P-Bruins alum Raycroft a finalist for NHL Rookie of the Year
April 21, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release
The National Hockey League announced today that former Providence Bruins goaltender Andrew Raycroft is a finalist for the league's Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League", as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. The winners of the NHL's annual awards will be announced in Toronto on June 10. The Awards Show will be televised live on ESPN2 from 8:30 p.m. â 10:00 p.m.
Raycroft, a 23-year-old native of Belleville, Ontario, just completed his first full NHL season with the Boston Bruins, and firmly established himself as the backbone of the team that went on to win the Northeast Division title. Raycroft was 29-18-9, while ranking 10th in the NHL in wins. His 2.05 GAA was the sixth-best in the league, while his .926 save percentage was fifth-best. He also posted three shutouts. Raycroft was selected to play for the Eastern Conference Team during the YoungStars Game, as a part of the NHL's All-Star Weekend in February.
Raycroft's outstanding rookie season was recognized on several fronts. He was voted by Bruin fans as the 2003-04 recipient of the team's Seventh Player Award, as the player who contributed above and beyond expectations. He also received the team's Elizabeth C. Dufresne Trophy, "to the Boston player who has been most outstanding in home games," as well as the Three Stars Award. Raycroft was also named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for January, one day after he was named the NHL's Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending February 1. Raycroft posted an 8-2-0 record in 10 games for Boston in January, along with a 1.30 GAA and .956 save percentage. He had a streak of six consecutive wins during the month, including road shutouts at Detroit (3-0) on January 7, and Montreal (1-0) on January 31.
Raycroft spent most of his first three professional seasons in Providence, beginning in the 2000-01 season. He was voted by his teammates as the P-Bruins' Most Valuable Player in 2001-02, after setting franchise single-season records for games played (56), minutes played (3,317), saves (1,546) and shutouts (4). He posted back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2001-02 and 2002-03. Raycroft ranks second in team history in wins (56), and third in saves (3,256) and shutouts (6). He was 56-48-13 with a 2.71 GAA and .911 save percentage in 121 career games with Providence. Raycroft was the Boston Bruins' fourth pick, 135th overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Information on Providence Bruins season ticket packages for the 2004-05 season is available online at www.providencebruins.com, and can also be obtained by calling the P-Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000.
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