This week the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) announces its Overall Award winners for on-ice excellence: Most Valuable Player, Top Scorer, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender, Rookie of the Year, Most Sportsmanlike Player, Coach of the Year and General Manager of the Year.

Today the KIJHL is pleased to announce that Leo den Besten of the Fernie Ghostriders has been named the Top Goalie.

den Besten, a St. Alberta., Alta native led all KIJHL goalies with a 2.01 goals against average in 25 games. The first-year netminder posted a 16-5-1 record with three shutouts and had a .932 save percentage, which also ranked No.1 in the league while playing 1,400 minutes.

“Leo had an amazing year. It was no secret at the start of the season we struggled to keep the puck out of our net and the moment Leo arrived it changed the dynamic of our team,” said Ghostriders head coach-general manager Chad Scharff.

“We played with more confidence and freedom as a group knowing that Leo would be there for us to make a save. Through working with our goalie coach Theo Zubot, Leo’s game continued to get stronger and stronger, which makes him so deserving of this award.”

den Besten was named to the KIJHL’s Team of the Week four times. He had a four-game winning streak that went from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7. He saved 87.07 per cent of shots in the danger zone.

“From the Fernie Ghostriders MVP to the league’s Top Goalie, the Ghostriders are proud of you Leo! Congratulations!”

KIJHL

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