REBELS’ LAMB NAMED CHL GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Riley Lamb of the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 18 after posting a 4-0-0-0 record including one shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .957.
Lamb turned aside an impressive 133 shots last week, backstopping the red-hot Rebels to four straight road victories. He began the week by recording his first shutout of the season last Monday on British Columbia’s Family Day with a 25-save performance against the Prince George Cougars, earning second star honours in the 4-0 win. His strong holiday play continued on Valentine’s Day with a first star performance on Wednesday in Kelowna making 36 saves in a 4-1 win over the Rockets. Continuing the west coast road trip into the weekend, Lamb made 33 saves and was named second star of a 4-3 victory over the Victoria Royals on Friday, then wrapped up his week with 39 saves in a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Giants on Sunday.
The Rebels have now won eight of their last 10 games and are third in the WHL’s Central Division with a record of 21-26-10-3. With Lamb in net this week, opponents went just two-for-13 on the power play while the Rebels trailed for just 13 minutes 31 seconds during the 240 minutes Lamb spent in net this week.
A 6-foot-0, 176-pound product of Rivers, Man., the 19-year-old Lamb is playing in his second WHL season with the Rebels and carries an 8-9-3-2 record, including seven straight wins in 24 appearances this season. His goals-against-average of 3.24 and save percentage of .905 are improved marks over his 2016-17 figures of 3.39 and .899 across 41 games.
Also considered for the award this week was Los Angeles Kings prospect Matthew Villalta of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds who posted a 2-0-0-0 record with one shutout making 44 saves overall for a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .978. In the QMJHL, Samuel Harvey of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies posted a 1-1-0-0 record with one shutout stopping 55 shots for a goals-against-average of 1.01 and save percentage of .965.
Of the 21 weeks that the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week award have been handed out, WHL goaltenders have earned the honours in 11 of those weeks.
Lamb and the Rebels will look to continue their impressive run Wednesday, February 21 (7:00 p.m. MST) when they wrap up a six-game road trip against the Calgary Hitmen.
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