SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Peter Mannino of the Chicago Wolves has been named the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for January. Mannino was 6-1-0 with a 1.28 goals-against average, a .958 save percentage and one shutout for the month.
Mannino allowed only nine goals on 212 shots in seven starts during January, helping Chicago post an 11-point improvement relative to the final playoff spot in the West Division, from five points back on Jan. 1 to six points up on Feb. 1. Mannino made 33 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over Peoria on Jan. 2, and turned aside 32 of 33 shots in a 2-1 win at San Antonio on Jan. 15. He closed out January with 32 saves in a 3-0 win at Grand Rapids on Jan. 29, his first shutout in more than 15 months.
In recognition of his achievement, Mannino will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Wolves home game.
In his second professional season out of the University of Denver, Mannino has a record of 13-3-0 in 18 appearances with for the Wolves in 2009-10, leading the AHL with a 1.76 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. He was 17-12-2 as a rookie with Bridgeport last season and also appeared in three games with the N.Y. Islanders, earning the win in his first NHL start on Mar. 15, 2009, at Chicago. A native of Farmington Hills, Mich., Mannino signed as a free agent with Atlanta on July 6, 2009.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month include Adirondack’s Johan Backlund, Albany’s Justin Peters, Bridgeport’s Nathan Lawson, Hamilton’s Cedrick Desjardins, Hartford’s Chad Johnson, Hershey’s Braden Holtby, Houston’s Wade Dubielewicz, Lake Erie’s Tyler Weiman, Lowell’s Mike McKenna, Manitoba’s Cory Schneider, Norfolk’s Dustin Tokarski, Providence’s Dany Sabourin, Rochester’s Alexander Salak, Rockford’s Corey Crawford, San Antonio’s Justin Pogge, Syracuse’s Kevin Lalande, Texas’s Todd Ford and Worcester’s Alex Stalock.
