Kuemper Named ECHL Alumnus of the Month
(photo credit: Pioneer Press/Ben Garvin)
Former ECHL and current Minnesota Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been named the MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus of the Month for February.
The Meigray Group is the leading distributor of game-worn jerseys—selling more than 6,800 jerseys since it became “The Official Game-Worn Jersey Source of the ECHL” in 2002-03.
The 23-year-old keeper goalie went 4-0-1 in five appearances during the month of February with one shutout, a 1.55 goals-against average and a save percentage of .942. Following a 5-4 overtime loss at Calgary on the first of the month, Kuemper ended February on a four-game winning streak, allowing two goals or less in each of the four matchups.
He made 34 saves in a 2-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 4, turned back 16 shots in a 3-2 overtime victory against Nashville on Feb. 6, didn’t allow a shot to go through as he saved all 21 attempts in a 3-0 victory over Edmonton on Feb. 27, and had 30 saves in a 2-1 overtime win at Vancouver on Feb. 28.
A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Kuemper is 10-3-2 with two shutouts, a 2.20 goals-against average and a save percentage of .924 in 17 appearances this season. He made his NHL debut on Feb. 12, 2013, sharing the honor of being the 500th former ECHL player to reach to NHL.
A sixth-round selection (161st overall) by the Wild in the 2009 NHL Draft, Kuemper appeared in 11 ECHL games during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 season with the Ontario Reign and Orlando Solar Bears posting an overall record of 7-3-1 with a 1.97 goals-against average and a save percentage of .937.
He also appeared in 61 career American Hockey League games with Houston and Iowa going 28-25-4 with six shutouts, a 2.23 goals-against average and a save percentage of .928.
