Winnipeg Jets goaltending prospect Domenic DiVincentiis has been awarded the Ontario Hockey Leagues' Jim Rutherford Trophy - the annual recognition presented to the league's Goaltender of the Year, as determined by the coaches and general managers across the league.
DiVincentiis, a 2022 seventh round pick of Winnipeg (207th overall), had himself a stellar 2022-23 season for the North Bay Battalion. The 19-year-old went 36-9-2 with a 2.33 goals against average and a .919 save percentage on the season.
Each of those statistics led the league.
And his postseason numbers are actually slightly better than what he did in the regular season (2.31 GAA, .929 SP).
DiVincentiis had five shutouts on the year, which was tied for first among all backstops. In fact, the second year player didn't lose consecutive games all season.
"To share this recognition with some of the best goaltenders in our league’s history is extremely exciting," DiVincentiis said in a league-issued release. "This award, in my opinion, is a recognition and acknowledgment to the incredible support and encouragement I have received from my teammates, coaches, support staff, and fans with the North Bay Battalion."
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Bolton, ON. product's name has been put forward by the OHL as its nominee for the Canadian Hockey League's Goaltender of the Year award. The winner will be unveiled at the Memorial Cup in Kamloops this June. DiVincentiis will later be presented with the Jim Rutherford Trophy on June 14 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
"I would like to share this award with my family, billet family and support network that has been with me every step of the way," DiVincetiis' statement continued. "Your love and support has been my greatest source of strength and motivation, and I am grateful for every moment we have shared together through my career to date on and off the ice."
North Bay is tied 2-2 in its best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final playoff series with the Peterborough Petes. DiVincentiis and his Battalion teammates will look to pull ahead as the series shifts back to North Bay on Friday.