Rangers’ Luke Opilka named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Tuesday February 2, 2016

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that St. Louis Blues prospect Luke Opilka of the Kitchener Rangers is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending January 31 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .979.

Opilka stopped 47 of the 48 shots he faced last week backstopping the Rangers to a pair of victories helping the club climb into second place in the OHL’s Midwest Division standings with 72 points.  Opilka made 20 saves to earn his second shutout of the season on Friday night as third star of a 2-0 victory over the Windsor Spitfires, then turned aside 27 shots on the road Saturday in a 2-1 win against the Saginaw Spirit again claiming third star honours. 

A 19-year-old from St. Louis, Missouri, Opilka is playing in his first OHL season with the Rangers and currently carries a 23-5-2-0 record.  His goals-against-average of 2.42 ranks third among OHL netminders, while his save percentage of .917 is fifth best in the league.  Opilka was selected by his hometown Blues in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award was Calgary Flames prospect Mason McDonald of the Charlottetown Islanders with a 2-0-0-0 record including a shutout victory along with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .970, and Coleman Vollrath of the Victoria Royals who went 2-0-0-0 with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .950.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:
Jan. 25 – Jan. 31: Luke Opilka (Kitchener Rangers)
Jan. 18 – Jan. 24: Jordan Papirny (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Jan. 11 – Jan. 17: Zach Sawchenko (Moose Jaw Warriors)
Jan. 4 – Jan. 10: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Dec. 28 – Jan. 3: Étienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Dec. 14 – Dec. 20: Callum Booth (Quebec Remparts)
Dec. 7 – Dec. 13: Jack Flinn (Mississauga Steelheads)
Nov. 30 – Dec. 6: Ty Edmonds (Prince George Cougars)
Nov. 23 – Nov. 29: Carter Hart (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Keven Bouchard (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Etienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Julio Billia (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Coleman Vollrath (Victoria Royals)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Louis-Philip Guindon (Rimouski Oceanic)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)