Crunch’s Wilson captures weekly league honor

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Syracuse Crunch defenseman Clay Wilson has been named the Rbk/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 16, 2008. Wilson scored two goals, added three assists and posted a plus-4 rating over two games as the Crunch ran their points streak to 11 games (8-0-0-3).

On Friday night, Wilson scored two goals and assisted on another and also took a game-high seven shots on goal, earning first-star honors in Syracuse’s 3-0 win over Rochester. On Sunday, he recorded two more assists and was named the game’s second star as the Crunch got past Binghamton, 4-3 in overtime.

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

Acquired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of a multi-player trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 15, 2007, Wilson ranks fourth among all league defensemen with 43 points (11 goals, 32 assists) in 65 games between Syracuse and Portland in 2007-08. The 24-year-old native of Sturgeon Lake, Minn., is in his third professional season out of Michigan Tech and has totaled 30 goals and 93 assists for 123 points in 204 career AHL contests. Wilson represented the Crunch at the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Reebok earlier this year.

Other nominees for Rbk/AHL Player of the Week include Albany goaltender Michael Leighton, Binghamton goaltender Brian Elliott, Bridgeport center Colton Fretter, Chicago center Jason Krog, Grand Rapids forward Tyler Redenbach, Hartford left wing Jordan Owens, Hershey center Alexandre Giroux, Houston defenseman Brandon Rogers, Lake Erie left wing Eric Healey, Lowell left wing  Ryan Murphy, Manchester right wing Teddy Purcell, Manitoba goaltender Cory Schneider, Milwaukee goaltender Pekka Rinne, Norfolk forward Adam Henrich, Peoria left wing Jean-Guy Trudel, Philadelphia center Pete Zingoni, Portland center Tyler Bouck, Providence right wing Jeff Hoggan, Quad City center Krys Kolanos, Rochester right wing Mark Mancari, Rockford goaltender Wade Flaherty, Springfield left wing Viacheslav Trukhno, Toronto center Alex Foster and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender John Curry.

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