CWUAA Graduate of the Month (March): Dustin Butler, Calgary

Source: Canada West Communications

EDMONTON - The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and Western Hockey League proudly announce that University of Calgary goaltender and now three-time monthly winner Dustin Butler as the March 2012 Canada West men’s hockey Husky-WHL Graduate of the Month.

Each monthly winner throughout the season receives a $500 cheque towards the cost of education, a plaque, a letter from WHL Commissioner Ron Robison and a computer bag.

During March, Butler posted a 3-2 record with a .936 save percentage over five playoff games. The Calgary native stopped 162 of 173 shots in 359:28 of ice time, earning First and Second Star once each, Third Star on two occasions.

Career Statistics

In the best-of-three Canada West semifinals, Butler led the fourth-place Dinos to an upset of the first-place Manitoba Bisons in two games with a 2-1 win in Game 1 and a 4-3 overtime decision in Game 2. To begin the league final at Rutherford Rink in Saskatoon on March 9, Butler blocked 32 of 33 Huskies, claiming First Star in a 2-1 overtime victory. Game 2 was a 4-1 defeat, setting up Game 3, where Butler did all he could in a 2-1 triple-overtime loss to the hometown Huskies. The fourth-year Dino made 40 saves on the night as Calgary was eliminated in its bid to qualify for the 2012 University Cup at UNB in Fredericton.

For his four-year Canada West / Canadian Interuniversity Sport career, the 2010-11 CIS Goaltender of the Year has played 82 regular season games, with a 41-30-5 record, five shutouts and a 2.44 goals against average. For the post-season he is 7-6 in 14 games, with one shutout and a 2.35 GAA.

In November it was announced that Butler was one of 300 former WHL players across Canada to be recognized as a 2011-12 WHL Scholarship recipients.

The 24-year-old Arts major is the 25th monthly winner from the Dinos and first three-time winner from the University of Calgary. Butler also won monthly honours in February and November of 2010, making him one of just seven Canada West students-athletes to win the award three times during its 23-year history.

A former goalie for the Portland Winter Hawks (2003-07), Kamloops Blazers (2006-07) and the Prince Albert Raiders (2007-08), Butler amassed a WHL record of 87-78-12, with a 3.00 GAA and 15 shutouts in 192 regular season games over five seasons. He also appeared in five post-season contests.

Dustin Butler’s career statistics, courtesy the WHL Network:

Other nominees for this month’s honour were Kyle Ross of the Canada West champion Saskatchewan Huskies and CIS Goaltender of the Year, Alberta’s Réal Cyr.

“HUSKY, proud sponsor of the WHL Education Program & the Canada West men’s hockey Graduate of the Month”

Calgary’s Dustin Butler in March 2012

Date        Opponent         Result           Min         Sh-Sv      Pct.         Notes
March 2    at Manitoba       W,2-1               60:00      33-32    .970            2^nd Star
March 3    at Manitoba       W,4-3 (OT)     66:39        32-29   .906            3^rd Star
March 9    at Sask.            W,2-1 (OT)      66:16        33-32       .970        1^st Star
March 10   at Sask.           L,4-1               60:00         33-29      .879
March 11   at Sask.           L,2-1 (3 OT)   106:33       42-40       .952         3^rd Star
TOTALS                             3-2                 359:28      173-162   .936   1^st, 2^nd, 2x3^rd Star

About Canada West Universities Athletic Association
Canada West is consistently the most decorated of the four conferences in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), winning at least 10 CIS national titles every year, 1997 to 2010. Comprised of 16 schools from the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada West produces numerous major award winners and Academic All-Canadian student-athletes each year, with many going on to athletic success around the globe in pro leagues or events such as the Olympics, Paralympics or Universiade Games. “cwuaa” on Twitter.