Biography

Draft: 2005, Tampa Bay, Round 3 (73rd overall)
Acquired: Signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Lightning on May 23, 2006

2008-09 NOTES:
Ranked third in goals, fifth in points and tied for fifth in assists with Norfolk (AHL) in 2008-09…Netted the overtime game-winning goal for #1 star honors on 04/08/09 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton…Notched his third Gordie Howe Hat Trick of the season on 03/20/09 vs. Binghamton for #3 star…Established a new AHL career high with his sixteenth goal of the season on 02/14/09 at Hershey…Recorded his first professional hat trick on 01/30/09 vs. Albany for first star honors…Had a four-game point streak (4G, 1A) from 12/17 – 12/27/08…Scored in his third straight game on 12/20/08 at Philadelphia…Scored two goals and was named #2 star on 12/19/08 vs. Albany…Netted the game-winning goal and was #1 star on 12/17/08 vs. Albany…Made NHL debut and had an assist for first NHL point on 12/02/08 with Tampa Bay at Philadelphia…Recalled by Tampa Bay (NHL) on 12/01/08 – his first NHL recall - and returned to Norfolk on 12/14/08 (Appeared in six games with Tampa Bay registering one assist and ten penalty minutes)…Scored twice and added an assist for first star honors on 11/14/08 at Manchester...Had an AHL career-best four-game goal scoring streak from 10/11 – 10/24/2008...Recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick in his second straight game on 10/24/08 at Rockford and was #2 star...Notched a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist and fight) on 10/18/08 at Hamilton and was #3 star.

CAREER NOTES:
2007-08: Scored a pair of goals – including the game-winner – for first star honors on 03/21/08 vs. Lowell…Recorded a goal and an assist for third star honors on 03/07/08 vs. Philadelphia…Had his first AHL multi-goal game with two goals for first star honors on 02/24/08 at Portland…Had a seven-game scoring streak (4+4=8) from 01/18 – 02/02/08…Scored a goal, had the winning shootout conversion and was #1 star on 02/01/08 at Binghamton…Scored a goal in regulation and had the shootout winner for #2 star honors on 02/01/08 at Binghamton…Netted his first AHL/Admirals goal on 01/18/08 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (David Brown)…Notched his first AHL multi-point game with a pair of assists on 12/31/07 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton…Registered his first point as an Admiral with an assist on 12/22/07 at Hershey…Re-assigned by Tampa Bay (NHL) to Norfolk (AHL) from Mississippi (ECHL) on 12/03/07…Appeared in 19 games with Mississippi (ECHL) with seven goals and eight assists…Re-assigned by Tampa Bay (NHL) to Mississippi (ECHL) from Norfolk (AHL) on 10/15/07…Appeared in two games with the Admirals to start the season, going scoreless with 2 PIM. 2006-07: Ranked 5th on Johnstown with 35 points and was tied for 4th with 15 goals…Notched first AHL point with an assist vs. Providence on 03/10/07…Made his AHL debut with Springfield on 11/03/06 vs. Rochester…Scored first pro goal in first pro game with Johnstown on 10/21/06 vs. Pensacola (Jeff Pietrasiak). Signed with the Lightning on 5/31/05.
Junior Career: Led Kingston (OHL) in goals (42) and tied for first in PPGs (12) in 2005-06 while finishing third on the team in points (84)…Tied for 11th in the OHL in goals and tied for 15th in points in 2005-06.