Monday, April 16, 2012

USHL Honors - Week 29

Press Release

The United States Hockey League today announced the weekly award winners for the final week of the 2011-12 USHL regular season.

Award winners include forward Zemgus Girgensons of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, named recipient of CCM Offensive Player of the Week; defenseman Mike Matheson of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, selected as CCM Defensive Player of the Week; and Christian Frey of the Tri-City Storm and Jon Gillies of the Indiana Ice who share honors as Reebok Goaltender of the Week.

Girgensons scored five points (2g, 3a) and posted a plus-two rating as the Saints split a pair of games during the final weekend of the regular season. He scored a goal and added one assist in Friday’s 4-2 loss to Chicago. While playing in his 100th USHL career regular season game on Saturday, he had three points (1g, 2a), including an assist on the game-winning goal to help Dubuque capture their 21st home win of the season during the 7-6 overtime victory against Muskegon. It was the fourth consecutive game that the 18-year-old had scored a goal, giving him eight goals over his last seven games. Girgensons led his team in scoring with 55 points (24g, 31a) in 49 games this season. The Riga, Latvia native is a top prospect for the upcoming 2012 NHL Draft.

Matheson collected three points (1g, 2a) in two games for Dubuque. After dishing out an assist in Friday’s loss to Chicago, he assisted on the game-tying goal with just 25 seconds remaining in the third period to force overtime against Muskegon. At just over a minute into the extra session, the 18-year-old scored the winning goal to give the Saints a 7-6 victory. It was the second consecutive Saturday that Matheson scored the game-winning goal vs. Muskegon. The native of Pointe-Claire, Quebec completed the regular season with 27 points (11g, 16a) in 53 games. His 11 goals tied for third most among all USHL defensemen. Matheson is also a top prospect for the 2012 NHL Draft this June.

Gillies posted a 2.50 goals-against-average and .921 save percentage over two victories for the Ice. He made 32 saves on Tuesday in the 3-2 win over Team USA. It was his 30th win of the season, the most in the USHL. Gillies then made 26 saves in Saturday’s 6-3 victory against Des Moines. He also earned credit for a goal when he was the last player from the Ice to play a puck that found its way into the Des Moines empty net. The 18-year-old from South Portland, Maine appeared in 53 games for Indiana this season and posted a 31-11-9 record with three shutouts. His .915 SV% was the fourth highest mark in the USHL. Gillies is a top prospect for the 2012 NHL Draft and was the highest rated USHL goaltender in the final rankings by NHL Central Scouting.

Frey compiled a 2.41 GAA and .938 SV% in two games for the Tri-City Storm. Playing his first game in over two months, and his first game since being acquired by the Storm, he made 32 saves in the 3-1 loss to Waterloo on Friday. The 18-year-old from Arlington, Texas then made a USHL career high 43 saves and stopped all three shootout attempts he faced in the 3-2 shootout victory over Sioux Falls on Saturday. It was his first win as a member of the Storm and fourth win of the season. Frey began the season with the Des Moines Buccaneers and in 17 combined appearances with the two teams, he has posted a 4-7-1 record, 3.04 GAA, and .901 SV% during his first USHL season.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

No comments: