Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Colorado Avalanche prospect Ivan Zhigalov of the Kingston Frontenacs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with two victories, a 1.50 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage.
Leading Kingston to an undefeated weekend at home, Zhigalov stopped 29 of the 31 shots that came his way as the Fronts won 4-2 against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday. The 6-foot-3, 173Ib. goaltender continued to defend the crease against the Guelph Storm on Saturday, blocking 30 of the 31 shots he faced in a 6-1 win.
A 19-year-old from Minsk, Belarus, Zhigalov owns a 3-1-0-1 record with a 1.78 goals-against average and .945 save percentage in five games this season. The seventh round (225th overall) pick of the Colorado Avalanche this past summer spent the 2021-22 season with the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix, playing to a 26-9-3 record with a 2.84 goals-against-average and .892 save percentage. He participated in the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kitchener, Ont., and was Kingston’s first round (47th overall) pick in the 2022 CHL Import Draft.
A pair of other candidates were given consideration for the award as Sudbury Wolves netminder Joe Ranger went 1-0-0-1 on the weekend, posting a 2.37 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. Kitchener Rangers goaltender Marco Costantini went 1-1-0-0 with his new club, posting a 2.55 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)