Lowell’s Aucoin named player of the week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Lowell Lock Monsters center Keith Aucoin has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 5, 2006. In two games last week, Aucoin scored two goals and added four assists as the Lock Monsters continued their push towards a berth in the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs with a pair of victories.

After closing out the previous week with a four-point effort, Aucoin scored two goals and assisted on another, all in the first period of a 5-3 win over visiting Norfolk on Saturday afternoon. Then on Sunday, Aucoin dished out three assists to help Lowell post a 6-0 win over Albany.

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

A Lowell-area native from Chelmsford, Mass., Aucoin currently ranks among the American Hockey League leaders with 47 assists (tied for fourth) and 70 points (tied for fifth) in 58 games this season for the Lock Monsters. Selected to play in the 2006 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic, Aucoin has tallied 93 goals and 181 assists for 274 points in 318 career AHL contests. He made his National Hockey League debut with the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this season, recording one assist in two games.

Other nominees for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week include Albany right wing Aleksander Suglobov, Binghamton goaltender Kelly Guard, Bridgeport right wing Jeff Hamilton, Chicago right wing Scott Barney, Cleveland left wing Lukas Kaspar, Grand Rapids center Donald MacLean, Hershey left wing Boyd Kane, Houston left wing Roman Voloshenko, Iowa center Toby Petersen, Manitoba right wing Lee Goren, Milwaukee center Greg Classen, Peoria center Gavin Morgan, Philadelphia right wing Jim Campbell, Providence left wing Eric Healey, Rochester left wing Clarke MacArthur, San Antonio center Layne Ulmer, Springfield center Nick Tarnasky, Syracuse center Mark Hartigan and Toronto left wing Kris Newbury.