(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) is pleased to announce that American Hockey League (AHL) players have voted Matt Murray of the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins as the inaugural recipient of the 2014-15 PHPA – AHL Top Goalie Award presented by Scotiabank.
The PHPA-AHL Top Goalie Award presented by Scotiabank is awarded to the goaltender considered the most dominant in the league during the regular season. He has the ability to steal games for his team with his strong play.
As an AHL rookie this season, Murray appeared in 40 games with Wilkes-Barre / Scranton where he posted a 25-10-3 record to go along with a league leading 1.58 goals against average (GAA) and 0.941 save percentage (SV%) and twelve (12) shutouts. Murray set an AHL record for longest shutout streak by a goaltender when he held Wilkes-Barre / Scranton opponents off the scoreboard for 304 minutes and 11 seconds between Feb. 8 and Mar. 8, a stretch that included four consecutive shutout victories. He helped backstop the Penguins to a second place finish in the East Division and fourth place overall in the Eastern Conference.
The 6-foot-5 goaltender earned the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s Best Goaltender in addition to receiving the Red Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Rookie of the Year. Murray was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team, AHL First All-Star Team, and received AHL Player of the Week honors twice and named AHL Goaltender of the Month in both February and March.
The 20-year old netminder was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round, 83rd overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
“To be selected by the guys you play with and against night in and night out really means a lot to me personally,” said Murray. “Coming from fellow players, this is an honor.”
“Given Matt’s accomplishments this season, it comes as no surprise that his peers have voted him as the league’s top goaltender,” added PHPA Executive Director, Larry Landon. “On behalf of the PHPA Membership, I offer my most sincere congratulations to Matt on an outstanding season.”
The 2014-15 season marked the first time players from the AHL voted on a series of season ending individual awards.
2014-15 PHPA Player Voted Awards
AHL Top Goalie Award Presented by Scotiabank
Matt Murray
Height: 6’5” Weight: 170 lbs.
Position: Goaltender
Age: 20
Hometown: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Career Achievements:
Red Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Rookie of the Year, 2014-15
Baz Bastien Memorial Award as AHL Best Goaltender, 2014-15
Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award as Goaltending tandem who surrendered the fewest goals, 2014-15
AHL First-Team All-Star, 2014-15
AHL All-Rookie Team, 2014-15
AHL Player of the Month, February and March, 2015
AHL Player of the Week (February 8, March 8th), 2015
Ontario Hockey League Second All-Star Team, 2013-14
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