Bridgeport's Hamilton wins AHL's Marshall Award

April 11, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... Bridgeport Sound Tigers right wing Jeff Hamilton has won the Willie Marshall Award as the leading goal-scorer in the American Hockey League for the 2003-04 season.

Hamilton, who was limited to 67 games by a serious eye injury, scored 43 goals on the year, including an AHL-record 15 game-winning tallies. A third-year pro out of Yale University, the 26-year-old Hamilton also finished second in the league with 20 power-play goals and tied for the lead with three overtime scores. Hamilton twice scored goals in five straight games, tied for the longest such streaks in the league this season.

This award was established in 2004 to honor Willie Marshall, the AHL's all-time leader in goals, assists, points and games played. During his 20-year AHL playing career, Marshall laced up the skates with the Pittsburgh Hornets, Hershey Bears, Providence Reds, Baltimore Clippers and Rochester Americans, winning three Calder Cup championships (1955, 1958, 1959) and one scoring title – in 1957-58 when he recorded a career-best 104 points.

Marshall played in a total of six Calder Cup Finals, and was named a First Team AHL All-Star twice and a Second Team All-Star once. He also appeared in five consecutive AHL All-Star Games from 1954-59. In addition to his regular season records, Marshall is the AHL's all-time leader in postseason scoring with 119 points in 112 Calder Cup Playoff games.

While this is the first season the AHL has presented an award for goal-scoring, previous yearly leaders include Bryan Hextall (1937), Fred Glover (1951), Dunc Fisher (1958), Jimmy Anderson (1961, '65), Yvon Lambert (1973), Paul Gardner (1985, '86), Michel Picard (1991), Peter White (1997) and Eric Healey (2003).

Now in its 68th season, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 80 percent of all players to compete in the NHL this season have been AHL graduates, and over 400 players have taken the ice in both leagues in 2003-04.

The Calder Cup 2004 Playoffs get underway on Wednesday night, with 20 teams vying for the honor of capturing the league's coveted championship trophy.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2004

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• IceCats Edge Monarchs In Calder Cup Playoff Preview - Manchester Monarchs
• AHL Playoff Schedules Announced - AHL
• Bridgeport duo wins AHL's Holmes Award - AHL
• Bridgeport's Hamilton wins AHL's Marshall Award - AHL
• Manchester's Rosa wins AHL scoring title - AHL
• Crunch Announce First Round Playoff Dates Against Rochester - Syracuse Crunch
• Dances with Wolves, Part IV - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Bears season over after 3-2 loss to Philly - Hershey Bears
• P-Bruins announce sale of first round playoff tickets - Providence Bruins
• Milwaukee wins AHL's Kilpatrick Trophy - AHL
• Regular season ends with 4-3 loss - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Phantoms defeat Hershey, 3-2 in OT - Adirondack Phantoms
• Wolf Pack Dole Out the Hardware - Connecticut Whale
• Sound Tigers Tie WBS 2-2 In Season Finale - Bridgeport Islanders
• Falcons edged by Pirates to close season - Springfield Falcons
• Penguins to meet Bridgeport in playoffs - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Penguins announce end of season award winners - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Sens To Host Norfolk In Qualifying Round - Binghamton Senators
• St. John's Maple Leafs Announce Year End Award Winners - Toronto Marlies
• Bulldogs finish regular season on top of North Division standings - Hamilton Bulldogs

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