Despite missing a substantial part of the season with a leg injury suffered in practice, junior goaltender Brian Elliott added another postseason honor to his resume, as he was named Inside College Hockey 2005-'06 Goaltender of the Year Monday.
Elliott leads the nation in every significant goaltending category including winning percentage (.803, 25-5-3), goals-against average (1.55) and save percentage (.938), while his eight shutouts are tied for the national lead.
Last week he was named first-team All-American and one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, annually given to the top college hockey player in the nation.
Elliott, currently riding a three-game shutout streak that includes both games of the NCAA Midwest Regional, has led the Badgers to its first NCAA Frozen Four since 1992. His 40-save performance in a 1-0 triple-overtime win over Cornell garnered Elliott the NCAA Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player.
Elliott has shattered the record books here at UW as well. With eight shutouts this season, he broke the previous school record of four, and his 11 career shutouts are a school record as well. He is also on pace to break the school single-season and career records for goals-against average and save percentage.
Elliott has been stellar this season against the top teams in the country. Against ranked opponents, he sports a 13-1-1 record, a 1.19 goals-against average, a .955 save percentage and five shutouts, coming against No. 1 Colorado College, No. 1 Minnesota, No. 4 Minnesota, No. 8 Cornell and No. 19 St. Cloud State.
The Badgers face off against Maine in an NCAA Semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Bradley Center. The winner of that game will meet the winner of the first semifinal between Boston College and North Dakota, which is slated for 2 p.m. Thursday.
—compiled by staff writers
