Utah's Ortega Named CCM/ECHL Rookie of the Month

March 2, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

Austin Ortega of the Utah Grizzlies
(Utah Grizzlies)

Ortega scored seven goals and added 14 assists for 21 points in 11 games during the month.

The 23-year-old picked up at least one point in 10 of his 11 outings in February, including eight multi-point games. He had three points on Feb. 9 at Rapid City, Feb. 19 against Idaho and Feb. 24 against Wichita and ended the month on an eight-game point streak. Ortega was named ECHL Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 25 after recording eight points (2g-6a) in three games.

Under an American Hockey League contract with San Diego, Ortega has 35 points (15g-20a) in 24 games with Utah and is tied for second among ECHL rookies with seven power-play goals and ranks third among first-year players with 16 power-play points. He has added 10 points (2g-8a) in 17 games with San Diego.

Prior to turning pro, Ortega tallied 139 points (70g-69a) in 147 career games at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He also had 93 points (53g-40a) in 125 career games with Cedar Rapids, Fargo and Indiana of the United States Hockey League.

Runners Up: Aaron Irving, Kalamazoo (7 gp, 8g, 5a, 13 pts.) and Charles Williams, Manchester (4-2-1, 2.42 GAA, .916 save pct.).

Also Nominated: Joe Cox (Florida), Artur Tyanulin (Fort Wayne), Jack Burton (Indy), Martins Dzierkals (Orlando), Michael Huntebrinker (Reading), Parker Reno (Toledo), Devin Williams (Tulsa), Riley Bourbonnais (Wheeling), Chad Butcher (Wichita) and Jeff Kubiak (Worcester).

Austin Ortega of the Utah Grizzlies

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