SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that John Grahame of the Lake Erie Monsters has been named the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for January. Grahame made 13 starts in January and went 10-3-0 with a 1.85 goals-against average, a .925 save percentage and one shutout as the Monsters climbed from seventh place to third in the North Division.
The first AHL goaltender in nearly three years to win 10 games in a single month (since John Curry in March 2008), Grahame began January with a 30-save shutout of division-leading Hamilton on New Year’s Day. He made five starts in seven days from Jan. 14-20 and won them all as Lake Erie tied a franchise mark for consecutive victories. Grahame, who allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of his 13 outings, made 32 saves in a 3-2 shootout win at Hershey on Jan. 15 and finished the month with a home-and-home sweep of Hamilton, combining to stop 43 of 45 shots in wins on Jan. 27 and 29.
In recognition of his achievement, Grahame will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Monsters home game.
Grahame has made 24 appearances for Lake Erie this season and is 13-8-2, ranking sixth in the league with a 2.13 goals-against average and 10th with a .920 save percentage. The former Calder Cup (Providence, 1999) and Stanley Cup champion (Tampa Bay, 2004) has appeared in 203 career AHL games and 224 contests in the NHL during his 14-year professional career.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month include Abbotsford’s Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, Binghamton’s Barry Brust, Bridgeport’s Joel Martin, Chicago’s Drew MacIntyre, Connecticut’s Cameron Talbot, Hamilton’s Curtis Sanford, Manchester’s Jeff Zatkoff, Manitoba’s Tyler Weiman, Milwaukee’s Mark Dekanich, Portland’s Jhonas Enroth, Providence’s Matt Dalton, Rochester’s Jacob Markstrom, Rockford’s Hannu Toivonen, San Antonio’s Matt Climie, Springfield’s Gustaf Wesslau, Syracuse’s Jean-Philippe Levasseur, Texas’s Richard Bachman, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s John Curry and Worcester’s Alex Stalock.
