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 Nov. 8, 2015.
Sparks won all three of his starts for the Marlies last week, stopping 96 of 101 shots to lead Toronto the top of the North Division standings.
Sparks began the week with a 30-save shutout in a Wednesday matinee at Hartford, earning first-star honors in a 5-0 Marlies victory. On Friday night, Sparks made 32 saves and denied both Utica attempts in the shootout as Toronto edged the Comets, 5-4. And on Saturday, Sparks turned aside 34 of 35 shots and was again named the game’s first star in the Marlies’ 6-1 win at Binghamton. For the week, Sparks posted a 1.62 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage to go with his 3-0-0 record.
Sparks is 5-2-0 in seven appearances for the Marlies this season, with a 2.24 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and one shutout. Sparks, 22, was a seventh-round draft choice by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2011, and has a record of 19-8-2 with a 2.42 GAA, a .921 save percentage and two shutouts in 33 career AHL games. The third-year pro from Elmhurst, Ill., was a member of the United States’ gold-medal team at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships.
In recognition of his achievement, Sparks will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Marlies home game.
