SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Hershey Bears center Alexandre Giroux has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 4, 2009. Giroux recorded five goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in just two games last week following his return from an NHL stint with the Washington Capitals.
Giroux needed less than 24 hours to record nine points after being reassigned to Hershey by the Capitals on Saturday afternoon. That night in Hartford, the former Wolf Pack forward burned his former club for a goal and three assists to help the Bears to a 6-2 victory. Then on Sunday afternoon, Giroux tied an AHL season high with four goals and added an assist as Hershey wrapped up its weekend road swing with a 7-2 win at Worcester.
In recognition of his achievement, Giroux will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bears home game.
Giroux has climbed all the way into a tie for fifth place with 39 points in 27 games with Hershey in 2008-09, including 26 points on his current 11-game scoring streak. The native of Quebec City is also tied for second in the league with 23 goals and tied for sixth with a plus-16 rating. An eighth-year pro, Giroux has totaled 221 goals and 190 assists for 411 points in 525 career AHL games with Hershey, Chicago, Hartford, Binghamton and Grand Rapids. He also has three goals and three assists in 21 career NHL contests, including one goal and one assist in 11 games with Washington this season.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Albany left wing Michael Ryan, Binghamton goaltender Brian Elliott, Bridgeport left wing Sean Bentivoglio, Chicago center Riley Holzapfel, Grand Rapids goaltender Jimmy Howard, Hamilton center David Desharnais, Houston defenseman Tomas Mojzis, Iowa defenseman Brian Salcido, Lake Erie center Codey Burki, Lowell right wing Jon DiSalvatore, Manitoba center Jason Krog, Milwaukee goaltender Mark Dekanich, Norfolk center Chris Gratton, Peoria center Trent Whitfield, Portland forward Mark Mancari, Providence right wing Martins Karsums, Quad City center Jamie Lundmark, Rochester defenseman Cory Murphy, Rockford left wing Rob Klinkhammer, San Antonio left wing David Spina, Syracuse defenseman Aaron Rome, Toronto center Max Taylor, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Mark Letestu and Worcester right wing Ryan Vesce.
