McQUADE NAMED SPHL co-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Former OJHL forward Josh McQuade (photo courtesy of the Fayetteville FireAntz), now with the Fayetteville FireAntz, was named SPHL co-Player of the Week for his recent performance down south.
After playing a single game as an affiliated player with the Oakville Blades in 2006-07, the Grimsby, Ontario native made the jump to junior hockey full-time in 2007-08 as a member of the Newmarket Hurricanes. He would notch 26 goals and finish third on the club in scoring with 60 points, while also playing his first OHL game as a member of the Peterborough Petes. Looking to make the jump to the next level, McQuade would split the next season between the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques and the Hamilton Red Wings. Teamed with league-leading scorer Nathan Pageau, the smallish forward would finish third on the club in scoring with 41 goals and 80 points, despite only playing in 39 regular season games.
Below is the official press release from the SPHL website (www.thesphl.com):
The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today announced Riley Gill of the Louisiana IceGators and Josh McQuade of the Fayetteville FireAntz are the Easton Co-Players of the Week for February 4-10.
Gill went 3-0-0 with a 0.67 goals against average and .975 save percentage as the IceGators increased their hold on first place in the standings. With his 3-0 and 2-0 wins over the Mississippi Surge on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, Gill became just the seventh goaltender in league history to record consecutive shutouts. In addition, the win on Thursday was his fifth shutout of the season, establishing a new SPHL single-season record.
Gill currently leads all SPHL goaltenders in wins (22), shutouts (5) and shootout wins (4), is second in minutes played (1994:42) and third in the league with a 2.23 goals against average and 0.926 save percentage.
McQuade scored four goals, including one game-winner, and added four assists in a pair of games as Fayetteville maintained second place in the standings, just three points behind the IceGators. In a 5-3 win over Columbus on Friday, McQuade netted his third hat trick of the season and added an assist. McQuade came back on Sunday with another four-point effort, scoring one goal and setting up three others in a 4-1 win over Knoxville.
McQuade currently leads the league in goals (34), points (60) and game-winning goals (8-tied), is tied for second with a +17 rating and is tied for fourth with 26 assists.
Also Nominated: Jason Price, Augusta (3 gp, 4a), Andrew Loewen, Columbus (2-0-0, 1.50 gaa, .958 save%, 1 shutout), Kyle Laughlin, Huntsville (3 gp, 1g, 1a), Brett Valliquette, Knoxville (3 gp, 2g, 1a, 2 ppg), Matt Harrington, Mississippi RiverKings (3 gp, 1g. 2a), Jay Silvia, Mississippi Surge (4 gp, 1g, 1a) and Ryan Salvis, Pensacola (3 gp, 2g, 2a)
