Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of Holly Gunning
- Name: Michal Neuvirth
- Position: G
- Catches: Left
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 199 lbs
- Birthdate: 1988-03-23
- Eligible for Draft: 2006
- Drafted:
- Hometown: Usti Nad Labem, Czech Republic
- Acquired: 2nd round (34th overall), 2006
- Playing In: Pro
Michal Neuvirth
Prospect Grade: 7.5 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
Neuvirth is a butterflier who posted some solid numbers last season. In 45 games with Sparta of the Czech Junior League, Neuvirth had a GAA of 2.02. He also starred on the Czech Republic’s roster in the 2006 World Under-18 Tournament, posting a 2.44 GAA and .927 save percentage in seven games played.
2006-07: Neuvirth moved to the OHL this season with the Plymouth Whalers. What started as a shaky beginning for the young goaltender soon leveled out and became quite impressive. Neuvirth ended the regular season as the league leader in goals against average with 2.32, and save percentage with a .932 average. He finished the season with a very respectable 26-8 record, sending the Whalers to the playoffs. What may be the most impressive about the rookie goaltender is his playoff performance. With the reputation as a big game goalie, he has excelled in the OHL playoffs.
2007-08: Neuvirth spent the 2007-08 season roaming around the OHL, playing for three different clubs by the end. He finished with a combined 17-7-5-6-3 and was ninth in the league with a .911 save percentage. He enjoyed a seven-game winning streak from 10/27 – 11/25, including three wins with Plymouth and win in his first four games after being traded to Windsor. He won back-to-back games after he was acquired by Oshawa (1/10 – 1/11) and had four outings with 50-plus saves for Oshawa: two overtime losses and two shootout losses. He stopped a season-high 55 shots in a 5-4 shootout loss to Kingston on Mar. 7. He played nine playoff games for Oshawa and posted a 7-2-0 record before suffering a season-ending injury. He won his first five playoff starts, leading the Generals to a first-round sweep of Ottawa. He made 46 saves in a 2-1 win at Ottawa on Mar. 25, all the while posting a .932 save percentage (fifth in the OHL) and a 2.49 GAA (sixth) for the playoffs. He also represented the Czech Republic in the World Junior Championship.
Read this HF Article from May 2007, and this article from January 2009.
Talent Analysis
Neuvirth is a very technical goaltender who moves and maintains his positioning in a very classic, textbook, style. He stays square to shooters and comes out to the top of his crease when appropriate to cut down the angle. Perhaps the most remarkable on-ice trait about Neuvirth is his incredible composure. Regardless of the situation, Neuvirth virtually never visibly appears to be rattled or caught up in a moment of excitement. Whether the puck is in the zone or elsewhere on the ice, Neuvirth is extremely economical with his movement.
Future
Stats
Stats Coming Soon...
Profile Last Updated: May, 10th 2009
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