SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Binghamton Senators right wing Bobby Butler has been named the Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month for November. In 14 games during a busy month, Butler scored nine goals – including four game-winners – and added six assists for 15 points along with a plus-6 rating.
Butler began the month by assisting on both Binghamton goals in a game vs. Hamilton at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Nov. 5. He picked up a goal and two assists vs. Adirondack the next night, and then notched his first professional hat trick in a 5-0 win over Syracuse on Nov. 7. Butler scored again vs. Rochester on Nov. 10 and twice more at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Nov. 12, giving him seven goals in a four-game span, and later scored consecutive game-winning goals on Nov. 17 at Syracuse and Nov. 19 vs. Hershey.
In recognition of his achievement, Butler will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Senators home game.
Butler, a 23-year-old native of Marlborough, Mass., played four seasons at the University of New Hampshire before signing with the Ottawa Senators as a free agent on Mar. 29, 2010. He was the Hockey East conference’s player of the year as a senior in 2009-10, when he was also one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top collegiate player. In 23 games with Binghamton this season, Butler ranks second in the AHL with 14 goals and first with five game-winning markers, and he leads all league rookies in goals, game-winners, points (22), power-play goals (5, tied) and shots on goal (86).
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month include Abbotsford right wing Greg Nemisz, Bridgeport goaltender Kevin Poulin, Charlotte center Zac Dalpe, Chicago forward Michael Davies, Connecticut right wing Mats Zuccarello, Lake Erie center Mark Olver, Manchester goaltender Martin Jones, Peoria defenseman Mark Cundari, Portland center Luke Adam, Providence defenseman Steven Kampfer, Rochester defenseman Colby Robak, Rockford left wing Jeremy Morin, San Antonio defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Springfield left wing Matt Calvert, Syracuse center Nicolas Deschamps and Toronto goaltender Jussi Rynnas.
