Spud Kings’ Durkin named NCDC MVP, Goaltender of the Year

IDAHO FALLS — Goalie Charlie Durkin was a monster in net throughout the regular season for the Idaho Falls Spud Kings.

In the playoffs, the 19-year-old Illinois native stepped his game up even further, leading his team to its first ever NCDC Dineen Cup Championships.

Durkin was fifth in the National Collegiate Development Conference in goals allowed per game (1.96) over the course of the regular season — though he was tops amongst goalies who played more than 18 games (with 38 games played). That performance earned him a spot in the NCDC All-Star Game.

In 12 playoff games, he was even stingier, holding the opposition to 1.21 goals per game. Behind — err, in front of — his dominant play, the Spud Kings toppled the reigning champion South Shore Kings in the Finals of the Dineen Cup Championship Series.

This week, Durkin added to his trophy case, when he was named the the league’s MVP and its Goaltender of the Year, according to social media posts from the Spud Kings.

He had already been named the Mountain Division MVP and Goaltender of the Year.

With their championship run, the Spud Kings earned an automatic spot in next year’s Dineen Cup Championship Series, which will be hosted by the Spud Kings at the Mountain America Center.