SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Charlotte Checkers goaltender Dan Ellis has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 28, 2012.
Ellis was perfect in two appearances last week as the Checkers continued their season-opening road trip and held onto the best record in the Western Conference.
On Friday night in Grand Rapids, Ellis came on in relief early in the second period and stopped all 15 shots he faced in 38:51 of work, holding down the fort as Charlotte erased a 4-1 deficit and rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Griffins. Then on Saturday, Ellis got the start and made 27 saves for his first shutout of the season, backstopping the Checkers to a 4-0 win in Peoria.
Charlotte, which is beginning the 2012-13 season with nine consecutive road games, sits atop the Western Conference with a league-high 13 points (6-1-0-1).
Ellis, who signed a tryout with Charlotte on Sept. 24, 2012, is 3-0-1 in four appearances for the Checkers. He ranks second in the AHL with a 1.07 goals-against average and first with a .967 save percentage, allowing just four goals on 120 shots to date. The native of Saskatoon, Sask., returned to the AHL this fall after spending the last five seasons in the National Hockey League, where he led the league in save percentage in 2007-08 and shows a record of 72-57-15 with 12 shutouts in 165 games with Dallas, Nashville, Tampa Bay and Anaheim. Originally a second-round draft choice by Dallas in 2000, Ellis is 64-67-3 with 10 shutouts in 144 career AHL appearances.
In recognition of his achievement, Ellis will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Checkers home game.
Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week
