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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Houston Aeros forward Patrick O’Sullivan has been named the Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month for February, the second consecutive month he has earned the honor. In 10 games on the month, O’Sullivan recorded nine goals and seven assists for 16 points as Houston ended February with the best points percentage in the American Hockey League (.733).
O’Sullivan celebrated his 21st birthday on Feb. 1 by scoring a goal for the PlanetUSA team at the 2006 AHL All-Star Game in Winnipeg. He began the second half of the regular season by recording two goals and an assist in Houston’s 6-5 shootout loss to Milwaukee on Feb. 4, then pieced together three consecutive multiple-point games from Feb. 15-18. O’Sullivan finished the month with a seven-game scoring streak intact, registering six goals and six assists during that span.
In recognition of his achievement, O’Sullivan will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Aeros home game.
A second-round draft pick by the Minnesota Wild in 2003, O’Sullivan is tied for third in the AHL with 34 goals and tied for sixth with 66 points, leading all league rookies in both categories. He becomes the first player since the AHL Rookie of the Month award was introduced in 1996 to win it in back-to-back months, and the first since Brendan Morrison in 1997-98 to earn the honor twice in one season.
Other nominees for Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month include Bridgeport center Jeremy Colliton, Chicago defenseman Jimmy Sharrow, Cleveland center Josh Hennessy, Grand Rapids defenseman Clay Wilson, Hamilton center Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Hartford defenseman Daniel Girardi, Iowa center Yan Stastny, Norfolk goaltender Corey Crawford, Philadelphia right wing Stefan Ruzicka, Portland center Ryan Shannon, Providence center Tyler Redenbach and San Antonio defenseman Matt Jones.
