Jones Continues Stellar Play in AHL
At first glance, when examining the AHL's top five goaltenders in 2010-11 as measured by goals-against average, one name doesn't seem to fit with the others in the group.
Atop the list is 108-game NHL veteran Curtis Sanford of Hamilton. Then there's Milwaukee's Mark Dekanich, a third-year pro who made his NHL debut earlier this year for Nashville; Braden Holtby, a 2010 Calder Cup champion with Hershey who is currently in the NHL with Washington; Jake Allen, a second-round draft pick and top rookie prospect of the St. Louis Blues; and Martin Jones, an undrafted 21-year-old coming off four seasons in the Western Hockey League.
If you picked Jones as the outlier, you're probably not alone. The rookie goaltender has seemingly flown under the radar for his entire hockey career to date, but the Los Angeles Kings' prospect is now opening many sets of eyes with his play in the AHL though the first half of 2010-11.
"I don't exactly know what the expectations were of me, but I always expect a lot out of myself, " Jones said. "I push myself really hard."
Through just 22 appearances for the Atlantic Division-leading Manchester Monarchs, Jones has pushed himself all the way to a remarkable record of 16-3-0 with two shutouts. Entering the weekend, he owns the AHL's second-best save percentage (.939) and ranks fourth in goals-against average (1.93) and tied for fourth in victories.
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Jake Allen Heats Up November
Jake was hot in net for the Peoria Rivermen in November that he was voted as the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month. With his seven starts in net he went 6-1-0 with a 1.35 GAA, a .959 save percentage and three shutouts.As of December 2, Allen led the AHL in GAA (1.27), save percentage (.962) and shutouts (4) while posting an 8-1-0 record in nine games for Peoria.
Allen stopped 213 of the 222 shots he faced in November and stopped more than 30 shots in five of his seven starts. He earned shutouts over Houston on Nov. 13th, Abbotsford on Nov. 19th and then Rockford on Nov. 27th.
Ford ECHL All-Star and Goaltender of the month for December
GDI Goaltender and On ice Instructor Todd Ford recently was credited as being named the ECHL Goaltender of the Month for December. Along with this award, Ford was voted to be the starting goaltender for the American Conference in the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game.
GDI Prairies would like to congratulate Ford with his success this season, and wish him the best during this upcoming playoffs.
Selected in the third round (74th overall) by Toronto in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft and currently on loan to the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League, the Calgary, Alberta native is 16-6-1 and leads the league in wins while he is second with 690 saves and tied for second with 1,416 minutes.
Schneider Steps Up His Game With Manitoba
With Schneider consistently losing and Moose teammate Drew MacIntyre consistently winning, Schneider's struggles finally reached a breaking point with head coach Scott Arniel just prior to Christmas.
Schneider had been yanked from a Dec. 14 game vs. Lake Erie after getting torched for three goals on eight shots. With MacIntyre on recall to Vancouver at the time, Arniel's options in net for the next night's rematch were to go with an ECHL call-up or to put Schneider back out there.
"I called Cory into the office the next morning and kind of laid into him about what it takes to be a professional," Arniel recalled. "We had a real sit-down, he didn't do a whole lot of talking, I did most of it, and I proceeded to tell him that he didn't deserve it, but he was going back in the net that night."
After all the success Schneider had experienced during his college career, this experience marked a world of difference.
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