Wolves’ Pavelec named AHL Player of the Week

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Chicago Wolves goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 22, 2009. In four appearances, Pavelec went 3-1-0 with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .963 save percentage, stopping 129 of 134 shots along the way.

The week got underway with Pavelec stopping 27 of 29 shots in Chicago’s 3-2 overtime win vs. Iowa on Wednesday night. On Friday, Pavelec took the hard-luck 1-0 loss despite making 24 saves vs. Milwaukee, and Saturday he turned aside 33 shots as Chicago earned a 3-1 win at Peoria. Pavelec ended the week with a career-high 45 saves to lead the Wolves to a 2-1 win over league-leading Manitoba.

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

Pavelec has a record of 13-12-1 in 26 games for Chicago this season, ranking seventh in the league with a 2.41 GAA and 10th with a .918 save percentage. The native of Kladno, Czech Republic, was 33-16-3 in 52 appearances with Chicago as a rookie in 2007-08, and then went 16-8 in the Calder Cup Playoffs to backstop the Wolves to the championship. A second-round draft pick (41st overall) by Atlanta in 2005, the 21-year-old Pavelec has also appeared in 11 NHL contests with the Thrashers in 2008-09.

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Albany center Dwight Helminen, Binghamton center Peter Regin, Bridgeport center Ben Walter, Grand Rapids defenseman Garrett Stafford, Hamilton center David Desharnais, Hartford goaltender Matt Zaba, Hershey center Keith Aucoin, Houston goaltender Nolan Schaefer, Iowa goaltender David LeNeveu, Lake Erie goaltender Jason Bacashihua, Lowell center Rod Pelley, Manchester center Justin Azevedo, Manitoba center Jason Krog, Milwaukee goaltender Mark Dekanich, Norfolk goaltender Riku Helenius, Peoria goaltender Manny Legace, Philadelphia left wing Patrick Maroon, Portland defenseman Mike Kostka, Providence right wing Brad Marchand, Quad City goaltender Kevin Lalande, Rochester center Janis Sprukts, Rockford center Tim Brent, San Antonio forward Kevin Porter, Syracuse center Derek MacKenzie, Toronto left wing Jiri Tlusty and Worcester left wing Jamie McGinn.

Also see: Previous winners, Reebok/AHL Player of the Week