The ECHL have unveiled their award winners for December.
Yesterday the ECHL rolled out their monthly award-winners for December. Adirondack's Vinnie Purpura has been named Rookie of the Month, Orlando's Colten Ellis is your Goaltender of the Month, and Toledo's Brandon Hawkins has earned Player of the Month.
Full press releases from the league below:
Adirondack Thunder goaltender Vinnie Purpura has been named the Howies Hockey Tape ECHL Rookie of the Month for December.
Purpura went 6-0-1 with a 2.18 goals-against average and a save percentage of .932 in seven appearances during the month.
The 25-year-old allowed two goals or less in four of his seven appearances, and made at least 31 saves in five outings, including a personal season-high 40 stops in a 2-1 overtime win at Trois-Rivières on Dec. 20.
A native of Lemont, Illinois, Purpura is 9-1-3 in 13 appearances with the Thunder this season and ranks third in the ECHL with a 2.35 goals-against average while ranking fourth with a .923 save percentage. He made his pro debut Adirondack late last season, going 2-0-1 in four outings.
Prior to turning pro, Purpura saw action in 53 career games at Boston University and Long Island University going 12-34-1 with one shutout, a 3.38 goals-against average and a save percentage of .894.
Colten Ellis of the Orlando Solar Bears has been named the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Month for December.
Ellis went 5-0-0 with one shutout, a 1.58 goals-against average and a save percentage of .954 in five appearances during the month.
The 23-year-old allowed two goals or less in five of his six starts during the month while making at least 26 saves four times. Ellis was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending Dec. 23 after going 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a save percentage of .973 in two appearances.
Under a National Hockey League contract with St. Louis, Ellis is 11-4-1 with one shutout in 18 appearances with the Solar Bears this season. He ranks second in the ECHL with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.
A native of River Denys, Nova Scotia, Ellis has appeared in 78 career ECHL games with Orlando, Tulsa and Worcester posting an overall record of 37-26-11 with two shutouts, a 3.08 goals-against average and a save percentage of .905. He has also seen action in six career American Hockey League games with Springfield.
Prior to turning pro, Ellis appeared in 153 career games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Cape Breton, Rimouski and Charlottetown going 103-31-4 with 18 shutouts, a 2.31 goals-against average and a save percentage of .912.
Brandon Hawkins of the Toledo Walleye has been named the Warrior Hockey ECHL Player of the Month for December. It is the second time in his career that he has received the monthly honor.
Hawkins scored six goals and added 14 assists for 20 points in 14 games, helping the Walleye to an 11-1-2 record during the month.
The 29-year-old had at least one point in 12 of his 14 games in December, including seven-multi point games. He had three points (1g-2a) on Dec. 16 at Iowa, and among his six two-point games was a two-goal night on Dec. 8 against Cincinnati.
A native of Macomb, Michigan, Hawkins is tied for third in the ECHL with 17 goals and is second with 40 points in 28 games with the Walleye this season.
Hawkins has totaled 257 points (130g-127a) in 230 career ECHL games with Toledo, Fort Wayne and Wheeling while adding seven points (3g-4a) in 27 career American Hockey League games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Rochester, Cleveland and Chicago.
Prior to turning pro, Hawkins tallied 108 points (46g-62a) in 141 career collegiate games with Bowling Green State University and Northeastern University.