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Sound Tigers' Dubielewicz named AHL's top rookie

Published on April 2, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League announced today that goaltender Wade Dubielewicz of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers has been named the winner of the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding rookie for the 2003-04 season, as voted by AHL players and media in each of the league's 28 member cities.

Dubielewicz, a 25-year-old native of Invermere, B.C., has made 32 appearances for the Sound Tigers this season and has posted a record of 20-8-4. His eight shutouts rank third in the league, and are the most by an AHL rookie since the 1942-43 season. Dubielewicz also leads the AHL with a 1.42 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage, both of which are on pace to establish new league records. The former University of Denver standout was voted a starter for the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic in February, and has also been named to the 2003-04 AHL All-Rookie Team and the AHL Second All-Star Team. Dubielewicz made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders on Mar. 25 and stopped all 14 shots he faced to earn the win at Philadelphia.

This award, which was first presented by the AHL in 1947, honors the late Dudley "Red" Garrett, a promising young player who lost his life during World War II while serving in the Royal Canadian Navy. Garrett split his only pro season, 1942-43, between the AHL's Providence Reds and the NHL's New York Rangers. Dubielewicz is the 11th goaltender to win the award in its 57-year history, joining the likes of Terry Sawchuk (1949), Roger Crozier (1964), Pelle Lindbergh (1981), Ron Hextall (1986), Felix Potvin (1992) and Mika Noronen (2000).

Other previous winners of the Garrett Award include Wally Hergesheimer (1951), Bill Sweeney (1958), Rick Middleton (1974), Darryl Sutter (1980), Steve Thomas (1985), Brett Hull (1987), Donald Audette (1990), Darcy Tucker (1996), Daniel Briere (1998), Tyler Arnason (2002) and Darren Haydar (2003).

As it concludes its 68th regular season on Apr. 11, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 80 percent of all players to compete in the NHL this season have been AHL graduates, and nearly 400 players have taken the ice in both leagues in 2003-04.

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