Martin Earns Award
Published on November 9, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the second time in four weeks and for the third straight week, a member of the Bloomington PrairieThunder has been honored by International Hockey League officials.
Andrew Martin was named the league's Goaltender of the Week for his performances in two games at Port Huron and one in Muskegon over the weekend, it was announced Monday.
Martin compiled a 1-1-0-1 record with a.947 save percentage after being called into duty after the initial period in the first of two games at Port Huron on Friday when starter Paulo Colaiacovo suffered a mild groin injury. Martin had only played 34 minutes in the season opener prior to the Port Huron game.
The English-born Martin stopped all 17 shots he faced in the final 40 minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime. The PrairieThunder fell, 4-3, in a three-man shootout.
But that didn't stop Martin from responding with a stellar effort on Saturday as he pushed aside 48 of 49 shots, including 24 in the second period, to help Bloomington to a 5-1 victory. He also was able to stop all six Port Huron power play attempts.
"Marty was placed in a tough situation and responded," said PrairieThunder coach Jarrod Skalde, whose team is in first place with a 6-3-0-1 record (13 points) ahead of Friday's 7:05 p.m. contest against Dayton at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
In Muskegon on Sunday, the 26-year-old Martin stopped 25 of 29 shots in a 5-1 losing effort. Bloomington allowed four goals on 18 shots in the first period. Muskegon only had 12 shots over the final two periods and scored on empty-net goal. In three games, Martin made 90 of 95 saves.
"Marty didn't get a lot of help from our defense in the first period," admitted Skalde. "But he hung in there and battled. We finally settled down in the last two periods and played better."
Martin joins Colaiacovo and winger Craig Macdonald as IHL weekly award winners from the PrairieThunder this season.
Tickets for all PrairieThunder games are available at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office, calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or 309-585-0507, ext. 304.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from November 9, 2009
- Mior Records Gems First Shutout - IHL 2
- Mallards Harrison Named IHL Player Of The Week - Quad City Mallards
- Generals Silver Gets Rookie Honors - Flint Generals
- Generals Weekly Report - Flint Generals
- IHL Announces Weekly Honors - IHL 2
- Martin Earns Award - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Mallards Owner Lencheski To Address 2009 Sports Management Conference - Quad City Mallards
- Generals Weely Notes - Flint Generals
- 'Jacks Vault into Third Place - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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