Eklund Named ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Saver of the Week

December 2, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - Pensacola goaltender Brian Eklund is the ITECH HOCKEY ECHL Saver of the Week for November 24-30.

Under contract to Tampa Bay of the National Hockey League, Eklund was 3-0-0 with a 1.96 goals against average and a .953 save percentage as Pensacola went 3-1-0, finishing the week at 10-7-1 and in third place in the Central Division.

Selected in the seventh round (226th overall) by Tampa Bay in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Eklund made 30 saves in a 4-3 win against Mississippi on Tuesday. On Friday, he made 43 saves in regulation and seven saves in overtime before stopping all six shooters in a 2-1 shootout win against Louisiana. The 6-5 and 200-pound Eklund closed out the week making 44 saves in a 3-2 win against Mississippi.

Eklund is 10-4-0 with a 2.73 goals against average and a .926 save percentage in 14 games for Pensacola. He is tied for the ECHL lead in shootout percentage with 1.000 (6-for-6) while ranking second with 10 wins and third with 475 saves.

In his first professional season in 2002-03, Eklund was 10-6-0 with a 3.66 goals against average and a .896 save percentage in 19 games for Pensacola and was 1-0-0 with a 1.00 goals against average and a .974 save percentage in one game with Springfield of the American Hockey League.

Born in Braintree, Mass., Eklund played four seasons at Brown University appearing in 48 career games for the Bears. He was named ECAC Goaltender of the Week three times and also was a two-time ECAC All-Academic selection.

Runners Up: Derek Gustafson, Louisiana (2-0-0, 0.50 GAA, .979 save pct.), Mike Valley, Peoria (2-0-0, 0.50 GAA, .980 save pct.) and Nick Boucher, Wheeling (2-0-0, 1.15 GAA, .960 save pct.).

Also Nominated: Lance Mayes (Alaska), Scott Stirling (Atlantic City), Scott Meyer (Charlotte), Tyler Masters (Cincinnati), Olivier Michaud (Columbus), Andrew Penner (Dayton), Daniel Berthiaume (Greensboro), Scott Kabotoff (Greenville), Michael Garnett (Gwinnett), Cory Campbell (Johnstown), Brent Krahn (Las Vegas), Greg Gardner (Mississippi), Cody Rudkowsky (Reading), David Brumby (South Carolina), Jason Cugnet (Texas), and Chris Houle (Trenton).

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