Syracuse ice hockey’s Ava Drabyk wins February AHA Goaltender of the Month
Syracuse ice hockey freshman Ava Drabyk won the AHA’s February Goaltender of the Month award, the conference announced. Griffin Uribe Brown | Digital Managing Editor
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Syracuse freshman Ava Drabyk was named Atlantic Hockey America’s February Goaltender of the Month award, the conference announced Monday. The netminder saved 181 shots at an 89.6% clip across seven games last month.
In a 3-2 win over RIT on Feb. 6, Drabyk gloved 32-of-34 shots, conceding two Tigers goals on the power play. SU narrowly fell to RIT the following day, but the defeat was due to its sputtering offense and undisciplined play. Drabyk held her own by saving 31 shots.
In an exhilarating shootout win over then-No. 13 Mercyhurst on Feb. 13, Drabyk bailed out the Orange’s offense by saving 27-of-29 shots. Two weeks later, in SU’s season-ending loss to then-No. 3 Penn State in Game 2 of the AHA Semifinals, the netminder stopped 93.3% of shots she faced.
Drabyk quelled any goalie-related concerns Syracuse had entering the season. Despite uncertainty at the position after NCAA all-time saves leader Allie Kelley graduated, Drabyk adequately filled her void, finishing third among AHA goalies with a 92.2% save rate.
“She is the backbone of our team,” SU forward Maya D’Arcy said of Drabyk. “When she’s playing her best, we’re all playing our best.”
