SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Philadelphia Phantoms center Jared Ross has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 18, 2009. Ross racked up six goals and three assists for nine points to go along with a plus-5 rating in four games last week, helping the Phantoms to victory in all four contests.
Ross began the week by tallying his second career AHL hat trick and adding an assist in the Phantoms’ 7-1 win over Worcester on Wednesday. He posted a goal and an assist in a 5-4 win over Lowell on Friday, and he scored in both regulation and the shootout as Philadelphia rallied for a 4-3 road victory over intra-state rival Hershey on Saturday. Ross put up another multiple-point game on Sunday against Albany, posting a goal and an assist as the Phantoms extended their winning streak to four with a 3-1 triumph.
In recognition of his achievement, Ross will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Phantoms home game.
Ross, 26, is in his fourth professional season and currently leads the Phantoms in goals (19) and plus/minus (plus-14) while ranking second in points (40) through 33 games this season. He led all Philadelphia scorers with 62 points (23g, 39a) in 67 games last year before adding nine points (5g, 4a) in 12 Calder Cup Playoff contests. The Huntsville, Ala., native shows 168 points (53g, 105a) in 224 career AHL games for the Phantoms and Chicago Wolves, and he made his NHL debut for the Flyers on Oct. 11, 2008.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Albany left wing Michael Ryan, Bridgeport left wing Trevor Smith, Chicago right wing Jeff Hamilton, Grand Rapids goaltender Jimmy Howard, Hamilton center Ben Maxwell, Hartford right wing Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Hershey center Alexandre Giroux, Houston goaltender Nolan Schaefer, Iowa center Petteri Wirtanen, Lowell center Michael Swift, Manchester center Brad Richardson, Manitoba center Jason Krog, Norfolk center Bracken Kearns, Peoria goaltender Ben Bishop, Providence left wing Jeremy Reich, Quad City left wing Kyle Greentree, Rochester center Janis Sprukts, Rockford right wing Pascal Pelletier, San Antonio goaltender Josh Tordjman, Syracuse center Derek MacKenzie, and Worcester right wing Ryan Vesce.