Former Charlotte Goaltender Named AHL MVP

April 9, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. – Former Charlotte goaltender Jason LaBarbera was named as the Most Valuable Player of the American Hockey League on Friday. LaBarbera becomes the fourth ECHL player to earn the honor joining Eric Boguniecki in 2001-02, Martin Brochu in 1999-2000, and Brad Smyth in 1995-96.

LaBarbera was also named goaltender of the year by the AHL as well as being named a First Team AHL All-Star. LaBarbera was 32-9-9 and set a league record with 13 shutouts while his goals against average of 1.60 ranks second in league history and his save percentage of .936 ranks third in league history. LaBarbera became the sixth ECHL goaltender to earn goaltender of the year in the AHL joining Marc Lamothe in 2002-03, Martin Brochu in 1999-2000, Martin Biron in 1998-99, Manny Legace in 1995-96, and Frederic Chabot in 1993-94.

In his first professional season in 2000-01 with Charlotte, LaBarbera was 18-10-7 with a goals against average of 3.20 and a save percentage of .910 in 35 regular season games and 1-1 with a goals against average of 2.09 and a save percentage of .945 in two Kelly Cup Playoff games. In 2001-02 with Charlotte, LaBarbera was 9-3-1 with a goals against average of 2.34 and a save percentage of .924 in 13 regular season games and 2-2 with a goals against average of 3.39 and a save percentage of .910 in four Kelly Cup Playoff games.

The AHL previously named former Wheeling forward Michel Ouellet to the AHL All-Rookie Team. Ouellet leads league rookies with 29 goals, 12 power-play goals and seven game-winning goals. He is tied for fifth among league rookies with a team-leading 48 points (29g-19a) in 77 games. In his first professional season in 2002-03, Ouelett led Wheeling with seven power-play goals while ranking second on the team with 46 points and 26 assists and third on the team with 20 goals in 55 games.

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