With the kind of season Moose Jaw Warriors goaltender Connor Ungar has put together, it seemed only a matter of time before the Western Hockey League took notice.
That time came on Wednesday, as the WHL announced that Ungar has been named the Goaltender of the Month for January, capping another stellar run of games for the overage netminder.
Ungar saw action in 12 of the Warriors’ 13 games over the past month, picking up points in 11 of those and posting a 2.37 goals against average and .933 save percentage to go along with an 8-1-0-3 record over that span.
It didn’t matter how busy the Calgary native was, either, as regardless of how many shots Ungar faced, he was able to find a way to keep the Warriors in the game. That included a 43-save showing in the Warriors’ shootout loss to the Hitmen on Jan. 6, a career-high 47 saves in a shootout loss to Red Deer on Jan. 11 and 42 stops in their 4-2 win over the Portland Winterhawks on Jan. 13.
Ungar has found himself near the top of a few goaltending categories all season, and with his string of impressive performances, heads into February as the WHL leader in wins with 25 -- part of a 25-6-0-3 record overall -- and the league’s best save percentage at .924. Ungar’s 2.61 goals against average is seventh best in the WHL, and he has one shutout, that coming back on Nov. 19 in a 6-0 win over Swift Current.
Ungar holds a career 52-19-2-3 record, 2.57 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and three shutouts in 85 career regular season games with Brandon, Red Deer and Moose Jaw.
The Warriors are back in action Wednesday night when they travel to Lethbridge to take on the Hurricanes.
