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Rivermen's Fletcher, Bruins' Boychuk named co-winners of CCM/AHL Player of the Month

April 1, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The American Hockey League announced today that defensemen Justin Fletcher of the Peoria Rivermen and Johnny Boychuk of the Providence Bruins have been named the co-winners of the CCM/AHL Player of the Month award for March. In 14 games each last month, Fletcher recorded three goals, 12 assists and a plus-8 rating for the Rivermen, while Boychuk contributed five goals, eight assists and a plus-12 for the Bruins.

In recognition of their achievement, Fletcher and Boychuk will each be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming home game.

Fletcher nearly doubled his offensive output from the previous five months of the season by posting 15 points in March. His play at both ends of the ice helped Peoria to a 10-2-1-1 mark for the month and lifted the Rivermen into a postseason position heading into April. Fletcher had at least one point in 12 of the club's 14 games, including three separate four-game scoring streaks.

A second-year pro out of St. Cloud State University, Fletcher has eight goals, 23 assists and a team-best plus-17 rating in 63 games with Peoria this season. He split his rookie season between Norfolk and Rockford, totaling 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 59 games, after making his pro debut with Springfield at the end of the 2006-07 campaign.

Boychuk scored a goal and tied a career high with nine shots at Hershey on Mar. 1, then matched another career best with three assists at Toronto on Mar. 4. He scored the tying goal in a 2-1 victory in Rochester on Mar. 8, and led the way with two goals - including the tiebreaking goal in the third period - and an assist in a 5-3 win over Hartford on Mar. 22. He netted another game-winning goal as part of a two-point night at Manchester on Mar. 27, and finished the month on a four-game point streak (3-4-7).

Boychuk leads all AHL defensemen with 20 goals, 43 assists and 63 points in 73 games for Providence this season, and is second on the team with a plus-21 rating. A second-round draft choice by Colorado in 2002, Boychuk has totaled 47 goals and 117 assists for 164 points in 367 career AHL games.

Other nominees for CCM/AHL Player of the Month include Binghamton left wing Greg Mauldin, Bridgeport left wing Jon Sim, Chicago defenseman Clay Wilson, Grand Rapids right wing Darren Haydar, Hamilton right wing Mike Glumac, Hartford left wing Patrick Rissmiller, Houston center Corey Locke, Iowa center Petteri Wirtanen, Lake Erie center Philippe Dupuis, Lowell right wing Nicklas Bergfors, Manitoba center Jason Krog, Milwaukee center Mike Santorelli, Norfolk center Zenon Konopka, Philadelphia center Jared Ross, Portland left wing Colin Murphy, Quad City defenseman Anders Eriksson, Rochester right wing Michal Repik, Rockford left wing Pete MacArthur, San Antonio center Joel Perrault, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Janne Pesonen and Worcester goaltender Thomas Greiss.

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