Vrbetic Receives OHL Honour

November 15, 2021 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release

NORTH BAY, Ont. - Joe Vrbetic of the North Bay Battalion has been named the Ontario Hockey League's Goaltender of the Week for the period ended Sunday, the league announced Monday.

Vrbetic made 14 saves in a 4-0 victory Sunday over the visiting Sudbury Wolves for his first shutout of the season. It followed a 29-save performance in a 3-2 loss via shootout Friday night at Sudbury in the Battalion's other game of the week.

"Joe's game has been rounding out nicely of late," said general manager Adam Dennis.

"He's put in a lot of time with (goaltending coach) Mavric Parks over the past few weeks, and we're happy to see him rewarded for his hard work."

The award came a week after Vrbetic backstopped two road victories, 6-3 over the Peterborough Petes and 5-4 over the Kingston Frontenacs.

"I think what led to my success this weekend was keeping the confidence I had from last weekend against Peterborough and Kingston, and then going into our week with practices having the right mindset every day, doing the right things and working hard because I knew it was going to be a big weekend having two games against Sudbury," said Vrbetic.

"I've been working so far this season on trying to be a step ahead of the play and knowing what I'm going to do and how to make a save before the other team even moves the puck."

Vrbetic, a 19-year-old resident of Dunvegan, Ont., has a won-lost-extended record of 8-2-1 with a goals-against average of 2.82 and a save percentage of .901 in 11 games this season.

A second-round pick in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection from the Don Mills Flyers minor midgets, he has played in 54 games in two-plus seasons with a 22-27-2 record, a 3.93 GAA, an .885 save percentage and three shutouts.

The six-foot-six, 186-pound Vrbetic was a seventh-round choice of the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League Draft in July and attended Montreal's training camp.

The Battalion is 9-6-1 for 19 points, first in the Central Division.

Also receiving consideration for the award were Tristan Lennox of the Saginaw Spirit and Sudbury's Mitchell Weeks.

Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2021

• Vrbetic Receives OHL Honour - North Bay Battalion
• Knights' Antonio Stranges Named OHL Player of the Week - London Knights
• Frontenacs Complete Trade with Sting - Kingston Frontenacs
• Feeling at Home, Lucas Edmonds Is Adjusting Quickly to Kingston - Kingston Frontenacs
• Sting Acquire Ethan Ritchie from Frontenacs - Sarnia Sting
• Vrbetic and Stranges Named OHL Top Performers of the Week - OHL
• Wolve Host 67's Friday - Sudbury Wolves
• Knights Bounce Back - London Knights
• Nick Chenard Named Week 6 Huron Tractor Player of the Week - Owen Sound Attack
• 67's Alumnus Doug Wilson Enshrined in Hockey Hall of Fame - Ottawa 67's
• Attack Trade Prospect Hislop to Spirit for Draft Pick - Owen Sound Attack
• Cameron Supryka Traded to the Guelph Storm - Sarnia Sting
• Storm Acquire Overage Defenceman Cameron Supryka from the Sarnia Sting - Guelph Storm
• Spirit Acquire Defenseman Brayden Hislop from Owen Sound - Saginaw Spirit
• Sting Trade Supryka to Storm - Sarnia Sting

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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