Grizzlies' Smith named Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week
Published on December 8, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA ... The American Hockey League announced today that Utah Grizzlies goaltender Mike Smith has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending December 7, 2003. Smith stopped 78 of 80 shots and posted three victories last week, all in important games against West Division rivals.
The rookie Smith made 25 saves on Wednesday night as Utah snapped a three-game home losing streak with a 3-1 win over Houston at the "E" Center. On Saturday, Smith turned aside 22 shots in a 7-1 victory over visiting Cincinnati, and on Sunday, he recorded the first shutout of his AHL career, stopping 31 Mighty Ducks attempts in a 2-0 triumph. For the week, Smith was 3-0-0 with a 0.67 goals against average and a .975 save percentage.
In recognition of his achievement, Smith will receive a Sher-Wood leather jacket, presented to him during an on-ice ceremony prior to an upcoming game. In addition, Sher-Wood will donate five travel bags to the Salt Lake County Youth Hockey Association in Smith's name.
A 2001 draft pick of the Dallas Stars, Smith is in his first full AHL season in 2003-04, and has a record of 6-5-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .917 save percentage in 13 appearances with the Grizzlies this year. A native of Kingston, Ont., the 21-year-old Smith played three seasons of junior hockey (1999-2002) with Kingston and Sudbury of the OHL, where he played with fellow current AHL'ers Derek MacKenzie, Jason Jaspers, Fedor Fedorov, Chris Kelly, Tom Kostopoulos, Mike Zigomanis, Brett Clouthier and Grizzlies teammate Dan Jancevski.
Other nominees for Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week include Bridgeport center Kevin Colley, Cleveland goaltender Nolan Schaefer, Grand Rapids goaltender Marc Lamothe, Hartford center Cory Larose, Hershey right wing Sheldon Keefe, Houston center Dan Cavanaugh, Manchester left wing Noah Clarke, Manitoba center Pat Kavanagh, Milwaukee defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, Providence center Andre Savage, Rochester center Derek Roy, Springfield left wing Mike Stutzel, Syracuse right wing Tim Jackman and Toronto left wing Jani Rita.
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