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Craig Kowalski (G)

Norfolk Admirals

Biography

Draft: 2000, Carolina, Round 8 (235th overall)
Acquired: Signed Professional Tryout Contract (PTO) by Norfolk on February 13, 2009

2008-09 NOTES:
Tied his single-season AHL career high for wins by stopping 32 of 35 shots for #2 star honors on 04/11/09 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton – his sixth win of 2008-09 in just his ninth decision…Stopped 29 of 30 shots for #3 star honors on 04/10/09 at Binghamton…Turned aside 34 of 36 Hershey shots for first star honors on 04/01/09…Stopped 37 of 38 shots for #1 star on 03/21/09 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton…Named first star of the game with 32 saves in a victory at Binghamton on 03/14/09…Recorded his first AHL point with an assist on 02/28/09 at Hershey…Established an AHL Admirals record for most saves in a Norfolk debut with 46 stops on 02/14/09 at Hershey for third star honors…Ranked fourth in save percentage in the ECHL in 2008-09…Earned his 100th ECHL win on 02/06/09 with Phoenix at Utah…Picked up his 100th professional win on 12/19/08 with Phoenix (ECHL) vs. Utah.

CAREER NOTES:
2007-08: Tied for the ECHL lead in wins and ranked fourth in GAA and SV% (.923) in 2007-08 with Gwinnett…Earned his first AHL shutout on 12/30/07 with Syracuse at Rochester (19 saves). 2006-07: Tied for fourth in the ECHL in wins, ranked ninth in GAA and fourth in SV% (.918) in 2006-07. 2005-06: Practiced, but did not play, in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the champion Carolina Hurricanes…Earned his first AHL win on 01/18/06 with Lowell vs. Portland…Made his AHL debut on 01/07/06 with Lowell at Norfolk. 2004-05: Earned his first pro shutout on 11/27/04 with Florida (ECHL) vs. Las Vegas…Earned his first pro win on 10/29/04 with Florida (ECHL) vs. Mississippi…Made his pro debut on 10/23/04 with Florida (ECHL) vs. Texas.

COLLEGIATE CAREER:
Among the Northern Michigan University career leaders, ranks fourth in GAA, first in saves (3434), tied for fourth in SV% (.911), first in minutes, first in games, second in wins and first in shutouts. 2003-04: Captained the 2003-04 Northern Michigan University squad…2004 Gary Emmons Most Valuable Player Award as Northern Michigan University’s MVP…2004 Dennis Sibilsky Memorial Senior Award with Northern Michigan University…2004 All-CCHA Honorable Mention…2004 Perani Cup Winner, a CCHA award given to the player who earns the most points throughout the season each time they are named a "star of the game." 2002-03: 2002 and 2003 Dallas Drake Defensive Player of the Year with Northern Michigan University. 2000-01: 2001 CCHA All-Rookie Team…2001 Don Waddell Best Freshman Award with Northern Michigan University…Named to the 2001 U.S. National Junior Team for the IIHF World Junior Championship.

JUNIOR CAREER:
1999-2000: Named the 1999-2000 Michigan Junior Player of the Year…1999-2000 NAHL All-Star…Finished with the most saves (1,360), second highest SV% (.923) and third-best GAA (2.38) in the NAHL in 1999-2000 with the Compuware Ambassadors. 1998-99: 1998-99 NAHL All-Star…Named the Heaton/USA Hockey Goaltender of the Year in 1998-99…Led the 1998-99 Compuware Ambassadors to NAHL Championship and Robertson & Gold Cup title…Led the NAHL in wins (34) and GAA (2.10) during the 1998-99 season with Compuware.