Rampage’s Brendl named week’s best

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that San Antonio Rampage forward Pavel Brendl has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 29, 2006. In three games last week, Brendl scored three goals and added four assists for seven points.

Brendl began the week with a goal and two assists, setting up the winning goal in a 4-2 victory at Milwaukee on Tuesday. He picked up a goal and an assist in a 3-2 loss at Grand Rapids one night later, and on Friday, scored the game-winner and tallied another assist in a 3-2 victory at Chicago. All told, Brendl had a hand in seven of the Rampage’s nine goals on the week.

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

The fourth overall pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Brendl has recorded 13 goals and 14 assists in 38 games between San Antonio and Lowell this season, including 14 points in 13 games since joining the Rampage. A 24-year-old native of Opocno, Czech Republic, Brendl has registered 45 goals and 52 assists in 135 career AHL games, and is also a veteran of 76 NHL contests with Carolina and Philadelphia. He made his pro debut in 2000 during Hartford’s run to the Calder Cup championship.

Other nominees for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week include Albany right wing Aleksander Suglobov, Bridgeport center Robert Nilsson, Chicago defenseman Mark Popovic, Cleveland center Josh Hennessy, Grand Rapids left wing Jiri Hudler, Hamilton right wing Andrei Kostitsyn, Hartford left wing Alexandre Giroux, Hershey goaltender Frederic Cassivi, Houston right wing Matt Foy, Iowa forward Kyle Brodziak, Lowell left wing Steve Saviano, Manitoba defenseman Prestin Ryan, Norfolk center Mark Cullen, Peoria right wing Mike Glumac, Portland center Geoff Peters, Providence center Ben Walter, Rochester goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier, Springfield defenseman Timo Helbling, Syracuse center Mark Hartigan and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Rico Fata.