Aucoin scored 96 seconds into his Bears debut on Oct. 8 and added four assists in Hershey’s 8-4 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on opening night. Aucoin went on to string together an eight-game scoring streak, including back-to-back three-point efforts vs. Syracuse on Oct. 18 and vs. Wilkes-Barre on Oct. 19. The former River Rats captain then returned to Albany on Oct. 31 and scored the decisive shootout goal in the Bears’ 4-3 win.
In recognition of his achievement, Aucoin will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bears home game.
Now in his eighth professional season, Aucoin currently has 139 goals and 312 assists for 451 points in 447 career American Hockey League games. The native of Waltham, Mass., has appeared in three AHL All-Star Classics (2006, 2007, 2008) and was named a Second Team AHL All-Star following both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 campaigns. Aucoin, who has tallied five goals and 10 assists in 53 career NHL games with Carolina, signed as a free agent with the Washington Capitals on July 3, 2008.
Other nominees for CCM/AHL Player of the Month include Albany right wing Jakub Petruzalek, Binghamton right wing Ryan Shannon, Bridgeport center Mike Iggulden, Chicago right wing Joe Motzko, Grand Rapids left wing Ville Leino, Hamilton right wing Matt D’Agostini, Houston right wing Krys Kolanos, Iowa right wing Bobby Ryan, Lake Erie center T.J. Hensick, Lowell right wing Nicklas Bergfors, Manchester center Trevor Lewis, Manitoba goaltender Cory Schneider, Milwaukee center Cal O’Reilly, Norfolk center Paul Szczechura, Peoria left wing Steve Regier, Philadelphia defenseman Danny Syvret, Portland right wing Mark Mancari, Providence defenseman Johnny Boychuk, Quad City right wing Kris Chucko, Rochester defenseman Jason Garrison, Rockford center Petri Kontiola, San Antonio right wing Alex Bourret, Springfield center Ryan Potulny, Syracuse defenseman Clay Wilson, Toronto right wing Kris Newbury and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Chris Minard.
