SMITH NAMED CHL GOALIE OF WEEK
Former Orangeville Flyers netminder Jake Smith (photo credit - Terry Wilson/OHL Images), now with the North Bay Battalion, was named the Canadian Hockey League's (CHL) Goaltender of the Week for his recent performance between the pipes.
The Oakville, Ontario native was a member of the powerhouse Oakville Rangers Minor Midget 'AAA' squad in 2010-11 and would be selected by the then Brampton Battalion in the 9th round, 169th overall, of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection. Smith would join the Flyers for his rookie OJHL season as a 16-year old and would provide some stability for a club that saw five different goalies man the pipes throughout the season. In 17 games played, Smith posted a 6-5-1 record with a 3.23 goals against average and an impressive .908 save percentage. Following the season, he joined the Battalion, where he has played ever since.
Below is the official press release from the CHL website (www.chl.ca):
The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Jake Smith of the North Bay Battalion is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the playoff week ending April 26 after posting a 1-0-1-0 record with a goals-against-average of 0.99 and save percentage of .971.
Smith made 68 saves in two games backstopping the Battalion to a two-game split on the road against the Oshawa Generals in the OHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series. In Game 1 of the series on Friday night he made 30 saves as part of a 6-1 Battalion victory, then made 38 saves in Game 2 on Sunday earning second star honours despite a 1-0 overtime loss to the Generals. The series continues with Game 3 Tuesday night and Game 4 Wednesday night in North Bay.
Smith, a 20-year-old from Oakville, ON, is playing in his third OHL season with the Battalion. So far this post-season he carries a 9-1-1-0 record including one shutout victory and leads the OHL with a 1.84 goals-against-average and a .934 save percentage.
Also considered for the award this week Adin Hill of the Portland Winterhawks who made 81 saves in two games against the Kelowna Rockets with a goals-against-average of 2.52 and save percentage of .942 earning a split on the road in the first two games of the WHL’s Western Conference Final. Montreal Canadiens prospect Zachary Fucale also made 55 saves in two road games with a goals-against-average of 2.00 and save percentage of .932 helping the Quebec Remparts take a 2-0 series lead against the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL Semi-Finals.
2014-15 Vaughn CHL Playoff Goaltenders of the Week:
Apr. 20 – Apr. 26: Jake Smith (North Bay Battalion)
Apr. 13 – Apr. 19: Louis-Philip Guindon (Rimouski Oceanic)
Apr. 6 – Apr. 12: Philippe Cadorette (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Mar. 30 – Apr. 5: Justin Nichols (Guelph Storm)
Mar. 23 – Mar. 29: Jackson Whistle (Kelowna Rockets)
