SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Springfield Falcons goaltender Paul Dainton has been selected as the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 26, 2012.
Dainton made three starts over the weekend and stopped 82 of 85 shots, bringing the Falcons to within two points of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
Dainton began the week with 26-save effort on Feb. 24, helping Springfield to a 2-1 shootout victory over Bridgeport. The next night, he stopped 30 shots in a 2-0 win over Connecticut, earning his first career AHL shutout. And on Feb. 26, making his third start in less than 48 hours, Dainton turned aside 26 shots as the Falcons grabbed a 6-2 road win over Portland.
Dainton’s 3-0-0 record was accompanied by a 0.97 goals-against average and a .965 save percentage for the week.
The 25-year-old rookie joined the Falcons this year after four seasons at the University of Massachusetts, where he served as a team captain as a senior in 2010-11 and where he holds school records for minutes played and saves in his career. Dainton, a native of Halifax, N.S., is 9-4-0 in 15 appearances for Springfield this season, with a 2.68 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
In recognition of his achievement, Dainton will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Falcons home game.
Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week
