Goalie DiPietro named the OHL’s best in 2017-18
‘He’s the best,’ Windsor GM Rychel says of franchise’s first OHL goalie of the year
Mikey DiPietro continues to build a case that he is indeed the greatest goalie in the history of the Windsor Spitfires.
The Amherstburg native added to his resume Wednesday when he was named the Ontario Hockey League’s goaltender of the year. DiPietro is the first goalie in club history to win the award in its 31-year history. “Definitely, it’s been a goal of mine,” said the 18-year-old, who was third in voting for the award a year ago.
“When I got the news, I don’t want to say it caught me by surprise because when you put in the effort, you hope it comes out right at the other end, but it is an honour and I’m grateful for it.” The top goalie at last year’s Memorial Cup, DiPietro returned this season to see the club add five first-year defencemen to the roster.
“With what happened (at the) Memorial Cup, he’s just so respected throughout the league,” Spitfires head coach Trevor Letowski said. “With his numbers — and it was a young team — and to keep those numbers up around the top of the league, people around the league, they realize what a difference maker he is. He just has a special ability to stay within the day and play hard.”
DiPietro finished third in the league with a 2.79 goals-against average and was sixth in save percentage at .910 along with a league-leading seven shutouts. “Me personally, my numbers weren’t sparkling this year, but my job was to keep the team in the game and help us win no matter how young or inexperienced because we didn’t want to use that as a crutch,” said DiPietro, who is currently with the Canadian senior men’s team at the IIHF World Championship in Denmark.
“We took each game as a learning experience to get better and improve. We had to earn and really scrape for each point we got. I’m very happy with the outcome.”
DiPietro was in net for 29 of Windsor’s 32 wins this past season and allowed one goal or fewer in 16 of those wins.
“I don’t think we make the playoffs without him,” Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel said. “He deserves all the accolades. He never ceases to amaze and his game is growing every day.”
DiPietro received 70 points in the voting, which is done by league general managers. He beat out Kingston Frontenacs overage goalie Jeremy Helvig, who had 65 points. Sault Ste. Marie’s Matthew Villalta finished third with 21 points.
“He’s the best,” Rychel said. “We take it for granted that he’s there, but there’s no one even close to him that I’ve had. This guy is head and shoulders above the guys since I’ve been here. It’s great for our fans and the franchise.”
His 15 career shutouts are just one back of the OHL record and he said that’s a goal for next season, which will likely be the last in junior for the Vancouver Canucks prospect.
“To be the first goalie in Spitfires history to win this award is icing on the cake,” DiPietro said. “I don’t know about the greatest ever, but I’m just grateful I’m with the Windsor Spitfires and had a successful career with the Windsor Spitfires.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without the Spits, my family and my friends.
“I just want to keep improving and be sure I’m ready for the pro level and I really want to continue making memories with the Spitfires.”