Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Owen Flores of the Niagara IceDogs is the OHL Goaltender of the Week with one win and a shootout loss, a goals-against average of 1.44 and save percentage of .963.
Flores stopped 77 of the 81 shots that came his way last week, helping the IceDogs earn three of a possible four points. He turned aside 35 shots on top of two of the three shootout attempts he faced on Thursday as the IceDogs fell to the Kingston Frontenacs 3-2. Flores was back between the pipes on Saturday, backstopping the IceDogs to a 2-1 win over the Mississauga Steelheads where he made 43 saves to earn first star honours.
An 18-year-old from Antioch, Ill., Flores owns a 5-7-2-1 record with a 4.64 goals-against average and .879 save percentage in 18 games with the IceDogs this season. The 6-foot-2, 176Ib. netminder was acquired from the London Knights in September after going 6-8-2-2 with a 3.67 goals-against average and .875 save percentage with the Knights in his rookie season. He was also named to the GOJHL’s Rookie All-Star Team in 2021-22 after playing to a 12-2-0 record with a 2.20 goals-against average and .928 save percentage in 16 games with the London Nationals. Flores was London’s sixth round (114th overall) pick in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection.
A pair of other candidates were given consideration for the award as Kitchener Rangers netminder Marcus Vandenberg went 2-0, recording a 2.00 goals-against average and .953 save percentage in wins over Guelph and Peterborough. Colorado Avalanche prospect Ivan Zhigalov of the Kingston Frontenacs also went 2-0, posting a 1.44 goals-against average and .955 save percentage in road victories over Niagara and Hamilton.
2022-23 OHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Dec. 5 – Dec. 11: Owen Flores (Niagara IceDogs)
Nov. 28 – Dec. 4: Dom DiVincentiis (North Bay Battalion)
Nov. 21 – Nov. 27: Brett Brochu (London Knights)
Nov. 14 – Nov. 20: Michael Simpson (Peterborough Petes)
Nov. 7 – Nov. 13: Joe Ranger (Sudbury Wolves)
Oct. 31 – Nov. 6: Tristan Lennox (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 24 – Oct. 30: Carter George (Owen Sound Attack)
Oct. 17 – Oct. 23: Collin MacKenzie (Ottawa 67’s)
Oct. 10 – Oct. 16: Ivan Zhigalov (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 3 – Oct. 9: Alessio Beglieri (Mississauga Steelheads)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2: Ben Gaudreau (Sarnia Sting)
