SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Portland Pirates left wing Drew Miller has been named the Rbk/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 13, 2008. Miller registered five goals and three assists for eight points along with a plus-4 rating in four games last week as the Pirates went 4-0-0-0.
Miller began the week with a hat trick – his first career multiple-goal game – plus an assist in Portland’s 5-3 win at Bridgeport on Wednesday night. He then had a goal and an assist to help the Pirates to a 6-5 victory over Albany on Friday, and another goal in a 4-0 win over league-leading Providence on Saturday. Miller wrapped up the week with an assist as Portland defeated Lowell on Sunday, 5-1.
In recognition of his achievement, Miller will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Pirates home game.
A 2003 draft pick by the Anaheim Ducks, Miller has recorded five goals and five assists for 10 points in seven games for Portland this season while also appearing in 25 NHL games with Anaheim, registering two goals and three assists. Miller, 23, made his NHL debut during the 2007 postseason and helped the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup championship. The native of Dover, N.J., notched 36 points (16g, 20a) in 79 games as a rookie with Portland in 2006-07.
Other nominees for Rbk/AHL Player of the Week include Albany left wing Brandon Nolan, Binghamton left wing Greg Mauldin, Bridgeport right wing Kyle Okposo, Chicago center Bryan Little, Grand Rapids center Mark Cullen, Hartford left wing Dane Byers, Hershey right wing Andrew Gordon, Houston goaltender Nolan Schaefer, Iowa right wing Konstantin Pushkarev, Lake Erie right wing Brad Richardson, Lowell left wing Patrick Davis, Manchester goaltender Daniel Taylor, Manitoba center Brad Moran, Milwaukee center Rich Peverley, Norfolk defenseman Dan Jancevski, Peoria center Yan Stastny, Philadelphia right wing Stefan Ruzicka, Providence goaltender Jordan Sigalet, Quad City center Grant Stevenson, Rochester defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani, Rockford center Martin St. Pierre, Syracuse goaltender Adam Munro, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Mark Letestu and Worcester right wing Devin Setoguchi.
