Got word from the Wrangler coaching staff that Chris Kramer-Johnson is being nominated as "NorPac Defensive Player of the Week." That's way cool. Certainly "CKJ" is worthy of that honor given the performance he put on last weekend - stopping 63 of 68 shots. He is ranked as #11 in NorPac because of his GAA at 3.00. His save percentage is 0.926 over 100 minutes of play.Coach Scott Mclean said the following of Chris, "I can think of no one more deserving in the league to receive this accolade for outstanding defensive contributions to his team." Surely Chris deserves credit because without his excellent goaltending the Wranglers would not have been in either game with the River City Jaguars last weekend. I personally believe that without "CKJ" in net the score could have been much, much worse on Saturday's game. I saw some spectacular saves. In fact, one of them was on Saturday night, when a Jag coming across from the left, just above the crease, made a top-shelf shot at what he thought was an open net and a sure goal, but out of nowhere Christian raised his glove side shoulder and blocked the shot. I thought along with all the other fans that another score was coming with that annoying siren but "NO." Wow, that was special and showed Chris' determination. There were many other spectacular saves too, but that's the one I remember the most. Again, without "CKJ" in net, the score could have been much, much worse. I believe Coach Mclean agrees by saying, "Defensively, this was the fewest goals allowed by the Wranglers in a weekend series all time."
Those of you that follow the Wranglers should note that "CKJ" was the #4 goalie for the Wranglers at the start of the season. Chris comes to the Wranglers after playing AA hockey in southern California last year. This is his first year playing Junior hockey. I talked to Chris on Saturday morning and found him to be a "pretty cool guy." Chris got the call to tend the net for the Wranglers on Friday night at the start of the second period after Jared Blanton was injured in the first period. From that point on he stopped 27 of 28 shots and the score should have been 1-1. In Saturday's game he stopped 36 of 40 shots. This "practice goalie" definitely helped the Wranglers. So, I hope NorPac recognizes Chis as defensive player of the week. Keep up the awesome play Chris. You rock!
