Norfolk’s Bourque named week’s best

The American Hockey League announced today that Norfolk Admirals left wing Rene Bourque has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 27, 2005. In three games, Bourque scored four goals and added two assists for six points.

Bourque began the week by scoring two goals in the third period of Norfolk’s come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Bridgeport in a game played at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y. The Admirals returned home for a crucial two-game weekend series against Binghamton, and Bourque did his share on Saturday, scoring both of Norfolk’s goals and taking a game-high six shots in a 6-2 loss. Bourque then assisted on both Admirals goals in regulation on Sunday, and converted on his shootout attempt to help Norfolk to a 3-2 win over the Senators.

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

Bourque signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 29, 2004, and currently leads all AHL rookies with 32 goals and ranks second with 56 points in 69 games for Norfolk this season. A native of Lac La Biche, Alta., the 23-year-old Bourque was named the Reebok AHL Rookie of the Month for January and represented the Admirals at the 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic. He played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin (2000-04), leading the Badgers in scoring in his junior and senior seasons.

Other nominees for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week include Albany right wing Alexander Suglobov, Binghamton right wing Pat Kavanagh, Bridgeport left wing Matt Koalska, Chicago center Lonny Bohonos, Cincinnati right wing Joffrey Lupul, Cleveland left wing Ryane Clowe, Edmonton forward Jarret Stoll, Grand Rapids left wing Tomas Kopecky, Hershey center Eric Perrin, Houston center Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Lowell right wing Chuck Kobasew, Manchester right wing Tom Kostopoulos, Manitoba defenseman Nolan Baumgartner, Philadelphia goaltender Antero Niittymaki, Portland right wing Owen Fussey, Providence goaltender Hannu Toivonen, San Antonio center Vince Bellissimo, Springfield goaltender Brian Eklund, St. John’s right wing David Ling, Syracuse center Brad Moran and Utah left wing Fredrik Sjostrom.