Buffalo Sabres: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Week

Netminder records back-to-back shutouts, part of 3-0-0-0 week for 'Clones

Cincinnati Cyclones goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been named the Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Week for Nov. 11-17. Luukkonen was a perfect 2-0-0-0 on the week, recording a 0.00 goals-against average and a 1.000 save percentage in back-to-back shutouts. He is the first Cyclones goaltender to post back-to-back clean sheets since the team returned to action prior to the 2006-07 season.

He started his perfect week on Thursday night, stopping all 22 shots he faced in a 1-0 overtime win against the Allen Americans. He continued to hold the opposition off the board on Saturday night, turning aside all 23 Ft. Wayne Komet offerings in a 5-0 win over their Central Division rivals.

Luukkonen is second in the ECHL with a 1.79 goals-against average and fourth with a .925 save percentage, while posting a 3-2-0-0 record in the process.

A native of Espoo, Finland, Luukkonen is coming off a successful season with the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) where he posted a record of 38-11-2, along with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. He was named OHL Goaltender of the Year for his efforts, and he also earned the Red Tilson Trophy, which is given to the Most Outstanding Player in the League. He is the first European import player to earn that award. 

Luukkonen was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, the National Hockey League affiliate of the Cyclones, in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He made his North American debut late last season, stopping 32 shots in a 4-2 win over the Belleville Senators on April 14. He has also seen time on the international stage with the Finnish National Team, earning a gold medal in both the 2019 Under-20 World Junior Championships and 2017 Under-18 World Junior Championships. Luukkonen helped backstop the Finnish squad to a silver medal in the 2017 U18 WJC.