Former Brock Badger Connor Ungar has been selected as the ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending on Dec. 29.
The Fort Wayne Komets netminder recorded a perfect 3-0-0 record during the week, stopping 89 of 94 shots he faced in three starts while registering a 1.60 goals against average and a .947 save percentage.
Ungar made 18 saves in a 4-2 win over the Indy Fuel on Dec. 27 before making a season-high 39 stops the following night in a 4-1 victory against the Cincinnati Cyclones. He ended his spectacular weekend with a 32-save performance against the Fuel on Dec. 29, which included denying Indy from scoring on all four shootout attempts in a 3-2 triumph.
The Calgary native now has nine wins this season, which is tied for ninth most in the ECHL, and has a 9-5-0 record with a 3.12 goals against average and .890 save percentage.
His trio of weekend wins now gives Fort Wayne 18 wins in 28 games this season (18-9-1) as the Komets sit fifth in the ECHL’s Western Conference and second in the Central Division.
Ungar is in his first season with the Komets, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, after signing with the Oilers in March following an impressive rookie season to lead the Badgers to the U Sports National Championships.
The 22-year-old set a Brock record last season with 20 regular season wins, the most wins by any goaltender across the country during the regular season, finishing the 2023-24 campaign with a 20-6-0 record. Ungar was also amongst the province’s leaders finishing with the fourth-best goals against average (2.15) and save percentage (.932) while registering the second-most saves (767) and logging the second-most minutes with 1561:12 spent in the crease.
Ungar’s most noteworthy performance came in the National Championship quarterfinal matchup against the UNB Reds where he stopped 41 of 44 shots on goal — many of which were high-danger scoring chances — in a spirited loss to the undefeated national champions.
His dominance at the backstop of the Badgers’ net led to him winning the U Sports Rookie of the Year, OUA West Goaltender of the Year and OUA West Rookie of the Year awards while being selected as the Badgers’ 2023-24 Male Athlete of the Year.
Prior to elevating his game with the Badgers, Ungar spent five seasons in the WHL, playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings, Red Deer Rebels and Moose Jaw Warriors. In 87 games, he registered a 53-20-5 record while tabulating 2.57 goals against average and a .917 save percentage, including three shutouts.
With numerous games under his belt across major junior, collegiate and minor league hockey, Ungar continues to make strides towards pushing for an NHL roster spot. His Goaltender of the Week honour is evident in the growth he’s made and the success of the Badgers men’s hockey program in developing young hockey players into talented professionals.
For more statistics and information about Connor Ungar, visit echl.com.