hamilton. He also played in the ECHL with New Orleans, Dayton, Reading and Toledo, going 30-20-10 with four shutouts in 78 career regular season ECHL games.

Runners Up: Jason Saal, Augusta (3 gp, 2-1-0, 1.73 GAA, .950 save pct.) and Chris Beckford-Tseu, Peoria (2 gp, 2-0-0, 1.88 GAA, .940 save pct.).

Also Nominated: Lance Mayes (Alaska), Jake Moreland (Atlantic City), Yutaka Fukufuji (Bakersfield), Alex Westlund (Charlotte), Andrew Penner (Dayton), Brett Jaeger (Fresno), Sean Fields (Gwinnett), Sebastien Centomo (Las Vegas), Nathan Marsters (Louisiana), Matt Underhill (Mississippi), Todd Ford (Pensacola), Barry Brust (Reading), Trevor Koenig (San Diego), Maxime Daigneault (South Carolina), Phil Osaer (Texas), Logan Koopmans (Toledo), Andrew Allen (Trenton), Jason Stone (Victoria) and Andy Chiodo (Wheeling).

ECHL Stories from December 7, 2004

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• Gladiators win streak halted at six - Atlanta Gladiators
• IceGators Blank the Lynx 3-0 - Louisiana IceGators
• 'Blades win 6th straight with 5-2 win over Gwinnett - Florida Everblades
• Condors on Top of ECHL - Bakersfield Condors
• Wranglers Trade Stringer to Peoria - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Defenseman Johnson Returns from the Hershey Bears - Peoria Rivermen
• Everblades McDonald Named Player of the Week - Florida Everblades
• IceGators Announce St. Landry Appreciation Night - Louisiana IceGators
• Ice Pilots To Visit Sacred Heart Children's Hospital - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Bombers announce revised radio schedule - Dayton Bombers
• Columbia's Minard Named Reebok Hockey ECHL Saver of the Week - ECHL
• Gladiators For Kids Fund Accepting Grant Applications - Atlanta Gladiators
• Everblades' McDonald Named In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
• Rivermen, Brewers Distributing to Host the Second Bud Light Night Out with the Rivermen - Peoria Rivermen
• Cygan comes off IR - Trenton Devils
• New Year's Lockdown Announced For Teens - Mississippi Sea Wolves
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• Perry returns to Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
• Lynx Dining For Wishes This Wednesday - Augusta Lynx
• Edmonton forward assigned to Grrrowl - Greenville Grrrowl
• ECHL Today - ECHL

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