Wolves’ Dawes named week’s best

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Chicago Wolves left wing Nigel Dawes has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 9, 2011. Dawes scored five goals and added an assist for six points to go with a plus-4 rating in three games for the Wolves.

Dawes set a Wolves AHL franchise record on Wednesday night by scoring four goals, including one shorthanded as well as the eventual game-winner, in Chicago’s 9-3 win over Toronto at Allstate Arena. He came back on Saturday with the only Chicago goal in a 4-1 loss to Hamilton, and set up a goal in Sunday’s shootout loss to Toronto, extending his scoring streak to four games overall.

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

A 25-year-old native of Winnipeg, Dawes has scored a team-high 19 goals – one off the AHL lead – and registered 13 assists for 32 points in 36 games for Chicago this season. The sixth-year pro set career highs with 35 goals and 67 assists as a rookie with Hartford in 2005-06 and has totaled 95 goals and 98 assists for 193 points in 202 career AHL contests. He has also appeared in 205 NHL games, notching 39 goals and 44 assists.

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week include Abbotsford right wing Jon Rheault, Adirondack left wing Michael Ryan, Albany center Matt Anderson, Binghamton right wing Erik Condra, Bridgeport defenseman Mark Katic, Charlotte left wing Jacob Micflikier, Connecticut defenseman Michael Del Zotto, Hamilton right wing J.T. Wyman, Hershey right wing Andrew Gordon, Houston right wing Jean-Michel Daoust, Lake Erie center Ryan Stoa, Manchester left wing Dwight King, Manitoba right wing Sergei Shirokov, Milwaukee goaltender Mark Dekanich, Oklahoma City left wing Alexandre Giroux, Peoria right wing Dave Spina, Portland defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani, Rochester defenseman Clay Wilson, San Antonio goaltender Matt Climie, Springfield goaltender Gustaf Wesslau, Syracuse left wing Eric Lampe, Toronto goaltender Ben Scrivens, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender Brad Thiessen and Worcester center Andrew Desjardins.

Also see: Past winners, AHL Player of the Week