Rangers' Dan Cloutier Sher-Wood Player of the Week
CMTCANADA.COM
WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA -- The American Hockey League announced today that Binghamton Rangers rookie goaltender Dan Cloutier has been named the Sher-Wood Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, December 22, 1996. Cloutier recorded consecutive shutouts in leading the Rangers to a perfect 2-0 week. In recognition of his achievement, Sher-Wood will contribute a dozen hockey sticks and a case of InGlasCo pucks to the local minor hockey association of Dan's choice.
The 20 year old native of Mont-Laurier, PQ opened the week with a 35 save effort in a 3-0 victory over the Albany River Rats at Knickerbocker Arena on Friday. Cloutier also added an assist on the Rangers' third goal. He followed up that performance with a 22 save shutout in a 2-0 win over the Baltimore Bandits on Saturday, giving him 57 saves in the weekend set. The two games represented his first two professional shutouts.
A first round draft choice of the New York Rangers, 26th overall, in the 1994 Entry Draft, Cloutier has played 23 games in his rookie season with Binghamton, sporting a 7-11-4 record with a 3.65 GAA and .891 save percentage. Cloutier spent the previous four seasons in the OHL, playing with Sault Ste. Marie before joining Guelph midway through last season, where he earned OHL Second All-Star Team honors.
Others nominated for the Sher-Wood Player of the Week include Jamie Rivers of the Worcester IceCats, Craig Darby of the Philadelphia Phantoms, David Nemirovsky of the Carolina Monarchs, and Don Beaupre of the St. John's Maple Leafs.