PHOTO BY SCOTT VANKOUGHNETT
Welcome to the NHL Dustin Tokarski.
Tokarski was recalled from the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.
The future is now for the Lightning and Tokarski – drafted in the fifth round, 122nd overall, in the 2008 NHL draft. With Mike Smith out with an injury, it is expected that Tokarski will back up – now starter – Antero Niittymaki. He may even see his first start come as early as next week, when the Lightning play Carolina and the New York Rangers back-to-back.
In his rookie season for Norfolk, Tokarski has played 25 games, posting a 2.68 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and a 12-13-0 record.
Many will remember Tokarski from the 2009 World Junior Championships in Ottawa, as he posted a 4-0 record with a 2.65 GAA and a .906 SV% en-route to helping Canada win the Gold Medal. His biggest moment of the tournament was an open net glove save on American Colin Wilson, allowing the Canadians to come back on their New Years Eve classic. In the Gold Medal Game, Tokarski stopped 39 of 40 shots, defeating the Swedes 5-1.
Tokarski put together a spectacular junior career with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League of the CHL. In 124 games, Tokarski posted a 77-39-7 record with a 2.18 GAA. In 2008, he helped lead the Chiefs to the Memorial Cup, as well as being named MVP in the playoffs, top goaltender in the playoffs, and was named to the playoff All-Star team.
With plenty of championship experience, Tokarski could be the goaltender that helps the Lightning become a consistent hockey team once again. They currently sit 12th in the Eastern Conference with 46 points.
Topics: AHL, Antero Niittymaki, Brian Lawton, CHL, Dustin Tokarski, Mike Smith, NHL, Norfolk Admirals, Ottawa, Spokane Chiefs, Tampa Bay Lightning, WHL, World Junior Championships
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