SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Hamilton Bulldogs goaltender Marc Denis has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending November 2, 2008. Denis stopped 96 of 99 shots in three starts last week, going 3-0-0 with a 0.97 goals-against average and a .970 save percentage.
Denis began the week by shutting down the high-powered Hershey Bears, stopping all 37 shots he faced in a 6-0 win on Oct. 29. Two nights later, Denis turned aside 29 shots as Hamilton posted a 3-2 win over Lake Erie. And on Nov. 2, Denis made 30 saves and held down the fort in the shootout as the Bulldogs edged Toronto, 2-1.
In recognition of his achievement, Denis will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bulldogs home game.
A former first-round draft choice of the Colorado Avalanche, Denis has a record of 7-1-0 in nine appearances with Hamilton this season, leading the AHL in wins. He also ranks fifth with a 1.84 GAA, second with a .945 save percentage and tied for the league lead with two shutouts. The Montreal native has appeared in 348 career NHL games with Colorado, Columbus and Tampa Bay, earning 112 victories and posting 16 shutouts. Denis, who signed as a free agent with Montreal in July, has a record of 55-64-11 in 140 career AHL outings and was a member of Hershey’s Calder Cup championship team in 1997.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Albany defenseman Mark Flood, Binghamton left wing Ilya Zubov, Bridgeport defenseman Andrew MacDonald, Grand Rapids left wing Landon Wilson, Hershey left wing Oskar Osala, Houston left wing Krys Kolanos, Iowa right wing Bobby Ryan, Lake Erie center T.J. Hensick, Lowell center Pascal Rheaume, Manitoba goaltender Cory Schneider, Milwaukee center Cal O’Reilly, Norfolk center Paul Szczechura, Peoria goaltender Marek Schwarz, Philadelphia left wing Boyd Kane, Portland left wing Tim Kennedy, Providence left wing Jeremy Reich, Quad City center Warren Peters, Rochester left wing Jacob Micflikier, Rockford center Petri Kontiola, San Antonio center Garth Murray, Springfield center Ryan Potulny, Syracuse defenseman Jonathan Sigalet, Toronto right wing Jeremy Williams, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Jeff Taffe and Worcester center Tom Cavanagh.