Capitals Assign Philipp Grubauer to Hershey

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have assigned goaltender Philipp Grubauer to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Grubauer, 21, made his NHL debut on Feb. 27 in Philadelphia, stopping all 14 shots he faced in 25:05 of ice time, and made his first career NHL start on March 9 at the New York Islanders, making 40 saves. He has posted a record of 8-4-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and one shutout (he also combined for second shutout with Dany Sabourin on Jan. 13) in 14 games during his rookie season with Hershey. He spent the first half of the season with Reading of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and was named a starter in the ECHL All-Star game after compiling a record of 19-5-1 with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage in 26 games played with the Royals.

The 6’1”, 185-pound goaltender has collected a 42-18-5-1 record in two seasons in the ECHL with South Carolina and Reading. In addition to being named a starter for the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game, Grubauer was named to the 2012 ECHL All-Rookie team last season with South Carolina. The Rosenheim, Germany native represented Germany in the World Junior Championships in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, winning the 2010 U-20 D1 gold medal while compiling the best goals-against average and best save percentage in the tournament. He led the Windsor Spitfires to the 2010 Memorial Cup Championship, winning all four games in the Memorial Cup round after helping Windsor win the OHL Championship.

Grubauer was originally drafted in the fourth round, 112th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.