Royals' Fukufuji Named Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender Of The Week

March 28, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - Yutaka Fukufuji of the Reading Royals is the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Mar. 20-26.

The 23-year-old was 2-0-0 with a goals-against average of 1.00 and a save percentage of .976 in two starts at home while helping the Royals go 4-0-0 to move into first place in the North Division with 89 points and a record of 41-19-7.

The 6-foot-1 and 190-pound Fukufuji stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 4-1 victory over Wheeling and made a season-high 50 saves in a 3-1 win against Trenton on Mar. 25.

Selected in the eighth round (238th overall) by Los Angeles in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and under NHL contract to the Kings, Fukufujiis 15-8-4 with a goals-against average of 2.82 and a team-leading .921 save percentage in 27 appearances. He has also played two games with Manchester in the American Hockey League where he is 1-1-0 with a goals-against average of 3.00 and a save percentage of .923.

Fukufuji, who in February 2003 with Cincinnati became the first Japanese-born goaltender to start an ECHL game, and the Kings agreed to terms on a two-year entry level contract in August.

Fukufuji, who agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Kings in August 2005, was 27-9-5 with a goals-against average of 2.48 and a save percentage of .919 in 44 games with Bakersfield in 2004-05.

Born in Tokyo, he became the first Japanese-born goaltender to start an ECHL game with Cincinnati, winning his North American debut, 3-2 in a shootout at Johnstown on Feb. 7, 2003. He finished the season with a 4-3-0 record, a goal-against average of 3.13 and a save percentage of .915.

He played in 2001-02 with the Kokudo Bunnies of the Japan Hockey League posting a goals-against average of 2.94. Fukufuji has played the past four years as a member of the Japanese National Team.

Runners Up: Mike Wall, Augusta (1-0-0, 0 GAA, 1.000 save pct.) and Marc Magliarditi Las Vegas (2-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .955 save pct.).

Also Nominated: John Decaro (Alaska), Phil Osear (Florida), Adam Berkhoel (Gwinnett), Steve Silverthorn (Idaho), Ryan Cyr (Phoenix), Mike Mole (San Diego), Davis Parley (South Carolina), Logan Koormans (Toledo), Rejean Beauchemin (Trenton) and Alfie Michaud (Utah).

ECHL Stories from March 28, 2006

• World's Largest Pillow Fight Friday - Bakersfield Condors
• Wranglers reveal first round playoff dates - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Royals' Fukufuji Named Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender Of The Week - ECHL
• Last-second goal lifts Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
• Gwinnett's Pyle Fined - ECHL
• Gulls' Kim Named In Glas Co ECHL Player Of The Week - ECHL
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Royals Drop A Heart Breaker On The Buzzer To Wheeling, 5-4 - Reading Royals
• ECHL Today - ECHL
• Wranglers Take Award for Third Straight Year - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Everblades end road trip with 4-1 over 'Rays - Florida Everblades
• Kim Named ECHL Player of the Week - San Diego Gulls
• Newest Bomber named All American - Dayton Bombers
• Wall named runner-up for Reebok Hockey Saver of the Week honors - Augusta Lynx
• Yutaka Fukufuji Selected As Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of Week - Reading Royals
• Service with a smile … your waiters will be Checkers players and coaches. - Charlotte Checkers
• Ayers Returns to Dayton - Dayton Bombers
• Knight Returned To Toledo - Toledo Walleye
• Cey & Andress Reassigned to Chiefs; Winer Departs - Johnstown Chiefs
• Gwinnett's Pyle Fined - ECHL
• Plourde nets Pacific Division title for Falcons - Fresno Falcons

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