Grobins this week's top goalie
December 15, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Central Hockey League today named Thunder netminder Nathan Grobins the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week.
Grobins went 2-0-0 over the weekend, stopping 61 of 62 shots and recording Wichita's first shutout in over 2 ½ years. The 31-year-old native of Houston, British Columbia also helped his own cause with the 26th assist of his career.
On Friday night at Colorado, Grobins came within nine seconds of a shutout, allowing only Brad Patterson's late third period goal. He finished the night with 43 saves and held the first place Eagles' big three of Ryan Tobler, Greg Pankewicz and Riley Nelson scoreless on their 19 shots. The threesome had entered the night with a combined 51 goals and 123 points.
On Saturday night at the Kansas Coliseum, Grobins benefited from stellar defense, stopping 18 shots in a 5-0 Thunder victory over the first place Memphis RiverKings. He also assisted on Adam Calder's second period breakaway goal, which sealed Grobins' 99th career victory. The shutout was the first in Thunder history since Stan "Smokey" Reddick shutout the Oklahoma City Blazers on March 8th, 2001.
Ironically, Grobins was traded to the Thunder from Memphis on November 18th, just one day after being named the CHL Goaltender for that Week. Grobins went 5-2-0 with the RiverKings and has now gone 5-2-2 in a Thunder uniform, with an impressive 2.16 goals against average. Overall, he is 10-4-2 on the season with a 2.22 goals against average and a .931 save percentage.
The Thunder, 4-1-1 in their last six games, open a busy week in Oklahoma City tomorrow night, before returning home to host the Indianapolis Ice on Wednesday, for the first of five straight home games. All tickets for Wednesday's game are buy-one-get-one-free with a Dillon's receipt showing the proof of purchase of any Sterling Silver meat product.
For more information or to order tickets, call the Thunder office at 264-GOAL or visit our website at www.wichitathunder.com.
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