Mike Santorelli named CCM/AHL Player of the Month

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass.
… The American Hockey League announced today that Milwaukee Admirals center Mike Santorelli has been named the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for December. In 14 games last month, Santorelli tallied eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points to help the Admirals to a 12-2-0-0 mark.

Santorelli began the month with a career-high four points, scoring two goals and assisting on two others in a 5-4 win at Hamilton on Dec. 4. He had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win at Toronto on Dec. 6 and a goal and an assist as Milwaukee rallied for a 3-2 win over Rockford on Dec. 12. Santorelli extended his scoring streak to 14 games, tied for the longest in the AHL this season, with a goal and an assist at Grand Rapids on Dec. 19, then began a new streak with three points (1g, 2a) in the third period of a 5-3 win at Chicago on Dec. 27. He scored once and assisted on the overtime winner in a 2-1 decision vs. Iowa on Dec. 30, and scored the game-winner himself in a 3-1 victory at Peoria on New Year’s Eve.

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

Santorelli, 23, enters January tied for second in the AHL in scoring with 40 points and tied for third with 27 assists in 33 games for the Admirals, who now own the second-best record in the league at 23-9-0-1. A native of Vancouver, B.C., Santorelli spent three seasons at Northern Michigan University after being drafted by Nashville in 2004. As a rookie with Milwaukee in 2007-08, Santorelli tallied 21 goals and 21 assists in 80 games.

Other nominees for CCM/AHL Player of the Month include Bridgeport left wing Trevor Smith, Grand Rapids center Francis Pare, Hartford center Artem Anisimov, Iowa left wing Drew Miller, Lake Erie defenseman Kyle Cumiskey, Lowell defenseman Anssi Salmela, Manchester center Brian Boyle, Norfolk right wing Steve Downie, Peoria center Julian Talbot, Philadelphia center Jared Ross, Providence left wing Peter Schaefer, Quad City left wing Kyle Greentree, Rochester center Janis Sprukts, Syracuse defenseman Aaron Rome and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Chris Minard.