Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Darcy Kuemper of the Red Deer Rebels is the CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 5. In four games following the winter break, Kuemper posted a record of 3-0-0-1 with two shutouts earning an impressive goals-against-average of 0.850 and a save percentage of 0.968.
Kuemper returned from the winter break and made an immediate impact earning his first shutout of the season with 25 saves as first star of a 1-0 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Kuemper entered Tuesday’s game in relief and allowed just one goal on 13 shots to help spark a Rebels comeback that would just fall short with a 5-4 shootout loss to the Kootenay Ice. The Rebels turned to Kuemper on Wednesday night and he responded with 25 saves in a 4-2 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings. His strong play continued on Saturday making 29 saves as third star of a 2-1 shootout win over the Edmonton Oil Kings. He finished his week with another shutout win making 30 saves as third star of a 3-0 win over the Oil Kings.
Kuemper, a 19-year-old from Saskatoon, SK, is playing in his second WHL season with the Rebels. He has a record this season of 15-14-0-3 with the eighth-best goals-against-average in the league at 2.76.
Also considered for the award was Tyler Beskorowany of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs and Olivier Roy of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Both goaltenders earned a shutout win with Beskorowany posting a goals-against-average of 1.97 with a .947 save percentage in three starts with two wins, while Roy earned a goals-against-average of 1.25 and save percentage of .949 in four starts with three wins.
2009-10 CHL Goaltenders of the Week
Dec. 27 – Jan. 3: Darcy Kuemper, Red Deer Rebels
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Drew Owsley, Tri-City Americans
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Ian Curtis, Portland Winterhawks
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Nathan Dunnett, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Mavric Parks, Kitchener Rangers
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Robin Lehner, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Calvin Pickard, Seattle Thunderbirds
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: James Reid, Spokane Chiefs
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Garrett Zemlak, Prince Albert Raiders
Oct. 19 – 25: Matt Hackett, Plymouth Whalers
Oct. 12 – 18: Troy Passingham, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 5 – 11: Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Mark Visentin, Niagara IceDogs
Sept. 21-27: Andrew Hayes, Brandon Wheat Kings
Sept. 14-20: Maxime Clermont, Gatineau Olympiques