SHL Player of the Week – Week 14

The SHL selected Milwaukee Growlers LW “Jumbo Joe” Freelander as its Player of the Week. The Growlers went undefeated this week to firm up their hold on first place in the West, and the 6’7″ winger sparkled as a key piece of Milwaukee’s high-powered attack. For the week, Freelander recorded 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists). This week, he became the eighth Milwaukee player to reach double digits in goals.

On Sunday, Freelander scored a goal and had three assists to fuel the Growlers’ 5-4 win over Hershey. On Tuesday, he scored twice and added an Buassist in Milwaukee’s five-goal third period outburst in their 6-1 rout of Washington. The hulking winger also had an assist in each of the Growlers’ victories over Baltimore and Hamilton to close out the week.

“Joe is not one of the biggest names in the league, but honestly, he should be,” said Growlers coach Rodney Reagle. “I mean, granted, he’s big in the sense that he’s extremely tall. I don’t think it should be legal for a guy to be that tall, if we’re being honest. But his freakish height aside, Joe is an impressive player. He can contribute in all sorts of ways. He can score, he can assist, he’s a strong skater, he’s a plus defender. Plus he can get things off of high shelves, because he’s so tall.”

SHL Player of the Week – Week 12

The SHL selected Anchorage Igloos G Ty Worthington as its Player of the Week. The Igloos won three straight games this week against tough division rivals to move within one point of first place in the West. Worthington’s sterling performance, which included back-to-back shutouts, was essential to the Igloos’ success. For the week, the Anchorage goalie went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .963 save percentage.

On Sunday, in a defensive battle against Michigan, Worthington stopped all 21 Wolves shots to secure a 3-0 victory. On Tuesday in Milwaukee, he turned aside everyone of the Growlers’ 24 shirt in a 2-0 triumph. On Thursday, he hung tough when faced with a stout offensive challenge from Kansas City, making 34 saves to secure a 5-3 win.

“I know Ty hasn’t had the kind of season he expects from himself, but he’s warming up at the right time,” said Igloos coach Sam Castor. “Anyone who doesn’t recognize that Ty is still the best goalie in the league. this week is a good reminder. And anyone who was thinking about counting us out of this race, I don’t think they’ll be making that mistake again.”

SHL Player of the Week – Week 10

The SHL selected Milwaukee Growlers D Zander Phthalo as its Player of the Week. The Growlers went undefeated this week to surge into first place in the highly competitive week, with Phthalo’s spectacular play at both ends of the ice leading the way. On the week, the freshly minted All-Star MVP recorded 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists), tying him for second in league, along with 10 blocks, which tied for third. For the season, Phthalo’s 31 points place him sixth in the league, while his 14 assists tie him for ninth, while his 70 blocks put him just outside the top ten in that category.

On Tuesday, Phthalo recorded a pair of goals and a pair of blocks in Milwaukee’s 4-3 win over Kansas City. On Thursday, the blueliner came up huge, with a goal, two assists, and five blocks in a come-from-behind 5-3 win over Saskatchewan. Then on Saturday, he had another goal and 3 more blocks in a 5-2 thrashing of Portland.

“Zander is really a heck of a player,” said Growlers coach Rodney Reagle. “I could uncork all the cliches about compete level, 200-foot game, leader on and off the ice, and all that, and it’s all true. But really, what I appreciate most about him is that he just adds to any situation whenever he’s on the ice. Whatever you need him to do, whatever the game situation, he finds a way to give us just what we need. He’s the Swiss Army knife of hockey players, basically. Complete with corkscrew.”

SHL Player of the Week – Week 9

The SHL selected Rhode Island Seekers G Sonny Kashiuk as its Player of the Week. The Seekers had an undefeated week that secured their hold on the final playoff spot in the East, and Kashiuk was in net for all of those games. For the week, the 28-year-old goalie went 2-0-1 with a 0.97 GAA and a .961 save percentage.

On Sunday, Rhode Island hosted first-place Boston in a brutally tough matchup. Kashiuk turned aside 26 of 27 shots, highlighted by a sparkling glove save to thwart a Badgers breakaway, and the Seekers snatched a 2-1 win. On Tuesday, he stopped 23 of 25 but was denied a victory thanks to a brilliant 37-save performance by Baltimore’s Buzz Carson. Kashiuk’s ten-bell kick save in overtime preserved a hard-fought 2-2 tie. On Thursday, in another matchup against a contender, he swallowed up all 25 shots in a 4-0 win over Hershey. It was Kashiuk’s third shutout of the season.

On the year, Kashiuk has gone 10-6-4 with a 2.31 GAA and a .910 save percentage, and may be a dark horse candidate for an All-Star selection. He’s the second straight Rhode Island player to receive PotW honors, after C Elliott Rafferty received it last week.

“No one’s really talking about us right now, but I think we’re low-key becoming that team no one wants to face in the first round,” said Seekers coach Craig Werner. “And Sonny and our D have a lot to do with that. Our defense is great at suppressing shots and denying good looks, and Sonny gobbles up whatever gets through to him. It’s a potent combo.”