Cammalleri named Player of the Week

The American Hockey League announced today that Manchester Monarchs center Mike Cammalleri has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 6, 2005. Cammalleri notched four goals and two assists for six points in three games as the Monarchs maintained the top spot in the Atlantic Division.

Cammalleri scored the Monarchs’ only goal in a 2-1 loss to Worcester on Tuesday night, and added another goal in a 4-2 defeat at Hartford on Wednesday. He then extended his scoring streak to nine games and tied a career high with four points, scoring two goals and assisting on two others, as the Monarchs posted a 4-2 win over Providence on Sunday. Cammalleri finished the week with a point on six of his team’s seven goals in three games.

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

A native of Richmond Hill, Ont., Cammalleri, 22, currently leads the AHL with 36 goals and ranks second with 84 points for the Monarchs, recording a point in 50 of his 59 games played. A second-round pick (49th overall) by Los Angeles in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, the 2005 AHL All-Star is also second in the league with 15 power-play goals. Cammalleri now has 143 points (61 goals, 82 assists) in 113 career AHL contests, all with Manchester, to go with 23 points (14g, 9a) in 59 career NHL matches with the Kings.

Other nominees for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week include Albany left wing Tuomas Pihlman, Binghamton goaltender Billy Thompson, Bridgeport defenseman Cole Jarrett, Chicago center Tommi Santala, Cincinnati goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, Cleveland center Pat Rissmiller, Grand Rapids center Matt Ellis, Hamilton forward Tomas Plekanec, Hartford goaltender Jason LaBarbera, Houston defenseman Ray Giroux, Lowell right wing Chuck Kobasew, Milwaukee goaltender Brian Finley, Philadelphia center Jon Sim, Portland right wing Graham Mink, Rochester right wing Jason Pominville, San Antonio forward Ryan Jardine, Springfield left wing Adam Henrich, St. John’s left wing Clarke Wilm, Syracuse center Mark Hartigan, Utah left wing Erik Westrum, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Matt Hussey and Worcester defenseman Dennis Wideman.