Salmon Kings' Shantz Earns Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week Award

February 15, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks and Manitoba Moose, announced today that goaltender David Shantz has been named Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for February 7th - 13th.

The 24-year-old earns the honour after posting a 2-0-0 mark this past weekend in the Salmon Kings' two-game sweep of the Las Wranglers. Shantz notched his second shutout of the year after completing a 28-save effort in a 2-0 victory this past Friday, and followed up with a 30-save performance in the club's 4-2 win on Sunday.

This is the fourth time the Burlington, ON native has won this award in his ECHL career, following the honour earlier this season (November 15th - 21st), and twice during last year's 2009-10 campaign (December 28th - January 3rd, December 14th - 20th).

Shantz, a second round draft pick (37th overall) of the Florida Panthers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has posted a 18-17-3 record in 39 appearances this season to go along with a 2.74 goals against average, a save percentage of 0.913 and two shutouts. Additionally, Shantz leads all ECHL goaltenders with 2,297 minutes played and ranks second in the league with 1,107 saves.

Shantz's four weekly goaltender awards is tops in Salmon Kings' history, and he is one of only six Victoria goaltenders (B.J. Boxma, Julien Ellis, Billy Thompson, Jonathan Boutin and Matt Keetley) to win the ECHL's weekly goaltending award. Shantz is also the only Victoria netminder to have won it more than once in the same season.

In 144 career ECHL starts between Victoria, Elmira, Dayton and Florida, the goaltender has registered a 75-47-15 mark to match a 0.908 save percentage, a 2.85 goals against average and six shutouts. Shantz is also a two-time ECHL All-Star, first as a member of the 2007 team representing the Florida Everblades, then as the starting netminder in the 2010 edition as a Salmon King.

The Salmon Kings continue their six-game road trip with a matchup against the Bakersfield Condors tonight at the Rabobank Arena. Game time is at 7:05 pm. To watch or listen live to Salmon Kings hockey visit www.salmonkings.com. Victoria returns home to face the Utah Grizzlies for a two-game set on Friday, February 25th at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.



ECHL Stories from February 15, 2011


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