Falcons Announce Tenth Anniversary Team

Published on January 5, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA – Following the completion of a final round of fan voting on www.falconsahl.com, the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League (AHL) today announced the franchise's 10th Anniversary Team. Players selected by the fans to the Falcons' 10th Anniversary Team are center Daniel Briere, left wing Jean-Guy Trudel, right wing Tavis Hansen, defensemen Brad Tiley and Dan Focht and goaltender Manny Legace.

Briere, a first-round draft selection (24th overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, played parts of four seasons with the Falcons from the 1997-98 campaign to 2000-01. The Gatineau, Quebec native registered 92 points (36g, 56a) in his first season in Springfield to tie for fourth in the AHL scoring race. Briere claimed the Dudley "Red" Garrett Trophy as the league's top rookie and was named an AHL First Team All-Star following the 1997-98 season. Briere scored a team record four goals in a 6-4 win over the Portland Pirates on December 22, 2000. The center ranks third on the Falcons' all-time scoring list (217 points) and second in goals (88) while skating in 169 games for Springfield. Briere currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres.

Trudel skated for the Falcons from 1999-00 to 2001-02 after being signed as a free agent by the Coyotes on July 16, 1999. The left wing is the Falcons' all-time leader in points (242) and goals (90). During the 2000-01 campaign, Trudel set team records for points (99) and assists (65) in a season. The Sudbury, Ontario product was named an AHL First Team All-Star for the 2000-01 season and earned AHL Second Team honors in 1999-00 and 2001-02. Trudel set a Falcons' record with five assists in the same game in which Briere net four goals against Portland in 2000. Trudel now plays for Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland.

Hansen played in six seasons for Springfield from 1995-96 to 2000-01. The Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native served as the Falcons team captain from 1999 to 2001. Hansen was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round (58th overall) of the 1994 NHL Draft. The 6'1", 205-pound right wing ranks tied for second in Falcons history in games played (298), third in goals (79), and fourth in points (158). Hansen has played the last two seasons for the AHL's Cleveland Barons.

Tiley skated three seasons in a Falcons uniform from 1997-98 to 1999-00. During his final season with the club, Tiley registered 68 points (14g, 54a) which ranked second among defenseman in the AHL. The Markdale, Ontario native garnered the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL Defenseman of the Year as well as First Team All-Star honors for the 1999-00 season. Tiley is the Falcons' all-time leading scorer among defensemen with 153 points (33g, 120a). The blueliner is currently playing for the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals.

Focht, chosen in the first round (11th overall) of the 1996 NHL Draft by the Coyotes, skated one game for the Falcons at the end of the 1996-97 season and played parts of the following six campaigns with the club. Focht, along with Hansen, has played the second-most games in Falcons history (298). The stay-at-home defenseman registered a career-high with 11 points (2g, 9a) in 44 games with the Falcons in 1999-00. Focht currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Legace minded the Falcons' net for four seasons from the franchise's inaugural season of 1994-95 to 1997-98. The 5'9", 160-pounder won the Aldredge "Baz" Bastien Award as the AHL's Outstanding Goaltender and was named a league First Team All-Star for the 1995-96 season. Legace helped guide Springfield to the seventh game of the AHL Southern Conference Finals in 1997, winning nine games, including two shutouts, during that season's playoff run. The Alliston, Ontario native was selected by the Hartford Whalers in the eighth round (188th overall) in the 1993 NHL Draft. Legace compiled a record of 53-45-15, 2.78 goals against average, and .890 save percentage as a Falcon. He ranks first in franchise history in shutouts (8) and second in wins. Legace has been a member of the Detroit Red Wings for the past five seasons.

The Springfield Falcons' 10th Anniversary Team was selected through two rounds of fan voting on www.falconsahl.com. In the second and final round of voting, fans chose between the top two vote getters at each position during the first round of voting.

The Falcons' 10th Anniversary Team will be honored in a ceremony at an upcoming game (TBA).

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