SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that St. John’s IceCaps goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been selected as theCCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 23, 2014.
Hellebuyck made four starts last week and won them all (4-0-0), allowing just three goals on 119 shots (0.74, .975) and recording two shutouts.
Hellebuyck began the week on Tuesday night by registering the first shutout of his professional career, a 23-save effort in the IceCaps’ 2-0 win over Toronto. He faced the Marlies again on Wednesday and turned aside 28 of 30 shots to help St. John’s to a 3-2 victory, then made 32 saves as the IceCaps began a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win at Lehigh Valley on Saturday. Hellebuyck capped the week with another shutout, stopping all 33 shots in a 2-0 win at Hershey on Sunday evening.
A fifth-round pick by Winnipeg in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Hellebuyck is 8-4-2 with a 2.42 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage and two shutouts in 14 appearances with St. John’s, ranking second in the AHL in wins, shutouts, minutes played (818:00) and saves (416). The 21-year-old rookie from Commerce, Mich., played two seasons at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and won the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in college hockey in 2013-14.
In recognition of his achievement, Hellebuyck will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming IceCaps home game.
