Houser Wins CHL Goalie of the Year

THE DAY BEFORE - Saturday May 26th

London Knights Michael Houser - CHL goalie of the year. 

The CHL awards took centre stage today in Shawinigan.   London Knights Michael Houser won the CHL goalie of the year.

Michael Houser - Memorial Cup vs. Edmonton

Houser just missed a grand slam of individual awards.  He was first team all star goalie in the OHL.  He was the goalie of the year in the OHL, Red Tilson trophy winner as Most Valuable Player in the OHL and now the CHL goaltender of the year.  The only other trophy he could have won was the CHL player of the year which went to Brandon Shinnimin of the Tri Cities Americans.  

Michael Houser vs. Niagara in OHL finals.  

Houser could return as an overage but it certainly wouldn't be to prove anything else.  His career regular season record stands at 93-28-7.  He posted a save percentage of .900 or better every year, including .925 this season.  He got better in each round of the 2012 playoffs.   As the Knights needed him more, he was there to deliver.

Houser came to the Knights as a free agent.  He was not drafted by an OHL team and has never been drafted by an NHL team.  He must be the most decorated junior player in recent memory to never have been drafted - at any level.

Houser is a native of Wexford, Pennsylvania.  He played minor hockey in Detroit while living with an uncle.  He played in the USHL for a struggling team in Des Moines, Iowa.  That's where Mark Hunter saw him and signed him as a free agent.  Hunter was always impressed with Houser's competitive nature.

The two finalists for the Memorial Cup met the media today.

Michael Chaput had 12 points in 11 playoff games this year in the Q

Cataractes meet the media.

The Shawinigan Cataractes will play their fourth game in five nights.  The Cataractes are a very explosive  team and feed off the energy of probably the most influential crowd in the CHL.
On the ice, Michael Chaput has been an absolute force.  He is a left shot centre with a strong work ethic and an excellent first 3 strides.  He was a 3rd round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 but traded to Columbus for Tom Sestito.  He was acquired by the Cataractes in a trade with Lewiston after being the MAINEiacs first round pick in the Q draft in 2008.  You will be seeing him in a significant role in the NHL.  A great 3rd line centre in the NHL at the least.

Shawinigan coach Eric Veilleux is in his 7th season with the Cataractes

The London Knights are anxious to play for the first time since Tuesday.  Players skated lightly today but seemed relaxed and ready to go.

Ryan Rupert wearing his Dale Hunter Quebec Nordiques shirt. 

Knights waiting after practice skate

Sea Dogs coach Gerard Gallant said Shawinigan deserved to win the semi-final