Photo: @SCStingrays
Washington Capitals prospect Vitek Vanecek continues to shine in the franchise’s development process. The team’s ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays, announced on their website that Vanecek was named the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month.
Vanecek posted a 6-0-1-0 record throughout the month of March along with a 1.27 goals-against average (GAA) and a .949 save percentage (SVS%). He was previously named the ECHL Rookie of the Month in November and was the CCM Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for March 7-13.
In his first professional season in North America, Vanecek has posted an impressive 17-7-5-1 record while posting 3 shutouts with the Stingrays. He’s been quick in securing pucks with his glove hand and his catlike reflexes has allowed him to make quick blocker pad saves. The only criticism that he has faced throughout his young career is his inability to prevent pucks from passing through his five hole. Nonetheless he has been stellar in net and should continue to do well moving forward.
The 20-year-old from Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic continues to show signs of potential. With only 3 games remaining in the season, Vanececk is getting ready to participate in Kelly Cup playoffs. He will most likely start as the Stingrays number one goaltender and should he perform well in the postseason he could move up to the AHL next season with the Hersey Bears.
By Andrei Poleshchuk
