Spitfires’ Michael DiPietro named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Vancouver Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the regular season week ending November 11 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record along with a goals-against-average of 0.96 and save percentage of .969.
DiPietro began the week representing the CHL in the CIBC Canada Russia Series where he made 18 saves to backstop Team OHL to a 3-1 victory on Thursday night in Sarnia. In league play he helped the Spitfires extend their winning-streak to four games stopping a total of 62 shots. 31 of those saves came on Saturday in a 2-1 shootout victory against the Guelph Storm where he also stopped six straight attempts to help secure the win. His week wrapped up Sunday with 31 saves as part of a 7-1 win against the Saginaw Spirit.
A 19-year-old from Amherstburg, Ont., DiPietro is playing in his fourth OHL season after being chosen by his hometown club in the second round of the 2015 Priority Selection. He helped the Spitfires capture the 2017 Memorial Cup on home ice and was named the 2018 OHL Goaltender of the Year. This season he carries a 7-5-0-1 record and ranks second in OHL goals-against-average with a mark of 2.18 while his .926 save percentage is also among the league’s leaders. DiPietro is the Spitfires all-time wins leader with 82 over his career and his 16 shutouts are tied for the OHL’s all-time mark.
Also considered for the award this week was Max Paddock of the Regina Pats who posted a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory stopping 59 shots in total for a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .983. In the QMJHL, Fabian Iacobo of the Victoriaville Tigres also went 2-0-0-0 making 59 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .967.
2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Joseph Raaymakers (London Knights)
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Émile Samson (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Alexis Gravel (Halifax Mooseheads)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Trent Miner (Vancouver Giants)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luke Richardson (Kitchener Rangers)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)