SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Houston Aeros center Patrick O’Sullivan has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for February. In 12 games, O’Sullivan recorded nine goals and nine assists for 18 points to keep Houston in the thick of the wild playoff race in the West Division.
O’Sullivan had a hand in 46 percent of Houston’s 39 goals during the month, beginning with a two-goal showing in 4-1 victory over Texas on Feb. 4. O’Sullivan had a goal and an assist each in back-to-back games on Feb. 8 and 9, and extended his goal-scoring streak to five games with a power-play marker in a 4-3 shootout win at Peoria on Feb. 11. O’Sullivan finished February on a six-game scoring run, highlighted by three-point performances on Feb. 22 vs. Milwaukee (2-1-3) and Feb. 25 vs. Texas (0-3-3).
In recognition of his achievement, O’Sullivan will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Aeros home game.
Assigned to Houston by the parent Minnesota Wild on Jan. 14, O’Sullivan ranks second among all AHL players in scoring since then, putting up 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 19 games for the Aeros. The 26-year-old native of Winston-Salem, N.C., also has two goals and six assists in 31 NHL games with Minnesota and Carolina this season, and has appeared in 311 NHL contests since being named the winner of the Dudley “Red” Garrett Award as the AHL’s rookie of the year in 2005-06.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Month include Adirondack goaltender Michael Leighton, Binghamton center Corey Locke, Bridgeport left wing Justin DiBenedetto, Charlotte left wing Drayson Bowman, Chicago right wing Darren Haydar, Grand Rapids right wing Jamie Tardif, Hamilton left wing Nigel Dawes, Lake Erie right wing David Van der Gulik, Manchester left wing Bud Holloway, Manitoba goaltender Eddie Lack, Milwuakee defenseman Roman Josi, Norfolk center Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Peoria center T.J. Hensick, Portland defenseman T.J. Brennan, Rochester goaltender Tyler Plante, Rockford center Jeff Taffe, San Antonio right wing Brett MacLean, Springfield center Kyle Wilson, Syracuse left wing Josh Green, Toronto center Nazem Kadri, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Ben Street and Worcester left wing T.J. Trevelyan.
