Wagner named CCM/AHL Player of the Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Norfolk Admirals center Chris Wagner has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Oct. 12, 2014.

In the Admirals’ season opener on Saturday night, Wagner registered his second career AHL hat trick to help Norfolk to a 5-4 win over the Hershey Bears.

Wagner set a personal career high for shorthanded goals in a season just 9:07 into the first period of the first game of 2014-15, scoring twice with Norfolk a man down to erase a pair of early one-goal deficits. He became just the second Norfolk skater ever with two shorthanded markers in one game. Then, with the score tied again at 4-4 midway through the third period, Wagner completed the hat trick with what proved to be the game-winning goal. Wagner’s three goals came on his only three shots of the contest.

Wagner, a 2010 draft choice by the Anaheim Ducks, is now in his third professional season following two years at Colgate University. The 23-year-old native of Wellesley, Mass., recorded 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points while skating in all 76 games for Norfolk in 2013-14, and added two goals and three assists in 10 Calder Cup Playoff outings. Wagner, who scored again for Norfolk on Monday evening, now has 26 goals and 27 assists for 53 points in 148 regular-season AHL games with the Admirals.

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