Guggenberger Named CHL Rookie of the Year

Goalie is first Brahmas player to be selected for this award

The Central Hockey League has announced that Mark Guggenberger has been selected as the recipient of the 2011-12 Central Hockey League Rookie of the Year award following balloting among CHL head coaches, communication’s departments and selected media members in CHL markets.

The Rookie of the Year award is ‘presented annually to the Central Hockey League player adjudged to be the most proficient in his first year of professional competition.’

Guggenberger was selected on 23 of the 50 ballots submitted, finishing ahead of Quad City’s Jared Brown who was second with nine votes received.

The Richfield, Minnesota native leads the entire CHL with a 2.12 goals against average and is carrying a 21-9-3 record. Guggenberger’s three shutouts are tied for the most in the league and his five shootout wins are second in the league.

Earlier this week, the 6-3, 208-pound rookie was named the goaltender for the CHL All-Rookie Team and the All-CHL Team and he is one of five finalists for the CHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender Award (winner will be announced on Friday, March 23).

In his first professional season, Guggenberger was selected as a member of the CHL All-Star team and in January earned the win in the All-Star Game making 35 saves on 36 shots in the CHL All-Stars 6-4 win over the host Arizona Sundogs.

Guggenberger is the first Brahmas’ player to win the Rookie of the Year award, dating back to the inception of the franchise in 1997. He is also the only Fort Worth-area player to win the award since WPHL and CHL hockey began in 1992.

Prior to turning professional, Guggenberger played one season at the University of Prince Edward Island and prior to that, three seasons in the Western Hockey League with Portland, Swift Current and Kelowna). His combined record in the WHL was 40-30-5 with eight shutouts.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith