Canmore Eagles goaltender Matthew Malin has been named the AJHL Defensive Player of the Week after leading his team to three consecutive wins and a shutout.

Malin, a 2003-born San Francisco native, allowed just two goals against last week as the Eagles hosted three AJHL opponents on home ice.

The week opened with a 4-1 win over the first-place Brooks Bandits on Dec. 12, in which Malin turned away 36 shots from the high-powered league leaders. Malin recorded his first shutout of the season in a 5-0 victory versus the visiting Drumheller Dragons on Dec. 15. He then held the Bonnyville Pontiacs to one goal on 25 attempts as the Eagles posted a 4-1 win on Dec. 16.

Malin was twice awarded as the AJHL Player of the Game last week.

Malin is in his third season with the Eagles and holds a record of 12-9-1.

The Eagles will play two more games before breaking for the holidays.

Back home, Malin played for the San Jose Jr. Sharks and Palo Alto High School.

(December 19, 2023)