Sound Tigers’ Tambellini named player of the week

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Bridgeport Sound Tigers left wing Jeff Tambellini has been named the Rbk/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Apr. 6, 2008. In four games last week, Tambellini registered six goals and four assists for 10 points as the Sound Tigers remained in the hunt for a playoff berth in the East Division.

Tambellini netted Bridgeport’s lone goal in a game against his former team in Manchester on Wednesday night, then capped a hat trick and a career-high five-point night with the overtime game-winner on Friday as the Sound Tigers dropped Philadelphia, 6-5. He scored two more goals at Hershey on Saturday, then registered a pair of assists in Philadelphia on Sunday. All told, Tambellini recorded a point on 10 of Bridgeport’s 14 goals for the week.

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

A first-round draft pick (27th overall) by Los Angeles in 2003, Tambellini has set career highs in goals (36), assists (36) and points (72) in just 53 games for Bridgeport this season. He is currently tied for the AHL’s goal-scoring lead and is tied for eighth in points. The two-time AHL All-Star also skated in 31 NHL games this season with the New York Islanders, posting one goal and three assists. Tambellini, a 23-year-old Calgary native, has amassed 91 goals and 96 assists for 187 points in 159 career AHL contests, and has totaled four goals and 13 assists in 79 career NHL contests with the Islanders and Kings.

Other nominees for Rbk/AHL Player of the Week include Albany center Nicolas Blanchard, Chicago right wing Joe Motzko, Hamilton right wing Brett Engelhardt, Hershey left wing Chris Bourque, Houston forward Ryan Hamilton, Lake Erie goaltender Jason Bacashihua, Lowell center Petr Vrana, Manchester right wing Teddy Purcell, Manitoba center Colby Genoway, Milwaukee right wing Josh Langfeld, Norfolk right wing Brandon Segal, Peoria left wing Jean-Guy Trudel, Philadelphia right wing Stefan Ruzicka, Portland defenseman Brian Salcido, Quad City goaltender Matt Keetley, Rochester center Dylan Hunter, Rockford goaltender Corey Crawford, San Antonio left wing David Spina, Syracuse center Derick Brassard and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Tim Brent.

Also see: Previous winners, Rbk/AHL Player of the Week