SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Hamilton Bulldogs center David Desharnais has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Dec. 26, 2010. Desharnais recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in two games last week to assume the AHL’s overall scoring lead.
In Hamilton’s final pre-holiday action on Tuesday, Desharnais assisted on a pair of goals in the first period and then became the first AHL player since the 2008-09 season to score two shorthanded goals in the same game, tying an AHL career high with four points in a 5-0 victory at Houston. On Sunday, Desharnais recorded an assist in a 4-3 Boxing Day shootout loss in Toronto as the Bulldogs concluded a five-game road stretch with a 3-1-0-1 record.
In recognition of his achievement, Desharnais will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bulldogs home game.
With his five-point week, Desharnais is now leading the AHL with 31 assists and 41 points in 33 games for Hamilton. The fourth-year pro from Quebec City tied for fourth in the league scoring race with 78 points in 60 games in 2009-10 and shows 62 goals and 118 assists for 180 points in 181 career AHL games with Hamilton and Bridgeport. Desharnais, 24, signed as a free agent with Montreal on Nov. 5, 2008, and made his NHL debut with the Canadiens last season, tallying one assist in six games.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Binghamton left wing Colin Greening, Connecticut goaltender Chad Johnson, Grand Rapids left wing Tomas Tatar, Hershey center Keith Aucoin, Lake Erie center Patrick Rissmiller, Manchester center Oscar Moller, Milwaukee goaltender Mark Dekanich, Rochester goaltender Jacob Markstrom, Rockford defenseman Shawn Lalonde, Syracuse right wing Dan Sexton and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Bryan Lerg.
Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week
