Bears' Willis named Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week
February 2, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA ... The American Hockey League announced today that Hershey Bears right wing Shane Willis has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending February 1, 2004. In three games, Willis scored four goals to keep the Bears in the thick of the AHL's East Division playoff race.
After having a four-game goal-scoring streak snapped on Jan. 24, Willis found the touch again and netted a goal in Hershey's 2-0 victory over Providence on Wednesday. He then scored twice â once on the power play and once shorthanded â in a 3-1 win over division rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, and provided the Bears' only offense in a 3-1 loss to the P-Bruins on Saturday.
In recognition of his achievement, Willis will receive a Sher-Wood leather jacket, presented to him during an on-ice ceremony prior to an upcoming game. In addition, Sher-Wood will donate five travel bags to the Hershey Area Minor Hockey Association in Willis's name.
A third-round draft choice by the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997, Willis was the recipient of the Dudley "Red" Garrett Award as the AHL's outstanding rookie in 1998-99. This season, the Edmonton native has scored a team-leading 19 goals, to go with 12 assists and a plus-11 rating in 33 games with Hershey. The 26-year-old former First Team AHL All-Star (1999) and NHL All-Rookie forward (2001) also has six assists in 12 NHL games with Tampa Bay this year, and has totaled 74 points in 174 career NHL matches.
Other nominees for Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week include Albany center Craig Darby, Bridgeport goaltender Dieter Kochan, Cleveland right wing Miroslav Zalesak, Manchester center Steve Kelly, Manitoba defenseman Nolan Baumgartner, Milwaukee goaltender Brian Finley, Norfolk goaltender Michael Leighton, Philadelphia right wing Kirby Law, Rochester defenseman David Cullen, Springfield goaltender David LeNeveu, Syracuse goaltender Pascal Leclaire, Toronto right wing Tony Salmelainen and Worcester right wing Ernie Hartlieb.
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