The American Hockey League announced today that St. John’s Maple Leafs center Kyle Wellwood has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending October 31, 2004. In four games, Wellwood recorded six goals and three assists for nine points, including the first five-goal game in the AHL in nearly six years.
Wellwood recorded an assist on Monday as the Maple Leafs opened the week with a 3-1 loss to visiting Manitoba. One night later, the Leafs got back in the win column with a 4-2 win over the Moose, led by Wellwood with a goal and two assists. And after being held off the scoresheet on Friday, Wellwood erupted for a franchise-record five goals as St. John’s defeated Cleveland on Saturday, 8-3.
In recognition of his achievement, Wellwood will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Maple Leafs home game.
A native of Windsor, Ont., Wellwood was the AHL’s top-scoring rookie in 2003-04 with 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 76 games. The 2004 AHL All-Star now has six goals and five assists for 11 points in nine games with St. John’s this season. Wellwood’s effort on Saturday night was the first five-goal performance by an AHL player since Randy Robitaille scored five times for Providence in a November 1998 games against Syracuse.
Other nominees for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week include Binghamton center Jason Spezza, Bridgeport center Justin Mapletoft, Chicago defenseman Greg Hawgood, Cincinnati goaltender Frederic Cassivi, Cleveland left wing Ryane Clowe, Edmonton right wing Tony Salmelainen, Grand Rapids center Eric Manlow, Hamilton goaltender Yann Danis, Hartford center Dominic Moore, Hershey right wing Jeff Ulmer, Houston center Dan Cavanaugh, Manchester goaltender Mathieu Garon, Manitoba center Peter Sarno, Milwaukee defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, Norfolk goaltender Craig Anderson, Philadelphia goaltender Antero Niittymaki, Portland center Trent Whitfield, Rochester center Derek Roy, San Antonio center Stephen Weiss, Springfield center Ryan Craig, Syracuse goaltender Pascal Leclaire, Utah center Jeff Taffe, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Shane Endicott and Worcester goaltender Curtis Sanford.
