Wranglers' McKenna Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie Of The Month

January 7, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - Mike McKenna of the Las Vegas Wranglers is the CCM Vector ECHL Rookie of the Month for December.

The 22-year-old, who selected to represent the Wranglers in the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game, was 6-0-0 in the month with a shutout, a goals-against average of 2.33 and a save percentage of .919 in seven appearances. He helped the Wranglers go 13-1-2, including a team record and league season-high 12-game winning streak and a 10-game road winning streak that tied the ECHL record. Las Vegas moved from third to first place in the West Division with 49 points and a record of 23-5-3.

Selected in the sixth round (172nd overall) by the Nashville Predators in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, McKenna opened the month with his first professional shutout, making 17 saves in a 3-0 win at Phoenix on Dec. 1. After making 23 saves in a 5-3 win over division rival Idaho on Dec. 3, McKenna stopped 77 of 83 shots in winning his next three starts, all on the road, including 26 saves in a 2-1 win at Long Beach on Dec. 21.

The 6-foot-2 and 190-pound McKenna is 9-1-1 in 13 games with a .916 save percentage and ranks second in the league with a 2.33 goals-against average.

Prior to turning professional, the St. Louis, Mo. native spent four years at St. Lawrence University in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference where as a freshman in 2001-02 he twice earned ECAC Rookie of the Week honors. He recorded a career record of 32-44-8 with a 3.01 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 95 games.

Runners Up: Dan Sisca, Florida (14 gp, 6g, 16a, 22 pts), Guillaume Desbiens, Gwinnett (15gp, 8g, 15a, 23 pts.) and Kurtis McLean, Wheeling (15gp, 13g, 11a, 24 pts.).

Also Nominated: Alex Leavitt (Alaska), Eric Lundberg (Augusta), Jeff Glass (Charlotte), Tim Sestito (Greenville), Jonathan Boutin (Johnstown), Adam Courchaine (Pensacola), Shawn Snider (Phoenix), T.J. Kemp (Reading), Jesse Bennefield (San Diego), Evan Schwabe (South Carolina), Dustin Traylen (Trenton) and Matt Craig (Utah).

ECHL Stories from January 7, 2006

• Aces win in Bako, 7-4 - Alaska Aces
• Ice Dogs Drop Another, Lose To Steelheads 4-1 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
• Wranglers silence Thunder 2-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Checkers lose two leads and game to Greenville 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
• Gulls Rip Grizzlies, 6-2 - San Diego Gulls
• Falcons Cruise to Victory - Fresno Falcons
• Steelheads Keep Ice Dogs In Check, Win 4-1 - Idaho Steelheads
• Ice Pilots Lose 6-3 At Florida - Pensacola Ice Pilots
• Falcons clip Salmon fins - Victoria Salmon Kings
• Pittman's hat trick leads Titans to 5-2 win over Royals - Trenton Devils
• Gladiators win 7th Straight in 6-3 win against Columbia - Atlanta Gladiators
• Royals Win Streak Snapped In Trenton, 5-2 - Reading Royals
• Rays sting Lynx 6-3 - Augusta Lynx
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Wranglers' McKenna named Rookie of the Month - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Minard, Underhill take home ECHL Monthly awards - Alaska Aces
• Mike Kompon Loaned To Manchester - Reading Royals
• Schell called up to AHL Chicago - Atlanta Gladiators
• San Diego Looks For Fourth Win In The Last Five Games - San Diego Gulls
• Lynx announce time changes for remaining home games - Augusta Lynx
• Greenville Wins In Shootout 3-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
• Aces' Underhill Named RBC Financial Group ECHL Saver Of The Month - ECHL
• Wranglers' McKenna Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie Of The Month - ECHL
• Aces' Minard Named CCM TACKS ECHL Player Of The Month - ECHL
• ECHL Today - ECHL
• Munce Upon A Time: 63 Saves in Road Shootout Win - Bakersfield Condors
• Royals Pull Out Sixth Win In A Row By Beating Johnstown, 4-3 - Reading Royals
• Thunder and Utah battle in physical affair in 5-1 Stockton setback - Stockton Thunder
• Ice Dogs Fire 64 Shots, Fall To Condors 2-1 In Shootout - Long Beach Ice Dogs
• Grizzlies Silence Thunder 5-1 - Utah Grizzlies
• Falcons splash Salmon Kings - Victoria Salmon Kings
• Gulls Steal Win From Idaho, 2-1 - San Diego Gulls
• Checkers can't hold back Lynx, lose at Aiugusta 7-3 - Charlotte Checkers
• Wranglers top Roadrunners, 3-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Gulls Score Late to Shock Steelheads, 2-1 - Idaho Steelheads
• Falcons Return to Winning Ways - Fresno Falcons

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