Home / News / Vitek Vanecek named MVP of 2020 AHL All-Star Game

Vitek Vanecek named MVP of 2020 AHL All-Star Game

By Ian Oland

 0 Comment

January 28, 2020 2:58 am

Hershey Bears goaltender Vitek Vanecek was named the MVP of the 2020 AHL All-Star Challenge held in Ontario, California, Monday night.

Vanecek only allowed two goals during parts of the Atlantic Division’s four games in a round-robin tournament.

Video

After he accepted his crystal trophy, Vanecek asked if it was difficult to win the MVP as a goalie despite there being two less players on the ice than normal.

“Yeah I know. I like it,” Vanecek said smiling. “Three-on-three is fun.”

2020 AHL All-Star Challenge Results
Game 1 – Pacific Division 6, North Division 5 (SO)
Game 2 – Central Division 3, Atlantic Division 1
Game 3 – Central Division 6, North Division 5
Game 4 – Atlantic Division 3, Pacific Division 2
Game 5 – Atlantic Division 5, North Division 2
Game 6 – Pacific Division 5, Central Division 4 (SO)
Championship – Atlantic Division 3, Central Division 1

Vanecek made several incredible stops in the game including a game-saving sliding stop to preserve the Atlantic Division’s 3-2 win over the Pacific.

Vitek even tried to score a goalie goal.

Bears’ forward Matt Moulson, who served as captain, accepted the All-Star Game trophy on behalf of the Atlantic Division.

He later snapped a photo with Vanecek.

Photo courtesy of the AHL

Full highlights

More from the Hershey Bears:

(Ontario, CA – January 27, 2020) – Hershey Bears netminder Vitek Vanecek earned Most Valuable Player honors, as he and teammate Matt Moulson helped lead the Atlantic Division to a championship at the 2020 AHL All-Star Challenge on Monday evening in Ontario, California at the Toyota Arena.

Vanecek allowed just two goals over the four games for the Atlantic Division in the round-robin tournament among the league’s four divisions played at 3-on-3. The netminder made several dazzling saves, including a diving save just prior to the buzzer to preserve a 3-2 win over the hometown Pacific Division earlier in the event.

This was Vanecek’s second consecutive AHL All-Star Classic appearance. The native of Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic was Hershey’s lone representative at the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts. The goaltender stood tall in the 3-on-3 All-Star Challenge, recording the best statistics of any netminder, stopping 18 of 20 shots in last year’s event.

Vanecek is in his fourth season with Hershey, going 13-8-1-1 this season in 23 games, recording a 2.45 goals against average, good for 7th in the league.

Moulson collected a goal and an assist for the Atlantic Division over the four games. As the playing captain for the Eastern Conference, Moulson raised the championship trophy after the Atlantic Division’s deciding 3-1 win over the Central Division.

This was Moulson’s first All-Star appearance. The veteran skated in his 1,000th professional game last Friday at Springfield. He leads Hershey with 15 goals this season, collecting 30 points in 46 games.

Screenshot courtesy of the AHL

, ,