Zatkoff, Kennedy take home AHL awards

By Michael Caples –

The American Hockey League announced both monthly and weekly awards yesterday, and some Michigan connections were included in the recipients.

Jeff Zatkoff, a Detroit native and goaltender for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, was named the league’s CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for November. Meanwhile, former Spartans standout Tim Kennedy was named the league’s player of the week for the period ending on Dec. 2.

Zatkoff, a Honeybaked alum and Miami RedHawks product, compiled a 8-1-0 record in the month of November, along with a 1.21 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and three shutouts. He allowed only 11 goals on 244 shots he faced over the month.

Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate, the 25-year-old currently ranks second in the league in wins (10-5-0 season record), fourth in goals-against (1.81) and sixth in save percentage (.930). Zatkoff now holds a career AHL mark of 62-50-6, with 11 shutouts, in 129 career games.

Kennedy, meanwhile, was named CCM/AHL Player of the Week for an outstanding stretch from Nov. 25 to Dec. 2. In three road games, the Buffalo, N.Y., native scored five goals, plus a shootout tally, for the Worcester Sharks. The former Spartan was also plus-five in the three games for the San Jose Sharks’ AHL affiliate.