Gudlevskis named CCM/AHL Player of the Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Syracuse Crunch goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 12, 2014.

During a week that began with his selection to represent his native Latvia at next month’s Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Gudlevskis stopped 73 of 75 shots and posted back-to-back shutouts (2-0-1, 0.65, .973) for the Crunch.

On Wednesday night, Gudlevskis made 24 saves as visiting Syracuse defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 4-2. Gudlevskis then got the start in both ends of a home-and-home set with Providence and shut out the Bruins for 125 minutes, stopping 22 shots in a 1-0 shootout loss on the road Friday and making 27 saves to preserve a 1-0 win back home on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Gudlevskis is in his first pro season after being selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. In 16 appearances with Syracuse, Gudlevskis is 9-5-2 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage, and is tied for the AHL lead with four shutouts.

In recognition of his achievement, Gudlevskis will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Crunch home game.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week