Most ECHL Wins By Rookie Goalies Last Season

The jump from junior to pro can be intimidating at best and disastrous at worst for a crop of hopefuls. 

Every year budding stars take the plunge into the higher levels of pro sports, endeavouring to swim in a sea of sharks. 

For a goaltender, the learning curve can be especially sharp.

The ECHL has its share of first-year pros working out the kinks and finding their footing in a higher-intensity game.

Some thrive under pressure, while others crash and burn.

The Hockey News counts down the top five winningest rookie goalies in the ECHL from the 2022-23 season and shares where they'll be suiting up this year.  

Sebastian Cossa - 22-23 Club: Toledo - 26 wins, .913 save percentage

Leading the way for wins among all ECHL rookies was Sebastian Cossa. 

The Red Wings prospect suited up for 46 games for the Toledo Walleye in 2022-23, earning 26 wins with a strong 2.56 GAA, and a .913 save percentage with four shutouts.

In seven playoff games, Cossa logged a 2.32 GAA and a .917 save percentage

Cossa recently suited up for the Red Wings at the Traverse City Prospect Tournament and should be expected to split time between Grand Rapids of the AHL and Toledo in 2023-24. 

Luke Cavallin - 22-23 Club: Newfoundland - 24 wins, .917 save percentage

Maple Leafs prospect Luke Cavallin clocks in as runner-up with rookie wins at 24. 

Cavallin, who signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Marlies of the AHl in 2022, suited up for 35 games for the Newfoundland Growlers last season, earning a stellar 24-9-1 record with a 2.56 GAA and .917 save percentage, coupled with two shutouts. 

In the Kelly Cup playoffs, Cavallin started for six games, compiling a 2.36 GAA and .925 save percentage. 

Like Cossa, Cavallin was selected as part of the Traverse City Prospect Tournament. He is expected to compete for minutes with the Marlies, with the possibility of backstopping the Growlers, in 2023-24. 

Tyler Wall - 22-23 Club: South Carolina - 22 wins, .912 save percentage

Leamington, Ontario native Tyler Wall backstopped the South Carolina Stingrays for 22 wins last season. 

Wall, who signed an AHL deal with the Hershey Bears last season and previously played for the ECHL's Jacksonville Icemen, started 35 games for the Stingrays, finishing with a 2.58 GAA and .912 save percentage. 

In his lone playoff game with South Carolina, Wall finished with a 5.00 GAA and .821 save percentage.

David Hrenak - 22-23 Club: Greenville - 22 wins, .906 save percentage

25-year-old Slovakian goaltender David Hrenak backstopped the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to 43 games in the 2022-23 season, compiling 2.82 GAA and .906 save percentage, with 22 wins. 

A product of the Los Angeles Kings system who spent considerable time in the NCHC before turning pro, Hrenak can currently be found playing for the Bili Tygri HC of the Czech League, having signed a two-year deal with the club earlier this summer. 

Zach Driscoll - 22-23 Club: Indy - 21 wins, .899 save percentage

Rounding out the top five in rookie wins is Zach Driscoll, a product of the University of North Dakota and Bermidji State University.

Last season, Driscoll went 21-17-3 in 42 appearances for the Indy Fuel, earning a 3.03 GAA and a .899 save percentage. He previously played for the Toledo Walleye in 2021-22.

Driscoll recently signed a new contract to return to the Fuel for the 2023-24 season.