SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The San Francisco Bulls Professional Hockey Team, proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, announced today that Thomas Heemskerk was named the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week for November 19-25. Heemskerk has backstopped the Bulls to a season-high four consecutive victories. He is the first Bulls player to win an ECHL award in team history.

Heemskerk, 22, is in his second year of professional hockey. Over the past week, he went 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. He was the only goalie in the ECHL to earn three victories over the past seven days. The Chilliwack, British Columbia native made 16 saves on Wednesday in a 4-2 win over the Condors in Bakersfield. He then stopped 28 Ontario Reign shots on Friday in a 5-1 win at the Cow Palace against the Pacific Division leaders. Heemskerk finished the weekend with 34 saves in a 6-3 win at home against the Stockton Thunder. Heemskerk leads the league with 462 saves.

Assigned to the Bulls by the San Jose Sharks from the Worcester Sharks at the start of the season, Heemskerk made his professional debut last season splitting time between Worcester and Stockton. He played in four games with Worcester, going 0-1-0. With Stockton, Heemskerk was 13-12-0 with a 3.27 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage.

Prior to turning pro, Heemskerk was tied for third in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with 36 wins in 2010-11 with Moose Jaw. In five seasons in the WHL, Heemskerk went 91-58-9 with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Heemskerk also attended San Jose Sharks Training Camp.

The Bulls take to the road for games this week against the Las Vegas Wranglers (Thursday at 7:05 pm) and the Utah Grizzlies (Friday and Saturday at 6:05 pm). The Bulls return home to face the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday, December 5 for Get a Pair Wednesdays. Get 2-for-1 hot dogs at the Cow Palace. On Friday, December 7, the Bulls host the Colorado Eagles for Teddy Bear Toss. Bring a new stuffed animal to the game and throw it onto the ice following the Bulls’ first goal. Seton Medical Center will donate the bears to children in need. Get your tickets by calling 855-SF-BULLS.

Tickets
SF Bulls Season Tickets start at less than $12 per seat and include the first four games of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, savings on parking, and special invitations to “Meet The Team” and Chalk Talk Events. Individual tickets are now on sale. Click here to find out more or call 415-469-9843.

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About the ECHL
The ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states.  Today, the league has 23 teams in 16 states. The ECHL celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2012-13 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League. The ECHL has had 234 players reach the NHL over the last seven seasons. It’s the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL. On opening day of the 2011-12 season, 83 former ECHL players were on NHL rosters. The ECHL teams are divided into the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. All teams play a 72-game schedule. For more information please visit http://www.echl.com/