Minard, Underhill take home ECHL Monthly awards
Published on January 7, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The ECHL announced today that Chris Minard has been named the CCM Tacks Player of the Month and the HOK Plus-Performer of the Month while Matt Underhill took home the RBC Saver of the Month for December.
Minard, who was called up by Albany Thursday and had three shots on goal in his first game for the River Rats last night, scored 16 goals and assisted on eight others in 12 games during the month of December while posting a +16 rating, the best in the ECHL, which earned him the Plus-Performer award. He had at least a point in 11 straight games to close out December, including a hat trick in a 5-1 win at Fresno December 4. Minard scored twice in four straight games to close out the month against Victoria and had two game-winners among his 16 goals, which put him in a tie for the league lead with 25 at the time of his AHL promotion.
Underhill and his teammate Chris Beckford-Tseu (October) have accounted for two of the three ECHL Goaltender of the Month awards this season. Underhill proved to be an easy choice in December, winning seven straight starts, including three shutouts, before losing on New Year's Eve. He finished the month with a 1.88 goals against average and a .929 save percentage and currently ranks second in the ECHL in GAA behind only Beckford-Tseu as well as fourth in save percentage heading into tonight's start against Bakersfield. Underhill, a Campbell River, B.C. native, began December with 25 saves in a 5-0 whitewash of Long Beach on the 2nd, then had 27 saves at Victoria in an 8-0 win before his hometown crowd Dec. 17 and 19 stops in another blanking of the Salmon Kings Dec. 28 in Anchorage.
The Aces, 23-4-3 overall and unbeaten in their last eight games on the road, return to action tonight against the Condors at 6:00 p.m. AST before heading to San Diego for a Sunday 4:00 p.m. AST start. Alaska has begun its eight-game road trip with victories over the Gulls and the Phoenix Roadrunners. All Alaska Aces games, home and away, are broadcast live on KFQD AM 750 and at www.alaskaaces.com. In addition, all home games and selected road contests will be available on a pay-per-view basis on the internet, courtesy of B2 Networks.
ECHL Stories from January 7, 2006
- Aces win in Bako, 7-4 - Alaska Aces
- Ice Dogs Drop Another, Lose To Steelheads 4-1 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Wranglers silence Thunder 2-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Checkers lose two leads and game to Greenville 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Gulls Rip Grizzlies, 6-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Falcons Cruise to Victory - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads Keep Ice Dogs In Check, Win 4-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Ice Pilots Lose 6-3 At Florida - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Falcons clip Salmon fins - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Pittman's hat trick leads Titans to 5-2 win over Royals - Trenton Devils
- Gladiators win 7th Straight in 6-3 win against Columbia - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Win Streak Snapped In Trenton, 5-2 - Reading Royals
- Rays sting Lynx 6-3 - Augusta Lynx
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Wranglers' McKenna named Rookie of the Month - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Minard, Underhill take home ECHL Monthly awards - Alaska Aces
- Mike Kompon Loaned To Manchester - Reading Royals
- Schell called up to AHL Chicago - Atlanta Gladiators
- San Diego Looks For Fourth Win In The Last Five Games - San Diego Gulls
- Lynx announce time changes for remaining home games - Augusta Lynx
- Greenville Wins In Shootout 3-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Aces' Underhill Named RBC Financial Group ECHL Saver Of The Month - ECHL
- Wranglers' McKenna Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie Of The Month - ECHL
- Aces' Minard Named CCM TACKS ECHL Player Of The Month - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Munce Upon A Time: 63 Saves in Road Shootout Win - Bakersfield Condors
- Royals Pull Out Sixth Win In A Row By Beating Johnstown, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Thunder and Utah battle in physical affair in 5-1 Stockton setback - Stockton Thunder
- Ice Dogs Fire 64 Shots, Fall To Condors 2-1 In Shootout - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Grizzlies Silence Thunder 5-1 - Utah Grizzlies
- Falcons splash Salmon Kings - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Gulls Steal Win From Idaho, 2-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Checkers can't hold back Lynx, lose at Aiugusta 7-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Wranglers top Roadrunners, 3-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Gulls Score Late to Shock Steelheads, 2-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Falcons Return to Winning Ways - Fresno Falcons
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