Teams: Men's Ice Hockey: Press Releases

Monday, January 21, 2008

KALEC AWARDED NESCAC CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR

MEDFORD -- After stopping almost 97 percent of the shots put at him last week, senior goalie James Kalec (East Amherst NY/Fort Erie Meteors) of the Tufts hockey team has been named the New England Small College Athletic Conference's (NESCAC) Co-Player of the Week.

Kalec was a busy man during a three-game week for the Jumbos, who were 2-1 with the loss coming in overtime. Kalec stopped a total of 113 shots while allowing four goals in 181:03 of action. Those calculate to outstanding numbers of a .966 save percentage and 1.32 goals against average.

All of Kalec's fine work came in front of home fans. With 14 saves in the first, nine in the second and 14 more in the third for 37 total, Kalec helped Tufts to a 5-1, non-conference victory over Suffolk on Tuesday at Valley Forum II. In a 2-1 overtime loss versus Skidmore on Friday, he had 18 saves in the third period and 38 overall to help the Jumbos reach the extra frame. He capped the week with a sturdy 38-save effort (10-13-15) on Saturday when the Jumbos came back from a 1-0 deficit in the third period to defeat Castleton 4-1. The successful week helped Tufts keep hold of fifth place in NESCAC with a 4-4-1 mark (6-7-1 overall).

The announcement of Kalec's NESCAC honor comes exactly two years to the week that a Jumbo last was honored by the conference. Matt McCarthy was NESCAC Player of the Week in late January 2006 after scoring six goals with an assist during a 2-0-1 week for Coach Brian Murphy's squad. This week, Kalec shares the honor with Middlebury's Mickey Gilchrist, who had four goals and three assists during an undefeated 3-0 week for the Panthers.

Kalec is currently sixth in NESCAC with a .906 save percentage, and he leads the league with 396 saves. He lowered his goals against average to 3.28 after last week. A four-year starter for Tufts, Kalec's 2,091 all-time saves are second on the program's career list. The 6-foot, 185-pound puck stopper is 48 shy of the 2,139 saves made by Ben Crapser from 2000-04.

Tufts will travel to play against NESCAC opponents Colby and Bowdoin next weekend.

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