SteelHounds Andy Franck Turning Heads in the AHL with Providence
The Youngstown SteelHounds are cruising along in first place in the Northeast Division and got off to a remarkable start this season going 11-0-1 in their first 12 games, all on the road. On November 28th, one of the catalysts to the Hounds solid start was called up by the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) because both the P-Bruins and the Boston Bruins were experiencing some injury trouble in net.
SteelHounds head coach Kevin Kaminski thought he would be without a starting goaltender for maybe the weekend by now three weeks later, Youngstown is still without Franck and making due with second-year player Brad Roberts (3-2-0, 3.82 GAA) and rookie Layne Sedevie (3-2-0, 3.08 GAA). For the Bruins, they may have found one of the biggest gems thus far in the AHL’s season with the Lakewood, Ohio native.
In eight starts with the Atlantic Division leading Bruins, Franck is 7-1-0 with a 2.70 goals against average. In fact, the Bruins have the best record in the entire AHL with a 23-4-2 mark, 9-1-1 since Franck joined the team.
Franck played each of the last two seasons in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers going 60-41-9 with eight shutouts. He signed with the SteelHounds in the off-season and had a terrific start going 11-2-1 with a 2.40 goals against average and a.911 save percentage.
The real question is not if the Hounds will ever see Franck again in an orange and blue sweater but if the netminder will soon be playing in the NHL living out his dream.