Portillo named a First-Team All-Star in the USHL

Erik Portillo
Photo credit Photo: Micheline Michaelina (@MiMiV4682)
Buffalo Sabres prospect Erik Portillo was named a First-Team All-Star for the 2019-20 season on Thursday in the United States Hockey League.

Congratulations to the players selected to the All-USHL First Team! #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/fHu7wYoW92

— USHL (@USHL) April 23, 2020

The 19-year-old netminder had quite a stellar year in his first season playing in North American with the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Portillo was able to post a 19-5-1 record in 27 games played with a league-leading 2.11 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and one shutout before the season was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Buffalo's third round pick (67th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft also took part in the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship where he primarily served as the third-string goalie with Sweden. He ended up dressing for just one game as a backup netminder, but he never saw any ice-time as the Swedes ended up winning the bronze medal in the Czech Republic.

Before the season was ended prematurely in the USHL, the Fighting Saints were sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 33-13-2-0 record and 68 points. 

Prior to being drafted by the Sabres, Portillo led Sweden's SuperElit junior league in both goals-against average (1.99) and save percentage (.931) in the 2018-19 season.

Portillo is now expected to start his collegiate career in the fall of 2020 as he heads to the University of Michigan.