SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Oklahoma City Barons goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Apr. 3, 2011. Drouin-Deslauriers started a pair of critical games last week and earned his first two shutouts of the season, helping the Barons keep pace in the ultra-tight West Division playoff chase.
Drouin-Deslauriers entered the week on a personal three-game losing skid but halted that in a big way on Friday by making 33 saves in a 7-0 victory over Rockford, the Barons’ first game back at Cox Convention Center following a season-high nine-game road trip. He came back the next night and blanked Texas on 22 shots as the Barons collected a 2-0 win and moved into fifth place in the division, one point up for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
In recognition of his achievement, Drouin-Deslauriers will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Barons home game.
A second-round draft pick (31st overall) by Edmonton in 2002 who has spent his entire seven-year pro career in the Oilers organization, Drouin-Deslauriers has produced a record of 15-13-4 (2.93, .904) with those two shutouts in 33 appearances for Oklahoma City this season. The 26-year-old native of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., is 74-72-14 in 170 career AHL appearances and has also appeared in 58 career NHL games with Edmonton, including 48 last season.
Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Abbotsford goaltender Leland Irving, Albany forward Ryan Ginand, Binghamton defenseman Derek Smith, Bridgeport right wing Rhett Rakhshani, Charlotte left wing Jacob Micflikier, Chicago center Jared Ross, Connecticut right wing Mats Zuccarello, Hamilton left wing Nigel Dawes, Houston left wing Patrick O’Sullivan, Lake Erie center Ben Walter, Manchester goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, Manitoba center Marco Rosa, Milwaukee center Chris Mueller, Norfolk center Mattias Ritola, Peoria left wing Nicholas Drazenovic, Portland defenseman Nick Crawford, Rochester goaltender Marc Cheverie, Rockford right wing Jeff Taffe, San Antonio right wing Matt Watkins, Syracuse center Nick Bonino, Texas goaltender Richard Bachman and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton right wing Nick Petersen.
Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week
