GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH AWARDS
2003-04

Peoria goaltender LEVENTE SZUPER is the ECHL Goaltender of the Month for March 2004

ECHL Press Release

Under contract to Worcester of the American Hockey League, Szuper was 11-1-0 with three shutouts, a goals against average of 1.75 and a save percentage of .935 in 12 games for Peoria in March.

Selected in the fourth round (116th overall) by Calgary in the 2000 National Hockey League Entry Draft, the 23-year-old Szuper won his first six starts of the month which included back-to-back 2-0 shutouts at Toledo, making 26 saves on March 12 and 24 saves on March 13. He closed out the regular season winning his last six games including his third shutout of the month with 26 saves against Dayton on March 26.

After beginning the season with a record of 0-3-1, a 4.35 goals against average and a .818 save percentage, the 5-11 and 180-pound Szuper went 23-5-0 with a 2.03 goals against average and a .926 save percentage in his next 28 games. He finished the regular season a career-best record of 23-8-1, a career-low goals against average of 2.31 and a career-high save percentage of .915. He tied for sixth among ECHL goaltenders in goals against average and shutouts with four. Szuper also appeared in three games with Worcester in the AHL.

Szuper played the last three seasons for Saint John in the American Hockey League helping the Flames win the Calder Cup in 2001. He was 43-46-9 with a goals against average of 2.50 and a save percentage of .903 in 112 regular season games with Saint John.

He played two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League going 53-21-5 with a goals against average of 2.47 and a save percentage of .916 in 85 games for the Ottawa 67's. He helped Ottawa win the 1999 Memorial Cup Championship winning one game in the finals.

Runners Up: Greg Gardner, Mississippi (9-1-0, 1.69 GAA, .949 save pct.) and Trevor Koenig, San Diego (9-1-0, 1.90 GAA, .929 save pct.).

Others Nominated: Lance Mayes (Alaska), Jason Saal (Augusta), Gregg Naumenko (Charlotte), Tyler Masters (Cincinnati), Jason Tapp (Columbus), Sebastien LaPlante (Florence), Jeff Maund (Florida), Mike Brusseau (Fresno), Jamie Hodson (Greensboro), Trevor Prior (Gwinnett), David Currie (Johnstown), Marc Magliarditi (Las Vegas), Derek Gustafson (Louisiana), Brian Eklund (Pensacola), Cody Rudkowsky (Reading), David Belitski (Roanoke), David Brumby (South Carolina), Andrew Allen (Trenton) and Joe Exter (Wheeling).