{"id":243657,"date":"2026-04-23T19:15:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/243657\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T19:15:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T19:15:13","slug":"florida-everblades-floridas-johnson-receives-nick-vitucci-goaltender-of-the-year-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/243657\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Everblades | Florida\u2019s Johnson receives Nick Vitucci Goaltender of the Year Award"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>SHREWSBURY, N.J. \u2013 The ECHL on Thursday announced that Cam Johnson of the Florida Everblades is the recipient of the Nick Vitucci Award as the ECHL Goaltender of the Year for the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson joins Jeff Jakaitis (2013-14 and 2014-15) as the only back-to-back winners of the award since it was introduced for the 1993-94 season.<\/p>\n<p>The Nick Vitucci ECHL Goaltender of the Year award is presented annually to the goaltender selected to be the best at his position as determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, broadcasters, media relations directors and media members.<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, the award was named in honor of Nick Vitucci, who was part of the first-ever induction class into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008. Vitucci enjoyed a 26-year association with the League, beginning in the inaugural season of 1988-89 when he backstopped the Carolina Thunderbirds to the Riley Cup title, the first of his ECHL-record five championships, and received the Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award.<\/p>\n<p>Jack LaFontaine of Kansas City finished second, followed by Wheeling\u2019s Taylor Gauthier, Brad Arvanitis of Maine and Atlanta\u2019s T.J. Semptimphelter.<\/p>\n<p>The winner of the Warrior Hockey Most Valuable Player award will be announced on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson, who was named to the All-ECHL First Team last week, led the ECHL in wins (31), minutes played (2,965) and goals-against average (1.84) while ranking fourth in save percentage (.923) and tied for ninth in shutouts (3). His 1.84 goals-against average is tied as the third-lowest in a single-season in the League\u2019s 38-year history and he became just the eighth goaltender in ECHL history to win at least 30 games in multiple seasons.<\/p>\n<p>He allowed two goals or less in 37 of his 49 appearances, was named ECHL Goaltender of rhe Week on two occasions and moved into a tie for third place on the League\u2019s career shutout list with 20.<\/p>\n<p>Nick Vitucci ECHL Goaltender of the Year Award Winners<br \/>2025-26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cam Johnson, Florida Everblades<br \/>2024-25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cam Johnson, Florida Everblades<br \/>2023-24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Taylor Gauthier, Wheeling Nailers<br \/>2022-23\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0John Lethemon, Toledo Walleye<br \/>2021-22\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Francois Brassard, Jacksonville Icemen<br \/>2020-21\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jake Hildebrand, Florida Everblades<br \/>2019-20\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tomas Sholl, Idaho Steelheads<br \/>2018-19\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Michael Houser, Cincinnati Cyclones<br \/>2017-18\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Parker Milner, South Carolina Stingrays<br \/>2016-17\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Riley Gill, Allen Americans<br \/>2015-16\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Josh Robinson, Missouri Mavericks<br \/>2014-15\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jeff Jakaitis, South Carolina Stingrays<br \/>2013-14\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jeff Jakaitis, South Carolina Stingrays<br \/>2012-13\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ryan Zapolski, South Carolina Stingrays<br \/>2011-12\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jeff Jakaitis, Gwinnett Gladiators<br \/>2010-11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gerald Coleman, Alaska Aces<br \/>2009-10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Todd Ford, South Carolina Stingrays<br \/>2008-09\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, Alaska Aces<br \/>2007-08\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Anton Khudobin, Texas Wildcatters<br \/>2006-07\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Adam Berkhoel, Dayton Bombers<br \/>2005-06\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Matt Underhill, Alaska Aces<br \/>2004-05\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chris Madden, Florida Everblades\/Long Beach Ice Dogs<br \/>2003-04\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Scott Stirling, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies<br \/>2002-03\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Alfie Michaud, Peoria Rivermen<br \/>2001-02\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Frederic Cloutier, Louisiana IceGators<br \/>2000-01\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Scott Stirling, Trenton Titans<br \/>1999-00\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jan Lasak, Hampton Roads Admirals<br \/>1998-99\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Maxime Gingras, Richmond Renegades<br \/>1997-98\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nick Vitucci, Toledo Storm<br \/>1996-97\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Marc Delorme, Louisiana IceGators<br \/>1995-96\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Alain Morissette, Louisville RiverFrogs<br \/>1994-95\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chris Gordon, Huntington Blizzard<br \/>1993-94\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cory Cadden, Knoxville Cherokees<\/p>\n<p>JOIN THE FUN<br \/>Season ticket plans for the 2026-27\u00a0campaign are on sale now! Become a Blades 365 Member for the 2026-27\u00a0season and enjoy incredible savings and benefits! To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits, and options click\u202f<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.floridaeverblades.com\/tickets\/season-tickets\">HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Group Packages are available for a group of 10 or more!\u202fEverblades put FUN in FUNdraising! There is no handling of money or tickets and no limit to the amount of money your group can make with the Everblades&#8217; easy-to-run online Fundraiser! For more information, or to reserve a Fundraiser Night at an Everblades regular-season home game, call or text (239) 948-7825.<br \/>\u00a0<br \/>Grab the newest and hottest\u202fEverblades\u202fmerchandise by checking out the entire collection that is available online by visiting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/us-east-2.protection.sophos.com\/?d=list-manage.com&amp;u=aHR0cHM6Ly9mbG9yaWRhZXZlcmJsYWRlcy51czcubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3RyYWNrL2NsaWNrP3U9YmM1ODVkMTYzMGE3ZWYxZjRlZTc4N2YwYSZpZD1kODkzYWNlNzY2JmU9ZDU5Yjg3YWQ0Zg==&amp;i=NjEyNjVmMDc2ZWY3ODkwZThhODU2NjMy&amp;t=WUVuc09mRS9LSHhEQVhxQVFJMktqTTR1QlcxNU1SSTBUUU9TRUUrQVZzaz0=&amp;h=b002a54a144e4e78b90c59de5496118d&amp;s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVYIrcNO6quFbB6c5oNqMxkz-Blsj5YEtxrqY6weYHvl-fPub8_4MPAqo5_QlzYwQO1R5kMXfanjoVSoAED8uEMb\">shop.floridaeverblades.com<\/a>\u202for at the Hertz Arena Pro Shop!<br \/>\u00a0<br \/>JOIN THE CONVERSATION<br \/>Watch every Florida Everblades game on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flohockey.tv\/\">FloHockey.TV<\/a>. Listen to the exciting game action on The Fan on 94.1 FM, 103.3 FM, 105.9 FM and online at Everblades.mixlr.com. Stay up to date by following the Blades on social media with all the latest news, scores, and promotions on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/floridaeverblades\/\">Facebook<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fl_everblades\/?hl=en\">Instagram<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/florida-everblades-professional-hockey-club\/mycompany\/\">LinkedIn<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@fl_everblades\">TikTok<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FL_Everblades\">Twitter<\/a>.<br \/>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>            <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SHREWSBURY, N.J. \u2013 The ECHL on Thursday announced that Cam Johnson of the Florida Everblades is the recipient&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":243658,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":["post-243657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","tag-florida","tag-florida-headlines","tag-florida-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243657"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243657\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/243658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}