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Holtby Named the MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus of the Month

January 4, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


PRINCETON, N.J.- Former ECHL and current Hershey Bears goaltender Braden Holtby is The MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus of the Month for December.

The leading distributor of game- worn hockey jerseys and "Official Game-Worn Jersey Source of the ECHL," MeiGray sold more than 500 game-worn jerseys in 2011-12 and has sold more than 6,500 since it became "The Official Game-Worn Jersey Source of the ECHL" in 2002-03.

The 24-year-old was named American Hockey League Goaltender of the Month after posting a 1.69 goals-against average, a .943 save percentage and three shutouts in 10 appearances for the Bears. Holtby allowed one goal or less in six of his 10 starts in December, and led Hersey to a sweep of a two-game series at St. John's on Dec. 11 and 12, stopping 62 of 63 shots in the two victories.

Overall this season, Holtby has appeared in 23 games, posting a 12-10-1 record with four shutouts, is tied for sixth in the league with a 2.15 goals-against average and is third with a .932 save percentage.

A native of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Holtby appeared in 12 games with South Carolina during the 2009-10 season, earning a spot in the ECHL All-Star Game, and posting a record of 7-2-3 with a 2.95 goals-against average and a save percentage of .911.

Selected by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round (93rd overall) of the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Holtby has seen action in 130 career AHL games with Hershey and has a record of 73-43-7 with 14 shutouts, a 2.37 goals-against average and a save percentage of .917. He also is 14-4-3 in 21 career regular-season games in the National Hockey League, and helped the Capitals to within one win of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals.

There have been 490 players who have played in the NHL after playing in the ECHL including 23 who made their debut in 2011-12. The ECHL has had 298 players reach the NHL since 2002-03 when it changed its focus to become the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. The ECHL had 97 players reach the NHL in its first 10 seasons and 215 in the first 15 years. There have been 234 ECHL players who have played their first game in the last seven seasons for an average of more than 33 per year.

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October Alexandre Bolduc

November Barry Brust

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