SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today the 2006-07 AHL All-Rookie Team, as voted by AHL players and media in each of the league’s 27 member cities.
The team consists of one goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards. Each All-Rookie Team member will receive a custom designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2006-07 AHL All-Rookie Team.
Previous selections to the annual AHL All-Rookie Team include Dan Cloutier (1997), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (1998), Zdeno Chara (1998), Brendan Morrison (1998), Marc Savard (1998), Daniel Briere (1998), J.P. Dumont (1999), Robert Esche (1999), Dan Boyle (1999), Cory Sarich (1999), Dmitri Kalinin (2000), Rico Fata (2000), Jonathan Cheechoo (2001), Barret Jackman (2002), Jason Spezza (2003), Michel Ouellet (2004), Cam Ward (2005), Chris Campoli (2005), Thomas Vanek (2005), Rene Bourque (2005), Brandon Bochenski (2005), Daniel Girardi (2006), Mike Green (2006), Patrick O’Sullivan (2006) and Ryan Shannon (2006).
Jaroslav Halak, Goaltender (Hamilton Bulldogs): Still ranked first in the AHL with a 2.00 goals-against average and second with a .932 save percentage, Jaroslav Halak was 16-11-0 with six shutouts in 28 appearances for Hamilton before his recall to the Montreal Canadiens, where he has gone 10-5-0 in his first career NHL stint. The 21-year-old native of Bratislava, Slovakia, was voted a starter for the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic, and earned the Rbk X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month award for November.
Matt Lashoff, Defense (Providence Bruins): A first-round draft pick by the Boston Bruins in 2005, Matt Lashoff has picked up 10 goals and 24 assists for 34 points in 59 games, making him one of six rookies among Providence’s top eight scorers this season. The 20-year-old from East Greenbush, N.Y., is tied for the team lead with eight power-play goals, and has added two assists in 12 NHL contests with Boston. Lashoff represented the P-Bruins at the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic, where his breakaway goal in the skills competition made highlight reels across North America.
Nathan Oystrick, Defense (Chicago Wolves): In his first season out of Northern Michigan University, 24-year-old Nathan Oystrick ranks third among all AHL defensemen in scoring with 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) while skating in all 75 games for the Chicago Wolves. The native of Regina, Sask., also owns a plus-17 rating, fifth among all AHL rookies, and has netted nine power-play goals and four game-winners for the league’s top-ranked offense. Oystrick was drafted by the parent Atlanta Thrashers in 2002.
Troy Brouwer, Forward (Norfolk Admirals): The WHL’s scoring champion at Moose Jaw last year, Troy Brouwer has taken the AHL by storm and recorded 40 goals and 37 assists for 77 points in 63 games for Norfolk. The 21-year-old from Delta, B.C., ranks second in the league in goals, tied for fifth in points, second in power-play goals (20) and tied for third in game-winners (seven), and has also appeared in 10 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks. Brouwer was named the Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month for March.
Ryan Callahan, Forward (Hartford Wolf Pack): A 22-year-old forward from Rochester, N.Y., Ryan Callahan leads the Hartford Wolf Pack with 35 goals and 55 points this season after scoring 52 goals for Guelph (OHL) in 2005-06. He has registered three hat tricks for the Wolf Pack this year and scored a goal in eight straight games from Nov. 22 to Dec. 15. Callahan has added four goals and an assist in 12 NHL games for the New York Rangers, and scored the winning goal for PlanetUSA with 3.3 seconds left in the 2007 AHL All-Star Game.
Brett Sterling, Forward (Chicago Wolves): Los Angeles native Brett Sterling has authored one of the finest rookie seasons in American Hockey League history, leading the league with 52 goals and ranking second with 93 points in 72 games for Chicago. One of five AHL rookies ever to score 50 goals, Sterling has recorded three hat tricks and scored in nine consecutive games from Dec. 12-29, the longest goal-scoring streak in the league this season. The 22-year-old was named the MVP of the 2007 AHL All-Star Game in Toronto (two goals, two assists), and was the Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month for both November and December.
