Sparks named CCM/AHL Player of the Week

Photo: Christian Bonin

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Toronto Marlies goaltender Garret Sparks has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 25, 2018.

Sparks made four appearances last week and won all three of his starts, finishing with a 1.73 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage while stopping 96 of 102 shots.

On Tuesday night, Sparks made 37 saves – one off his season high – as the Marlies edged Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 4-3 in overtime. He ran his winning streak to five games on Friday night in Belleville, turning aside 25 shots in a 4-2 victory over the Senators. And after stopping 14 of 15 shots in a relief appearance vs. Belleville on Saturday, Sparks earned his sixth shutout of the season with 20 saves in a 2-0 win over Springfield on Sunday.

Sparks, 24, has appeared in 39 games for the Marlies this season and has a record of 27-9-2, ranking first in the AHL in goals-against average (1.78), second in save percentage (.937) and tied for first in shutouts (six). The native of Elmhurst, Ill., has a record of 76-28-7 with a 2.13 GAA, a .927 save percentage and 15 shutouts in 117 career AHL appearances, all with Toronto. Sparks is in his fifth season in the Maple Leafs organization after being selected in the seventh round of the 2011 NHL Draft, and has appeared in 17 NHL games with the Leafs.

In recognition of being named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week, Sparks will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Marlies home game.

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