Islanders’ Matthew Welsh named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

By Frédéric Damiani January 24, 2017

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League announced today that Matthew Welsh of the Charlottetown Islanders is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 22 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .964.

Welsh made 53 saves backstopping the Islanders to a pair of road victories extending the club’s winning-streak to five and improving their fifth place record to 29-14-2-0. On Saturday night in Sherbrooke he earned third star honours with his first shutout of the season turning aside all 26 shots faced to blank the Phoenix by a 3-0 score. Then on Sunday he was named the game’s second star with 27 saves as part of a 5-2 victory over the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The Islanders are tied for second in the QMJHL with 29 wins and are just four points shy of the first place Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

A 17-year-old from Halifax, NS, Welsh is playing in his second career season with the Islanders after being selected by the club in the second round of the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft. So far this season he carries a 17-9-2-0 record with a goals-against-average of 3.36 and save percentage of .897. Welsh is eligible for the 2017 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week was last week’s recipient 2017 NHL Draft prospect Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires who posted a 2-0-0-1 record including a shutout victory stopping 103 shots for a goals-against-average of 1.30 and save percentage of .963, and Rylan Toth of the Seattle Thunderbirds who went 2-1-0-0 with 50 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.01 and save percentage of .944.

2016-17 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:
Jan. 16 – Jan. 22: Matthew Welsh (Charlottetown Islanders)
Jan. 9 – Jan. 15: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Jan. 2 – Jan. 8: Francis Leclerc (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Dec. 26 – Jan. 1: Griffen Outhouse (Victoria Royals)
Dec. 12 – Dec. 18: Dylan Wells (Peterborough Petes)
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Connor Ingram (Kamloops Blazers)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Matthew Villalta (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Patrick Dea (Edmonton Oil Kings)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Troy Timpano (Erie Otters)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Reilly Pickard (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ryan Kubic (Vancouver Giants)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Logan Flodell (Saskatoon Blades)
Sept. 26 – Oct. 2: Samuel Harvey (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25: Liam Herbst (Guelph Storm)