Villalta named CHL Goalie of the Week

Aaron Vickers2017 Draft Center, OHL

Matthew Villalta had himself a week. It netted him a reward.

Villalta was named Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Week after posting two wins, a 0.50 goals against average, and a .985 save percentage in two games.

The 17-year-old kicked aside 64 shots in a pair of road victories for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, who hold first place in the OHL’s West Division with a 43-15-3-1 record. Villalta earned first star honors posting his first career shutout, a 37-save performance, as part of a 6-0 win over the Guelph Storm on Friday. He finished his week by stopping 27 shots and nearning a second-star nod in a 2-1 win against the Kitchener Rangers.

Villalta has a 22-2-0-0 record, including 16-straight wins earlier this season, and holds the league’s fifth best goals agains -average with a mark of 2.51, along with a .913 save percentage.

It’s the second time Villalta has netted the award.

Matthew Welsh of the Charlottetown Islanders was also considered for the award. Welsh, 17, allowed one goal and recording one shutout in two games.