NEWS AND MEDIA

Jackals' LaCosta Named Rbk Hockey Goalie Of The Week

03 Dec 2007

PRINCETON, N.J. – Dan LaCosta of the Elmira Jackals is the Rbk Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Nov. 12-18.

Selected in the third round (93rd overall) by Columbus in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and under NHL contract to the Blue Jackets, LaCosta was 2-0-0 with a 0.96 goals-against average and a .973 save percentage as the Jackals went 3-1-0 to move into a tie for second in the North Division.

The 6-foot-1 and 186-pound LaCosta stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 4-1 win at South Division leader Texas on Nov. 17 and had a career-best 42 saves while also stopping all four shooters in a 2-1 shootout win at Texas on Nov. 18.

The Labrador City, Newfoundland native is 2-3-1 and tied for third in the ECHL with a .929 save percentage while ranking eighth with a 2.32 goal-against average.

The 21 year old has also played in the American Hockey League where he is 0-1-0 with a 2.84 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage in one game for Syracuse.

LaCosta split his rookie season in 2006-07 with the Dayton Bombers where he was 3-5-1 with a 3.45 goals-against average and a .874 save percentage and Syracuse where he was 5-7-1 with three shutouts, a 2.82 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage. He was named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 4, 2007 after posting shutouts in both of his starts, stopping 22 shots in a 5-0 win against Springfield on Feb. 2 and making 31 saves in a 6-0 victory over Rochester on Feb. 3.

LaCosta played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League where he was 86-48-13 with 11 shutouts, a 2.84 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage in 170 games with Owen Sound and Barrie.

Runners Up: Daniel Manzato, Las Vegas (3-0-0, 1.62 GAA, .949 save pct) and Chris Beckford-Tseu, Alaska (3-0-0, 2.55 GAA, .920 save pct.).

Also Nominated: J.P. Levasseur (Augusta), Cedrick Desjardins (Cincinnati), Dan Turple (Gwinnett), Morgan Cey (Mississippi), Josh Johnson (South Carolina), Anton Khudobin (Texas), Dave Caruso (Trenton), Michael Mole (Utah) and Billy Thompson (Victoria).