The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today announced A.J. Bucchino of the Louisiana IceGators is the Sher-Wood SPHL Player of the Week for February 8-14.

Bucchino, who spent last season with the Central Hockey League's Amarillo Gorillas, went 2-0-1 as Louisiana pulled within seven points of the sixth and final playoff spot. In his three games, the Bow, NH native posted a 1.32 goals against average, a.957 save percentage and one shutout.

On Thursday, Bucchino recorded his first shutout of the season, and second of his professional career, as he stopped all 40 Ice Flyers' shots in a 6-0 whitewash at Pensacola. Bucchino helped Louisiana pick up a point on Friday, stopping 18 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to Mississippi. The fourth-year pro finished out the week by stopping 31 of 32 shots as the IceGators picked up their second win over Pensacola in three days, a 2-1 win on home ice.