AHL All-Stars: Western Goalies
Netminders from Abbotsford, Grand Rapids and Charlotte will come together to represent the Western Conference in the 2013 AHL All-Star Classic on January 28 at 7 p.m. EST.
Facing off against their counterparts from the Eastern Conference will be a trio of goaltenders hailing from Canada and the Czech Republic, representing three teams and combining for over 430 AHL games of experience.
• Barry Brust (Abbotsford Heat) — Brust leads the AHL with a 1.66 GAA and is second only behind Robin Lehner in save percentage, with a .941 in 17 games with the Heat this season. He’s played over 1,014 minutes and stopped 450 of 478 shots faced, going 9-6-2 on the season. Brust has also earned four shutouts this season.
Brust is the eldest of the trio of Western goaltenders this year. The ’83-born Swan River, Manitoba native is in his seventh season in the AHL and his first with the Heat, having previously spent time with Binghamton, Houston and Manchester. He made his AHL debut with the Monarchs during the 2005-06 season and has played 11,606 minutes in the American Hockey League. The 2002 draft choice of the Minnesota Wild has also played 11 NHL games – with the Los Angeles Kings, in 2006-07. Earlier this season, he set an AHL record for longest shutout streak (268:17).
• Justin Peters (Charlotte Checkers) — Peters has five shutouts, a 2.37 GAA and .916 save percentage in 28 games with Charlotte this season. He’s allowed 62 goals, stopping 679 of 741 shots faced, and has won 16 of 28 games this year. His 679 saves are 17th-best in the league, while his 1570:41 of ice time is 15th-best.
Peters, 26, has spent his entire professional hockey career with the Carolina Hurricanes organization, making his AHL debut with the Albany River Rats in 2006 and spending parts of the next four seasons there. He remained with the organization thru its move to Charlotte, appearing in 28 games last season with the Checkers. He had a 2.77 GAA and .908 save percentage, as well as one shutout.
• Petr Mrazek (Grand Rapids Griffins) — Mrazek, a rookie, has appeared in 23 games for Grand Rapids so far this season. His 14 wins put him at 12th league-wide in that statistic, while his 2.42 GAA and .911 save percentage are 16th and 27th best in the AHL, respectively. Mrazek has stopped 561 of 616 shots faced in over 1,364 minutes of ice time this season with the Griffins.
The 20-year-old Ostrava, Czech Republic native is in his first AHL season, having spent the past three season with the OHL’s Ottawa 67s. Last season with Ottawa, Mrazek had 30 wins, a 2.84 GAA and .917 save percentage in 50 regular season games played.