Albany’s Samson named Player of the Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Albany River Rats right wing Jerome Samson has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 7, 2010. In three games, Samson recorded three goals and four assists for seven points.

Samson began the week by matching a career high with four points in a game, scoring one goal and assisting on three others in Albany’s 6-1 victory over Binghamton in a Tuesday school-day matinee. And after seeing his scoring streak come to an end at a career-long eight games on Friday, Samson came back with two goals – including the game-winner – and an assist to pace the River Rats to a 4-2 win in Norfolk on Saturday, becoming Albany’s first 30-goal scorer since 2000-01.

In recognition of his achievement, Samson will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming River Rats home game.

In his third season in Albany after signing with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2007, Samson is tied for fourth in the AHL with 30 goals and tied for 10th with 59 points in 63 games for the River Rats in 2009-10. The 22-year-old native of Greenfield Park, Que., has already set career highs in goals, assists and points, and has now tallied 73 goals and 79 assists for 152 points in 198 AHL games. Samson made his NHL debut with Carolina on Jan. 7 and has one assist in five NHL games on the season.

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Abbotsford right wing David Van der Gulik, Adirondack defenseman Logan Stephenson, Binghamton center Martin St. Pierre, Chicago right wing Spencer Machacek, Grand Rapids center Justin Abdelkader, Hamilton right wing J.T. Wyman, Hartford center Kris Newbury, Hershey left wing Chris Bourque, Houston right wing Duncan Milroy, Lake Erie left wing Justin Mercier, Lowell right wing Matt Halischuk, Manchester goaltender Jonathan Bernier, Manitoba center Marty Murray, Milwaukee defenseman Alexander Sulzer, Norfolk center Dana Tyrell, Peoria center Lars Eller, Providence right wing Jordan Knackstedt, Rochester left wing Mike York, Rockford center Matt Keith, San Antonio center Kyle Turris, Springfield left wing Charles Linglet, Syracuse right wing Chad Kolarik, Texas right wing Raymond Sawada, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Tim Wallace and Worcester left wing T.J. Trevelyan.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week