SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Ondrej Pavelec of the Chicago Wolves has been named the Reebok X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month for October. Pavelec played every minute of Chicago’s nine games during the month, going 5-3-1 with a 1.54 goals-against average, a .947 save percentage and two shutouts.
Pavelec, who also started all 24 of the Wolves’ postseason games last spring, began his second professional season with a pair of losses despite giving up just two goals in each. He earned his first win of 2008-09 with a 25-save shutout at Quad City on Oct. 17, and made 29 saves as Chicago won its home opener, 3-2, vs. Peoria on Oct. 18. Pavelec stopped 32 shots in a 3-1 victory over San Antonio on Oct. 21, and shut out Providence with 35 saves on Oct. 29.
In recognition of his achievement, Pavelec will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Wolves home game.
Pavelec, who was recalled by the parent Atlanta Thrashers on Nov. 1, was 33-16-3 in 52 appearances with Chicago as a rookie in 2007-08. He then went 16-8 in the Calder Cup Playoffs and backstopped the Wolves to their second AHL championship, posting a 2.34 GAA and .921 save percentage in the postseason. A second-round draft pick (41st overall) by the Thrashers in 2005, the 21-year-old Pavelec also appeared in seven NHL contests last season, going 3-3-0, and won his first NHL start of this season on Nov. 2.
Other nominees for Reebok X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month include Albany’s Daniel Manzato, Bridgeport’s Peter Mannino, Hamilton’s Marc Denis, Hartford’s Miika Wiikman, Houston’s Nolan Schaefer, Iowa’s David LeNeveu, Lake Erie’s Tyler Weiman, Lowell’s Scott Clemmensen, Manitoba’s Cory Schneider, Norfolk’s Karri Ramo, Philadelphia’s Scott Munroe, Portland’s Jhonas Enroth, Providence’s Tuukka Rask, Quad City’s Matt Keetley, Rochester Chris Beckford-Tseu, Rockford’s Antti Niemi, San Antonio’s Al Montoya and Syracuse’s Dan LaCosta.
