The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has announced that Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Sudbury Wolves as the 2018-19 recipient of the Goaltender of the Year award.
The 20-year-old becomes the first member of the Wolves to earn the award after tying for the league lead with 38 wins and six shutouts, while posting the OHL’s third best goals-against-average with a mark of 2.50 and the best save percentage at .920.
"I am very honoured to be named OHL Goaltender of the Year," says Luukkonen. "I want to thank my teammates and all of the Wolves fans who stood behind us the whole year. I also want to thank our owner Dario Zulich and our General Manager Rob Papineau for taking a chance with me, and drafting me in the Import Draft and for creating an amazing environment for all our players to play in. To Coach Cory Stillman, Goalie Coach Alain Valiquette, Athletic Therapist Dan Buckland and the rest of the Sudbury Wolves organization, I want to say thank you for pushing me and believing in me. I am also very thankful for my billets Tammy and John Valtonen this season who gave me a second home."
Luukkonen, a native of Finland, joined the Wolves as the third overall pick in the 2018 CHL Import Draft. He played to an overall record of 38-11-2-2 helping the Wolves finish second in the Central Division standings with 43 wins and 91 points.
The OHL Goaltender of the Year is awarded to the league's most outstanding goaltender as selected by OHL General Managers.
Luukkonen was the unanimous choice by OHL General Managers receiving the maximum 95 points in the voting process representing 19 first ballot selections.