Vinnie Purpura of the Savannah Ghost Pirates is the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Feb. 2-8.
Purpura went 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a save percentage of .933 in three appearances last week.
The 27-year-old made 26 saves in a 4-1 win at Jacksonville on Tuesday, turned aside 25 shots in a 5-3 victory over South Carolina on Thursday and had 33 saves in a 4-2 win against Florida on Friday.
Under contract to Charlotte of the American Hockey League, Purpura is 14-5-0 in 19 ECHL appearances this season with Reading and Savannah and ranks third in the league in both goals-against average (1.93) and save percentage (.932).
A native of Lemont, Illinois, Purpura has seen action in 72 career ECHL games with Savannah, Reading and Adirondack, posting an overall record of 42-15-11 with two shutouts, a 2.49 goals-against average and a save percentage of .919.
Prior to turning pro, Purpura saw action in 53 career games at Boston University and Long Island University going 12-34-1 with one shutout, a 3.38 goals-against average and a save percentage of .894.
South Division Notes”
Atlanta Gladiators
- Ryley Appelt scored his first pro goal on Wednesday against Florida.
- Atlanta is 23-2-1 when scoring first.
- The Gladiators visit Greenville on Wednesday and host Adirondack on Friday and Saturday.
Florida Everblades
- Anthony Romano has seven points (5g-2a) in his last five games.
- The Everblades are 23-5-1 when allowing two goals or less.
- Florida hosts Maine on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Josh Atkinson is on a seven-game point streak (2g-10a).
- Greenville is tied for fifth with two shorthanded goals against.
- The Swamp Rabbits host Atlanta on Wednesday and South Carolina on Friday, visit the Stingrays on Saturday and host Savannah on Sunday.
Jacksonville Icemen
- Christopher Brown is on a three-game point streak (1g-3a).
- The Icemen are league’s third-least penalized team with 9.28 penalty minutes per game.
- Jacksonville hosts Kansas City on Wednesday, visits Savannah on Friday, hosts the Ghost Pirates on Saturday and travels to South Carolina on Sunday.
Orlando Solar Bears
- Aaron Luchuk is on a three-game point streak (3g-2a).
- Orlando is third on the power play at 22.2 percent (34-for-153).
- The Solar Bears host Savannah on Wednesday and Kansas City on Friday and Saturday.
Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Tristan Amonte scored his first pro goal on Thursday against South Carolina.
- The Ghost Pirates are tied for second on the penalty kill at 87.1 percent (122-for-140).
- Savannah hosts Orlando on Wednesday and Jacksonville on Friday before visiting the Icemen on Saturday and Greenville on Sunday.
South Carolina Stingrays
- Simon Pinard is on an eight-game point streak (6g-4a).
- South Carolina is 12-1-1 in one-goal games.
- The Stingrays visit Greenville on Friday and host the Swamp Rabbits on Saturday and Jacksonville on Sunday.
