Former South Carolina Stingrays' goaltender Vitek Vanecek became the 681st former ECHL player to reach the National Hockey League when he debuted with the Washington Capitals on Friday against Buffalo.
Vanecek is the third former ECHL player to make his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season. He made his pro debut with the Stingrays during the 2015-16 season, posting a record of 18-7-6 and four shutouts in 32 appearacnes. Vanecek ranked second in the ECHL with a 2.03 goals-against average and was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team. He also action in two games with South Carolina during the 2017-18 season.
A second-round selection (39th overall) of the Capitals in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Vanecek has made 141 career American Hockey League appearances with Hershey where he has gone 71-43-16 with 11 shutouts, a 2.59 goals-against average and a save percentage of .906.
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