Shutout streak earns Cassivi weekly honor

The American Hockey League announced today that Cincinnati Mighty Ducks goaltender Frederic Cassivi has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending April 10, 2005. In four games, Cassivi stopped 100 of 103 shots and recorded three shutouts as the Mighty Ducks moved closer to securing a berth in the 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Cassivi opened the week with 25 saves in Cincinnati’s 3-2 loss at Chicago on Wednesday night, then slammed the door shut the rest of the way. He stopped all 25 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over Houston on Friday, then earned back-to-back 1-0 wins over Cleveland, making 18 saves on Saturday and 32 more on Sunday. Cassivi, whose shutout streak currently sits at 183 minutes, 48 seconds, finished the week at 3-1-0 with a 0.75 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage.

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

A native of Sorel, Que., Cassivi is in the 10th season of his professional career, the majority of which has been spent in the AHL. He ranks 16th on the league’s all-time victories list and owns a career record of 155-140-32 with 18 shutouts in 353 AHL contests. Cassivi, who was a member of Chicago’s Calder Cup championship team in 2002, is 24-17-2 in 44 games with Cincinnati this season, boasting a 2.05 goals-against average, a .924 save percentage and a league-leading 10 shutouts, seven of which have come during his 17 appearances since the All-Star break. Cassivi was the Koho AHL Goaltender of the Month for February.

Other nominees for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week include Albany goaltender Ari Ahonen, Binghamton center Jason Spezza, Bridgeport right wing Joe Tallari, Chicago goaltender Kari Lehtonen, Cleveland goaltender Nolan Schaefer, Edmonton right wing Tony Salmelainen, Grand Rapids center Kip Miller, Hamilton defenseman Dan Jancevski, Hartford goaltender Jason LaBarbera, Houston goaltender Josh Harding, Manchester center Mike Cammalleri, Manitoba right wing Lee Goren, Philadelphia left wing Jon Sim, Portland right wing Brian Willsie, San Antonio center Petr Taticek, Springfield center Jason Jaspers, Syracuse right wing Peter Ferraro and Worcester center Jay McClement.