Crunch’s Lalande named Player of the Week

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Syracuse Crunch goaltender Kevin Lalande has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 15, 2009. In three games, Lalande stopped 111 of 114 shots in going 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .974 save percentage.

Lalande was named the game’s first star in each of his three appearances as Syracuse was outshot by a margin of 114-71. He made his home debut as a member of the Crunch on Wednesday and stopped 32 of 33 shots in a 3-1 victory over Toronto. Lalande made 31 saves in a 3-1 win over Lake Erie on Friday, and finished his week with a 48-save performance as Syracuse took a 4-1 decision from Rochester on Saturday.

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

Lalande has registered a 1.26 GAA and a .963 save percentage since joining the Crunch on Mar. 4, when he was acquired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade from Calgary. All told this season, the second-year pro has made 10 AHL appearances with Syracuse and Quad City and has a record of 7-2-1 with a 1.66 GAA, a .945 save percentage and one shutout. A 22-year-old native of Kingston, Ont., Lalande was a fifth-round draft pick by Calgary in 2005.

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Albany right wing Jerome Samson, Binghamton left wing Greg Mauldin, Bridgeport right wing Junior Lessard, Chicago defenseman Clay Wilson, Grand Rapids right wing Darren McCarty, Hamilton right wing Mike Glumac, Hartford defenseman Michael Sauer, Hershey center Alexandre Giroux, Houston left wing Krys Kolanos, Iowa center Ajay Baines, Lake Erie left wing Randy Rowe, Manitoba left wing Michael Grabner, Milwaukee center Cal O’Reilly, Peoria left wing Chris Porter, Philadelphia right wing Boyd Kane, Portland left wing Nathan Gerbe, Providence goaltender Tuukka Rask, Quad City right wing David Van der Gulik, Rochester center David Brine, Rockford center Tim Brent, San Antonio goaltender Al Montoya, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Janne Pesonen and Worcester goaltender Thomas Greiss.

Also see: Previous winners, Reebok/AHL Player of the Week