Wranglers McKenna named Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week

Published on April 12, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


LAS VEGAS, NV- The ECHL announced today that Mike McKenna of the Las Vegas Wranglers is the Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Apr. 2-7, 2007. He becomes the first four-time winner of the award having won it for Nov. 13-19, Nov. 27-Dec. 3 and Feb. 19-25. McKenna also placed second in votes for the ECHL Goalie of the Year Award and the ECHL MVP Award. Las Vegas will play Game Two of the National Conference Quarter Finals in Phoenix tonight at 7:11 pm.

The 6-foot-2 and 190-pound McKenna went 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage to help Las Vegas win the Brabham Cup with 106 points.

After stopping 21 shots in a 4-2 win at Long Beach on Apr. 4, the St. Louis, Mo. Native made 16 saves in a 3-1 win against Stockton on Apr. 4, a win that extended the Wranglers winning streak to a team-record tying 12 games and ended a team-record 11-game winning streak for Stockton. He closed out the regular season stopping 16 of 17 shots in a 2-1 win against Stockton that extended his winning streak to nine games and the Wranglers streak to 13 games.

McKenna, who turned 24 years old on Wednesday, finished the regular season at 27-4-7 and led the ECHL with a goals-against average of 2.21 and a save percentage of .927 while finishing tied for second with five shutouts.

He has been selected to the ECHL All-Star Game in each of his first two seasons and in 2007 was voted as the starting goaltender for the National Conference.

Selected in the sixth round (172nd overall) by the Nashville Predators in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft, McKenna was 19-2-1 with a shutout, a goals-against average of 2.13 and a save percentage of .923 in 25 regular season games as a rookie with Las Vegas last season. He was 1-1 with a goals-against average of 3.12 and a save percentage of .905 in four Kelly Cup Playoff games with the Wranglers.

He has played in the American Hockey League with both Milwaukee and Omaha this season after playing in 2005-06 with Norfolk. McKenna played four years at St. Lawrence University where he was 32-44-8 with a goals-against average of 3.01 and a save percentage of .905 save percentage in 95 games. He was named Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week twice as a freshman in 2001-02.

On Wednesday, McKenna was selected first runner-up to Dayton's Adam Berkhoel for the ECHL Goalie of the Year Award. Thursday, McKenna was selected first runner-up for the ECHL MVP, awarded to Gwinnett's Brad Schell. On Thursday, April 5th, McKenna was selected to the All-ECHL Second Team.

Las Vegas plays Game Two of the National Conference Quarter Finals in Phoenix tonight at 7:11 pm (PST) at the U.S. Airways Center. The Wranglers will return home to host the Roadrunners for Games Three and Four on Friday and Saturday night at 7:05pm (PST) at the Orleans Arena with game five on Monday, April 16th if necessary.

National Conference Quarter Finals, Round One: 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs:

Game 1: Tuesday, April 10th Las Vegas Wranglers 5 at Phoenix RoadRunners 1

Game 2: Thursday, April 12th Las Vegas Wranglers at Phoenix RoadRunners at 7:00 pm

Game 3: Friday, April 13th Phoenix RoadRunners at Las Vegas Wranglers 7:05 pm

Game 4: Saturday, April 14th Phoenix RoadRunners at Las Vegas Wranglers 7:05 pm

Game 5: Monday, April 16th Phoenix RoadRunners at Las Vegas Wranglers 7:05 pm -X

Game 6: Tuesday, April 17th Phoenix RoadRunners at Las Vegas Wranglers 7:05 pm -X

Game 7: TBD Las Vegas Wranglers at Phoenix RoadRunners - X

(Best of Seven Series - Las Vegas leads Series 1-0)

X= If Necessary

Tickets for the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs are on sale now. Fans may obtain ticket information by calling the Wranglers front office at (702)-471-7825.

The Wranglers play all 36 home games at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue. Seat packages to see the Wranglers play at the Orleans Arena for the 2007-08 season are on sale, starting as low as $157. Call (702) 471-PUCK (7825) for more information or visit www.lasvegaswranglers.com.

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ECHL Stories from April 12, 2007


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