Bay Side
February 11th, 2003, 7:20:06 PM
Mika Noronen among Top 50 prospects according to The Hockey News
MIKA NORONEN RATED AMONG TOP 50 PROSPECTS
Rochester goaltender selected 30th by The Hockey News’ Future Watch 2003 issue
(Rochester, NY)… He might be No. 35 to Rochester Americans fans, but to a panel of National Hockey League executives, Mika Noronen was chosen No. 30 among prospects in The Hockey News’ 2003 Future Watch issue.
The Rochester Americans goaltender was selected in the Top 50 by the 14 panelists, which recently named its NHL-affiliated prospects. Noronen has twice been selected as THN’s Minor Pro Prospect of the Year, becoming the only player ever to receive the honor in consecutive years. The Tampere, Finland, native was ranked 30th in the Future Watch 2003 issue.
Noronen has split the 2002-03 season between Buffalo and Rochester. In Rochester this season, he has a 3-8-5 record and a 2.85 goals-against average. He also has two shutouts and a .902 save percentage. He has played in seven games with the Buffalo Sabres, where he recorded a 3.54 goals-against average.
He has had a stellar career in the Flower City. Last season, he was named a member of the PlanetUSA team at the Assante & Baker Hughes AHL All-Star Classic. Noronen was also named an AHL Second Team All-Star and received the Rochester Americans’ MVP Award in 1999-00 and 2000-01.
In 2000-01, Noronen and Tom Askey won the Harry “Hap” Holmes Award, given to the AHL’s outstanding team goaltenders. In his rookie season, Noronen was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team and won the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the league’s rookie of the year. It was the first time an Amerk goaltender won the award. Noronen was 33-13-4 during the 1999-00 season and guided Rochester to the 2000 Calder Cup Finals.
In his Amerk career he has a 78-53-26 record. His 78 wins place him third on the franchise’s all-time wins list. He also has 15 shutouts, one away from tying Bobby Perreault’s record of 16.
Noronen was the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round pick (21st overall) in the 1997 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
MIKA NORONEN RATED AMONG TOP 50 PROSPECTS
Rochester goaltender selected 30th by The Hockey News’ Future Watch 2003 issue
(Rochester, NY)… He might be No. 35 to Rochester Americans fans, but to a panel of National Hockey League executives, Mika Noronen was chosen No. 30 among prospects in The Hockey News’ 2003 Future Watch issue.
The Rochester Americans goaltender was selected in the Top 50 by the 14 panelists, which recently named its NHL-affiliated prospects. Noronen has twice been selected as THN’s Minor Pro Prospect of the Year, becoming the only player ever to receive the honor in consecutive years. The Tampere, Finland, native was ranked 30th in the Future Watch 2003 issue.
Noronen has split the 2002-03 season between Buffalo and Rochester. In Rochester this season, he has a 3-8-5 record and a 2.85 goals-against average. He also has two shutouts and a .902 save percentage. He has played in seven games with the Buffalo Sabres, where he recorded a 3.54 goals-against average.
He has had a stellar career in the Flower City. Last season, he was named a member of the PlanetUSA team at the Assante & Baker Hughes AHL All-Star Classic. Noronen was also named an AHL Second Team All-Star and received the Rochester Americans’ MVP Award in 1999-00 and 2000-01.
In 2000-01, Noronen and Tom Askey won the Harry “Hap” Holmes Award, given to the AHL’s outstanding team goaltenders. In his rookie season, Noronen was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team and won the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the league’s rookie of the year. It was the first time an Amerk goaltender won the award. Noronen was 33-13-4 during the 1999-00 season and guided Rochester to the 2000 Calder Cup Finals.
In his Amerk career he has a 78-53-26 record. His 78 wins place him third on the franchise’s all-time wins list. He also has 15 shutouts, one away from tying Bobby Perreault’s record of 16.
Noronen was the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round pick (21st overall) in the 1997 National Hockey League Entry Draft.