2011-12 AHL All-Rookie Team announced

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today the 2011-12 AHL All-Rookie Team, as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities.

The team consists of one goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards:

2011-12 AHL All-Rookie Team

Goaltender Eddie Pasquale, St. John’s IceCaps (34gp, 21-11-1, 2.36gaa, .913sv%, 4so)
Defenseman Matt Donovan, Bridgeport Sound Tigers (69gp, 10+32=42pts., +9)
Defenseman Cade Fairchild, Peoria Rivermen (63gp, 7+25=32pts., +28, 3 GWG)
Forward Cory Conacher, Norfolk Admirals (70gp, 34+39=73pts., +11, 7 GWG)
Forward Tyler Johnson, Norfolk Admirals (70gp, 29+35=64pts., +13, 5 GWG)
Forward Gustav Nyquist, Grand Rapids Griffins (56gp, 22+36=58pts., +7, 7 PPG)

Each All-Rookie Team member will receive a custom-designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2011-12 AHL All-Rookie Team.

Previous selections to the annual AHL All-Rookie Team include J.S. Giguere (1998), Zdeno Chara (1998), Brendan Morrison (1998), Marc Savard (1998), Daniel Briere (1998), J.P. Dumont (1999), Dan Boyle (1999), Cory Sarich (1999), Michael Leighton (2002), Barret Jackman (2002), Ron Hainsey (2002), Jason Spezza (2003), Brad Boyes (2003), Cam Ward (2005), Chris Campoli (2005), Thomas Vanek (2005), Rene Bourque (2005), Kevin Bieksa (2005), Jimmy Howard (2006), Dan Girardi (2006), Mike Green (2006), Ryan Shannon (2006), Jaroslav Halak (2007), Troy Brouwer (2007), Ryan Callahan (2007), Bobby Ryan (2008), Teddy Purcell (2008), Brian Boyle (2008), Alex Goligoski (2008), Nathan Gerbe (2009), Justin Abdelkader (2009), John Carlson (2010), P.K. Subban (2010), Logan Couture (2010), Lars Eller (2010), Tyler Ennis (2010), Erik Gustafsson (2011), Luke Adam (2011) and Zac Dalpe (2011).

2011-12 AHL All-Rookie Team
 
pasquale Eddie Pasquale, Goaltender (St. John’s IceCaps):
In his first full season in the American Hockey League, Eddie Pasquale has helped the St. John’s IceCaps to the Atlantic Division title in their inaugural season, leading all AHL rookies in wins (21-11-1), shutouts (four) and goals-against average (2.36). Pasquale, a 21-year-old Toronto native, won his first six decisions of the season and later had a seven-game winning streak from Jan. 25 to Feb. 18. He was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Draft.
   
donovan Matt Donovan, Defense (Bridgeport Sound Tigers):
An impressive presence on the Bridgeport blue line all season, Matt Donovan turned pro after two seasons at the University of Denver and is tied for fourth among all AHL defensemen with 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists) in 69 games while posting a plus-9 rating. Donovan, a 21-year-old native of Edmond, Okla., was a 2008 draft pick by the New York Islanders and made his NHL debut on Apr. 3.
   
fairchild Cade Fairchild, Defense (Peoria Rivermen):
A fourth-round draft choice by the St. Louis Blues in 2007, Cade Fairchild leads all AHL defensemen with his plus-28 rating, recording an even or better in 53 of his 63 games played for Peoria. The 21-year-old native of Duluth, Minn., has also contributed seven goals – including three game-winners – and 25 assists for 32 points, and had a six-game scoring streak from Jan. 20 to Feb. 3. Fairchild, who made his NHL debut on Nov. 29 and has skated in five games with St. Louis, represented the Rivermen at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic.
   
conacher Cory Conacher, Forward (Norfolk Admirals):
After earning an AHL contract with an impressive training camp in Tampa Bay, Cory Conacher has taken the league by storm and helped Norfolk secure the best record in the Eastern Conference. Conacher leads the entire league with 34 goals and ranks second with 73 points in 70 games with the Admirals, including 14 power-play goals and seven game-winners. The 22-year-old native of Burlington, Ont., has had separate scoring streaks of six, nine and eight games this season, and also had a game-high three points in the 2012 AHL All-Star Game. Undrafted out of Canisius College, Conacher signed an NHL deal with the Lightning on Mar. 1.
   
johnson Tyler Johnson, Forward (Norfolk Admirals):
Second only to teammate Cory Conacher in scoring among AHL rookies, Tyler Johnson has 29 goals, 35 assists and 64 points in 70 games for Norfolk this season. The 21-year-old from Spokane, Wash., has been the Admirals’ biggest offensive threat during their current 23-game winning streak, with 36 points and a plus-22 rating during that time. Johnson, who scored a goal in nine consecutive contests from Mar. 3-24, was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for March. He signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay on Mar. 7, 2011.
   
nyquist Gustav Nyquist, Forward (Grand Rapids Griffins):
Grand Rapids’ team scoring leader with 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists) in 56 games, Gustav Nyquist has emerged as the latest in a line of talented European imports developed by the Detroit Red Wings. The Swedish-born Nyquist spent three seasons at the University of Maine before making his pro debut with the Griffins late last year, and he has been steadily consistent throughout his rookie campaign in 2011-12, only once going more than two games without a point. Grand Rapids’ representative at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic, the 22-year-old Nyquist has also skated in 15 NHL contests with Detroit, notching one goal and six assists.