PAVEL FRANCOUZ NAMED CCM/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Colorado Eagles goaltender Pavel Francouz has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 3, 2019.

Francouz was a perfect 4-0-0 in four starts last week, allowing just six goals on 145 shots (1.48 goals-against average, .959 save percentage) to help the Eagles move into a playoff position in the Pacific Division standings.

Francouz stopped 36 shots on Tuesday evening to backstop Colorado to a 5-3 win over San Antonio, then made 30 saves on Wednesday for his second shutout of the season, a 6-0 victory over the Rampage. The Eagles then overtook Tucson for fourth place in the Pacific with a sweep of the Roadrunners’ two-game weekend visit, as Francouz turned aside a season-high 43 shots in a 3-2 overtime victory on Saturday and made 30 more saves in a 2-1 win on Sunday.

In his first season of play in North America, Francouz has made 38 appearances for the Eagles and owns a record of 21-13-2 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. He is currently tied for third in the AHL in victories and ranks second in saves (1,093) while placing fourth in minutes played (2,169). The native of Plzen, Czech Republic, also made his NHL debut with the Colorado Avalanche earlier this season, posting a .943 save percentage in two appearances. Francouz, who signed with the Avalanche as a free agent on May 2, 2018, was named the top goaltender in the KHL last season and represented the Czech Republic at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang.

In recognition of being named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week, Francouz will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Eagles home game.