Former Los Angeles Jr. King Mattias Sholl was named the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Goaltender of the Month for March.

A member of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, Sholl posted a perfect 9-0-0 record during the month helping his team claim the Midwest Division regular-season title. 

Sholl faced 233 shots in the nine outings and made 222 saves, allowing just 11 goals (good for a .953 save percentage). He also posted three shutouts during the month, which tied him for the NAHL lead with six.

“Mattias was lights-out during March,” said Ice Dogs head coach Trevor Stewart. “His team played with confidence in front of him because he was playing with confidence. He made easy saves, he made hard saves, he did it all.”

“Any chance I got to play and start in goal, I wanted to make the most of it,” said Sholl. “I think the biggest challenge is trying to mentally lock in and get in a zone where you’re playing with confidence. You just have to believe you’ll always stop the next shot that comes at you.”

Sholl also credits his brother, former Jr. King Tomas who was recently named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and All-ECHL Second Team with the Idaho Steelheads, for helping him excel.

Tomas, also a goaltender, stopped pucks in the NAHL with the Fresno Monsters before playing his NCAA Division I hockey at Bowling Green State University.

“I think having an older brother who played in the league and has gone through the process of playing in the NCAA and then onto pro hockey has really helped.

“He’s given me some great advice about not getting down when I’m not playing, to keep working hard and play with confidence. He leads by example and I definitely want to move down the path he did of getting an NCAA Division I opportunity coming out of the NAHL.”

For the 2018-19 season, Mattias Sholl currently leads all NAHL netminders with a goals-against average (1.69) and ranks second with a .934 save percentage.