Crunch’s Palmieri earns AHL honors

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Syracuse Crunch right wing Kyle Palmieri has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 20, 2011. Palmieri recorded six goals and one assist in four games, including the first three game-winning goals of his pro career.

After being held off the scoresheet by Albany on Wednesday night, Palmieri scored the only goal in Syracuse’s 1-0 win over Toronto on Friday. The next night, Palmieri notched his second hat trick of the season, added an assist for his first four-point effort and registered a game-high nine shots to lead the Crunch to a 6-2 victory over Charlotte. And on Sunday, he scored twice in the third period as Syracuse knocked off Hershey, 5-2.

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

Anaheim’s first-round pick (26th overall) in the 2009 NHL draft, Palmieri has totaled a team-high 20 goals to go along with 18 assists for 38 points in 51 games for Syracuse this season, and represented the Crunch at the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross. The 20-year-old native of Smithtown, N.Y., has also picked up one goal in 10 NHL games with the Ducks this year. Palmieri skated for the United States at the last two World Junior Championships, capturing a gold medal in 2010 and a bronze in 2011.

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Abbotsford goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, Adirondack goaltender Michael Leighton, Albany left wing Chad Wiseman, Binghamton center Corey Locke, Bridgeport goaltender Nathan Lawson, Chicago forward Tim Miller, Connecticut goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris, Grand Rapids left wing Tomas Tatar, Hamilton defenseman Mathieu Carle, Hershey right wing Brian Willsie, Houston right wing Jon DiSalvatore, Lake Erie center Ben Walter, Manchester goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, Manitoba center Joel Perrault, Milwaukee center Chris Mueller, Oklahoma City right wing Colin McDonald, Portland right wing Mark Parrish, Rochester right wing Bill Thomas, Rockford defenseman Brian Connelly, San Antonio center Bracken Kearns, Texas forward Greg Rallo, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Zach Sill and Worcester goaltender Carter Hutton.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week