Whalers' Matt Mahalak Named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Release from the Canadian Hockey League:

TORONTO, Ontario – The Canadian Hockey League on Wednesday announced that Matt Mahalak of the Plymouth Whalers is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the final week of the 2012-13 regular season ending March 17, after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with two shutouts giving him a perfect goals-against-average of 0.00 and save percentage of 1.000.

 Mahalak stopped all 53 shots he faced in two games last week beginning with a 29-save performance on Wednesday night as part of an 8-0 shutout win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.  Mahalak picked up his second straight shutout and third of the season Sunday in the Whalers regular season finale stopping 24 shots in a 4-0 win over the Windsor Spitfires.  The win marked the eighth straight victory for the Whalers who enter the 2013 OHL Playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference with 93 points and an overall record of 42-17-5-4.

Mahalak, a 20-year-old from Monroe, MI, is playing in his third OHL season with the Whalers.  Selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, Mahalak is the second Whalers goaltender to win this award in three weeks along with teammate Alex Nedeljkovic for the week ending March 3.  Mahalak finished the season with a 22-11-4-3 record and a goals-against-average of 2.86 and save percentage of .906.

(Note - the last Plymouth goaltender to post consecutive shutouts is Matt Hackett, who shut out Sault Ste. Marie and Saginaw on March 5 and 6, 2010).

Also considered for the award this week was Corbin Boes of the Brandon Wheat Kings who posted a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 0.83 and save percentage of .975.  In the QMJHL, Antoine Bibeau of the Moncton Wildcats went 3-0-0-0 with a shutout victory posting a goals-against-average of 2.33 and save percentage of .932.

2012-13 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

• Mar. 11 – Mar. 17: Matt Mahalak, Plymouth Whalers
• Mar. 4 – Mar. 10: François Brassard, Quebec Remparts
• Feb. 25 – Mar. 3: Alex Nedeljkovic, Plymouth Whalers
• Feb. 18 – Feb. 24: Malcolm Subban, Belleville Bulls
• Feb. 11 – Feb. 17: Zachary Fucale, Halifax Mooseheads
• Feb. 4 – Feb. 10: Brandon Whitney, Victoriaville Tigres
• Jan. 28 – Feb. 3: Andrey Makarov, Saskatoon Blades
• Jan. 21 – Jan. 27: Alex Dubeau, Moncton Wildcats
• Jan. 14 – Jan. 20: Cam Lanigan, Medicine Hat Tigers
• Jan. 7 – Jan. 13: Matt Murray, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
• Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
• Dec. 24 – Dec. 30: Austin Lotz, Everett Silvertips
• Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Brett Zarowny, Prince George Cougars
• Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: JP Anderson, Sarnia Sting
• Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Kevin Bailie, London Knights
• Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Patrik Bartosak, Red Deer Rebels
• Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Mackenzie Skapski, Kootenay Ice
• Nov. 5 – Nov. 11 : Mac Carruth, Portland Winterhawks
• Oct. 29 – Nov. 4 : Philippe Cadorette, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
• Oct. 22 – Oct. 28 : Michael Giugovaz, Peterborough Petes
• Oct. 15 – Oct. 21 : Jordon Cooke, Kelowna Rockets
• Oct. 8 – Oct. 14 : Mac Carruth, Portland Winterhawks
• Oct. 1 – Oct. 7 : Eetu Laurikainen, Swift Current Broncos
• Sept. 24 – Sept. 30 : Sébastien Auger, Saint John Sea Dogs
• Sept. 20 – Sept. 23 : John Gibson, Kitchener Rangers