Howard's perfect March nets Goaltender of the Month
April 3, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Two Grand Rapids Griffins players captured American Hockey League awards on Monday for their play during March, as goaltender Jimmy Howard was named the Koho/AHL Goaltender of the Month and left wing Donald MacLean was awarded the CCM/AHL Milestone of the Month.
Howard, 22, posted a perfect 11-0 record during March, with a 1.80 goals against average and a 0.936 save percentage. His overall 12-game winning streak shattered the previous team mark of eight (Mike Fountain, 2000-01) and propelled the Griffins to a franchise-record 11 straight victories. Howard's final win of March, a 5-4 overtime decision at Manitoba on Friday, clinched the North Division title (Sam Pollock Trophy) and the Western Conference regular season championship (N.R. "Bud" Poile Trophy) for the Griffins, whose 53-17-1-4 record gives them a commanding seven-point lead in the race for the AHL's regular season crown (Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy).
A top candidate for Rookie of the Year, Howard places among the league leaders with a Griffins-rookie-record 25 wins (T5th, 25-5-2), a 2.65 GAA (T12th) and a 0.907 save percentage (20th). He has led the team to points in 23 of his last 25 decisions (21-2-1-1).
This marks the second major award in two weeks for the former top pick of the Detroit Red Wings, as he was named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week on March 20. Howard becomes only the second Griffins goalie to win the AHL's monthly award, following Simon Lajeunesse's honor in January 2002.
MacLean, 29, was recognized for reaching the 50-goal plateau on March 12 at Chicago, becoming the first AHL player in five seasons (Hartford's Brad Smyth in 2000-01) and the 46th player in league history to reach the golden milestone. His team-record and league-high 53 goals tie for 17th in AHL history and are the most ever scored by a player in 19 seasons of pro hockey in Grand Rapids, dating back to 1950.
In addition to his lamp-lighting prowess, MacLean ranks among the AHL's best with 82 points (7th), 21 power play goals (2nd), eight game-winners (2nd) and a plus-17 rating (T19th).
In recognition of their achievements, Howard and MacLean will each receive an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Griffins home game.
American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2006
- Rivermen weekly - Peoria Rivermen
- Griffins lead AHL pack entering final fortnight - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rampage weekly - San Antonio Rampage
- Rinne Recalled by Nashville - Milwaukee Admirals
- Hurme named CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week - Portland Pirates
- Knights face four-game week - Abbotsford Heat
- Monarchs Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Binghamton Senators Weekly - Binghamton Senators
- Pennsylvania Blues for Lowell last week - Albany Devils
- Phantoms weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- Aeros loan Courchaine to ECHL Gwinnett - Houston Aeros
- Eriksson named AHL Rookie of the Month - Iowa Chops
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Howard's perfect March nets Goaltender of the Month - Grand Rapids Griffins
- In tough agains the North - Manitoba Moose
- Pirates' Hurme named CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Griffins' Howard named Koho/AHL Goaltender of the Month - AHL
- Stars' Eriksson named Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month - AHL
- Griffins' MacLean earns CCM/AHL Milestone of the Month - AHL
- Pushkarev And Petiot Called To Los Angeles - Manchester Monarchs
- Falcons Present Comic Book Day - Springfield Falcons
- Admirals clinch playoff berth with weekend sweep - Norfolk Admirals
- Cleveland Barons Weekly Report - Cleveland Barons
- Bruins Announce Sale of Playoff Tickets - Providence Bruins
- Binghamton's Denis Hamel recalled on emergency basis - Binghamton Senators
- Battle For Home Ice Takes Center Stage - Syracuse Crunch
- Penguins magic number down to two for first division title - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bulldogs face three North Division opponents - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Aeros Weekly Report - Houston Aeros
- Rampage sign Winnik to ATO - San Antonio Rampage
- Rampage Receive Spiller and Jones After Emergency Recalls - San Antonio Rampage
- Stars win fifth straight - Iowa Chops
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