Shannon Szabados Named Easton Player of the Week

Shannon Szabados has made a lot of headlines this year, and it doesn’t look like she has any plans to stop. The Olympic goaltender has been named the Easton player of the Week for November 24-30, the first woman to do so. Szabados has gone 2-0-0 with a 1.49 GAA and a .963 SV% this season with the Columbus Cottonmouths of the SPHL,  her first full season with the team.

She also earned her first assist, on the game-winning overtime goal against the Fayeteville FireAntz. (That game was officiated by the league’s first two female referees for Girl Scout Night). Her impressive showing this season has earned the two-time gold medalist praise both within the league and outside it for her role as a trailblazer and role model for young athletes. As WLTZ.com put it:

She does know it’ll always be an important part of who she is– becoming a female in the public eye who continues to make a splash in the male-dominated sport. But Shannon is more than just an athlete, she’s become a role model for young girls everywhere. Something she wasn’t comfortable with at first, but has since become used to it.

“Yea know it’s fun. It’s fun to see those little girls in their jerseys and to hear their stories and to share my stories as well,” said Szabados.

Her first win with the Cottonmouths in November was also the team’s first win of the season, snapping an eight-game skid and starting them on a six-game winning streak. She beat out five other athletes for the honor: Derek Elliott of Fayetteville, Nick Lazorko of Huntsville, Ryan Salvis of Knoxville, Adam Pawlick of Pensacola, and Kyle Rank of Peoria.