Johnson named Player of the Month

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Norfolk Admirals center Tyler Johnson has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for March. Johnson led all AHL skaters with 22 points in 12 games, recording 11 goals, 11 assists and a plus-13 rating during Norfolk’s historic month.

Johnson stretch his scoring streak to 13 games, the longest by an AHL rookie in more than six years, and scored a goal in nine consecutive games from Mar. 3-24. He had back-to-back two-goal games on Mar. 3 vs. Springfield and Mar. 9 at Adirondack, and set personal season highs with three assists and four points in a 6-3 win at Bridgeport on Mar. 11 to secure Reebok/AHL Player of the Week honors. Johnson scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Albany on Mar. 23 as Norfolk established a professional hockey record with its 19th consecutive win, en route to a 22-game streak which remained intact at month’s end.

Johnson, a 21-year-old native of Spokane, Wash., has 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points in 69 games for Norfolk this season, ranking second among all AHL rookies in scoring. Signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Mar. 7, 2011, Johnson played four junior seasons with Spokane in the WHL, winning a Memorial Cup title in 2008 and helping the United States to a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships.

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