Guggenberger named CHL's top goaltender

Brahmas goalie wins Scott Brower Award

The Central Hockey League has announced that Mark Guggenberger has been named the recipient of the 2011-12 Central Hockey League’s Most Outstanding Goaltender award (Scott Brower Award).

The award is ‘presented annually to the Central Hockey League’s most outstanding goaltender, in memory of Scott Brower, former CHL goaltender and team staff member.’ Voting was done by CHL head coaches, communications departments and selected media members in each market.

In what turned out to be the most decisive award race, Guggenberger earned 29 votes of the 50 ballots returned (58%) followed by Charlie Effinger (Missouri) who had 14 votes. Earlier this week, Guggenberger was named the CHL Rookie of the Year joining Tyler Weiman as the only player to win the top goaltending and rookie award in the same season (2005, Colorado).

Guggenberger, 22, leads the CHL with his 2.12 goals against average and sits with a 21-9-3 record. His five shootout wins are second in the league and his three shutouts are tied for first in the CHL.

The Richfield, Minnesota native earned recognition in the month of January when he was the winning goaltender in the CHL All-Star game making 35 saves on 36 shots. In February, Guggenberger was named the Sher-Wood/CHL Goaltender of the Month and the 50/50 Central CHL Rookie of the Month thanks to his 9-1-1 record and his 1.23 goals against average.

During the season, Guggenberger set a new CHL record for scoreless minutes (238:31) in the midst of recording three consecutive shutouts and in his 36 appearances on the season, the 6-3, 208-pound goalie has allowed two goals or fewer.

Photo Credit: Robert Keith