SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins right wing Chris Conner has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for February. Conner scored 10 goals and added nine assists for 19 points in 12 games on the month.
Conner began February by scoring a goal in the Penguins’ 5-4 shootout win over Adirondack on Feb. 3. He had a goal and two assists in a 5-0 victory over league-leading Hershey on Feb. 13, then set a franchise record with six points – including his first career hat trick – to lead Wilkes-Barre to a 9-2 win over Albany on Feb. 17. Conner didn’t wait long to record his second hat trick, a three-goal, four-point performance on Feb. 27 to lead the Penguins past Providence, 5-1.
In recognition of his achievement, Conner will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Penguins home game.
Conner has registered 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points in 39 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. He also has two goals and one assist in eight NHL games with Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old native of Westland, Mich., is in his fourth professional season and has totaled 153 points (67 goals, 86 assists) in 187 career AHL games. Conner has made 79 appearances in the NHL with Pittsburgh and Dallas, compiling nine goals and 15 assists. He signed as a free agent with Pittsburgh on July 5, 2009.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Month include Abbotsford defenseman Staffan Kronwall, Adirondack center Jared Ross, Albany right wing Jerome Samson, Binghamton center Martin St. Pierre, Bridgeport left wing Greg Mauldin, Chicago center Matt Anderson, Hamilton center David Desharnais, Hartford center Corey Locke, Lake Erie right wing Darren Haydar, Lowell center Ben Walter, Manitoba center Marco Rosa, Milwaukee goaltender Mark Dekanich, Norfolk left wing Juraj Simek, Peoria center Nicholas Drazenovic, Portland right wing Mark Mancari, Providence center Zach Hamill, Rochester defenseman Clay Wilson, Rockford center Matt Keith, San Antonio center Kyle Turris, Syracuse left wing Alexandre Picard, Texas defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, Toronto left wing Kyle Calder and Worcester defenseman Danny Groulx .
