SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Mark Dekanich of the Milwaukee Admirals has been named the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for February. Dekanich allowed just six goals on 145 shots in six appearances on the month, posting a 5-1-0 record, a 1.07 goals-against average, a .959 save percentage and two shutouts.
Dekanich made 22 saves on Feb. 13 as Milwaukee earned a 3-2 victory at Rockford. He then stopped all 25 shots he faced in a 2-0 win over Houston on Feb. 19, and allowed just one goal in 36 minutes of relief work on Feb. 27 as the Admirals rallied for a 7-6 overtime win over Chicago. Dekanich closed out the month with 34 saves – one shy of his season high – in a 4-0 decision at Peoria on Feb. 28, his third shutout in a span of seven starts.
In recognition of his achievement, Dekanich will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Admirals home game.
A second-year pro out of Colgate University, Dekanich has a record of 20-11-3 in 35 appearances for Milwaukee this season, and sports a 2.40 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. As a rookie in 2008-09, Dekanich ranked second in the entire AHL with a 2.09 GAA and fifth with a .923 save percentage while going 15-10-2 in 30 contests. The 23-year-old native of North Vancouver, B.C., was a fifth-round draft choice by Nashville in 2006.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month include Abbotsford’s David Shantz, Adirondack’s Johan Backlund, Albany’s Justin Peters, Chicago’s Drew MacIntyre, Hamilton’s Curtis Sanford, Hartford’s Matt Zaba, Lake Erie’s Tyler Weiman, Lowell’s Mike McKenna, Manchester’s Jonathan Bernier, Manitoba’s Cory Schneider, Norfolk’s Dustin Tokarski, Portland’s Jhonas Enroth, Rochester’s Alexander Salak, Rockford’s Corey Crawford, San Antonio’s Justin Pogge, Syracuse’s Kevin Lalande, Texas’s Richard Bachman, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Brad Thiessen and Worcester’s Alex Stalock.
