UHL's Greatest Goaltender Retires
Published on July 8, 2003 under United Hockey League (UHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release
Moline, IL â Joe Dimaline of the Quad City Mallards, who holds the record for the most wins by a goaltender in United Hockey League history, has announced his retirement from professional hockey after six stellar seasons.
Dimaline, a 30-year-old native of North York, Ontario, near Toronto, is beginning a career as a police officer. As a member of the Peel Regional Police force, he will serve about one million residents in the areas of Brampton and Mississauga, cities located near Toronto. Training starts Aug. 11 and he expects to be sworn in around the first of the year. Dimaline lives in Brampton with his wife, Heidi, and their son, Matthew, who was born in February.
"With Matthew being born, it was time to look for something a little more permanent to take care of my family," said Dimaline. "In my career, I got to be a part of two championships and played for the best organization in the league. I wouldn't trade it in for anything."
He finishes his pro career with a 165-65-21 (.699) regular season record, all in the United Hockey League with the Mallards and the Muskegon Fury. The 165 wins are an all-time league best. Dimaline passed Rockford's J.F. Rivard during the 2002-03 season. He also holds the all-time UHL record with 15 regular season shutouts.
Dimaline proved himself in the post-season as well, winning Colonial Cup championships with the Mallards in 2001 and with the Fury in 1999. He is the all-time UHL leader with four playoff shutouts.
"Joe Dimaline had an outstanding run with the Mallards and was a big piece of the puzzle in helping us win the 2001 championship," said Cornfield. "He will be remembered as one of the greatest players ever to put on a Mallards uniform, and deservedly so."
The Mallards acquired Dimaline from Muskegon, in exchange for defenseman Rick Emmett and goaltender Scott Myers, on Feb. 22, 2001. He was nearly unbeatable the rest of the season, going 13-0-2 down the stretch in the regular season and 6-1 in the playoffs, as the Mallards won the Colonial Cup. In 2001-02, he set a UHL single-season record with a 2.16 goals against average while compiling an outstanding 38-7-1 regular season record. This past season, he went 19-12-3 while splitting time with rookie Jeff Reynaert. He also missed 21 games during two stints on the injured reserve list.
Other highlights of Joe Dimaline's career:
· Set Muskegon franchise record with a nine game winning streak in 1998
· Named to 1997-98 UHL All-Rookie team, ranking second in league in goals against average
· Member of 1999 UHL Colonial Cup Champion Muskegon Fury, leading all playoff goaltenders in wins
· Named UHL Goaltender of the Year for 1998-99, leading league in goals against average and save percentage, and tying for lead in shutouts
· Selected for UHL All-Star Game in 1999 and 2000
· Won seven consecutive games Nov. 14-Dec. 5, 2001, and again Dec. 29, 2001-Feb. 1, 2002
· Ranks second in Mallards history in wins, goals against average, games, and minutes
United Hockey League Stories from July 8, 2003
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