Falcons host Lock Monsters tonight
November 23, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
GAME SETUP:
The Springfield Falcons and Lowell Lock Monsters meet for the second time this season and second time at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons and Lock Monsters will get together again on Friday, November 25 at the Paul Tsongas Arena. Heading into tonight's action, the Falcons and Lock Monsters are separated by only two points in the Atlantic Division standings. Springfield currently has a record of 8-6-1-2 good for 19 points, while Lowell has a record of 9-7-1-2 good for 21 points.
The Falcons enter tonight's game having won two of their last three games including victories over the Albany River Rats last Friday and Bridgeport Sound Tigers last Saturday. Springfield will begin a stretch of four games in five days tonight, all games against Atlantic Division rivals. Springfield has a record of 5-4-1-1 against Atlantic Division foes this year. The Falcons will head to Lowell for a rematch against the Lock Monsters on Friday, before hosting the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday and Portland Pirates on Sunday.
The Lock Monsters head into Springfield looking to get back on the winning track after losing to the Manchester Monarchs 5-4 in overtime this past Sunday. Lowell has gone 4-3-1-2 in their last 10 games and will play three games in the next four days all against Atlantic Division rivals. The Lock Monsters will host Springfield on Friday before heading to Portland on Saturday.
FALCONS SIGN VETERAN D-MAN:
The Springfield Falcons announced Monday that they have signed defenseman Anders Eriksson to a Professional Tryout Agreement. Eriksson, 30, is in his 11th professional season and has collected 21 goals and 109 assists for 130 points in 412 career National Hockey League games spending time with the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound native of Bollnas, Sweden was the Red Wings' first selection, 22nd overall, in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Eriksson spent the 2004-05 campaign playing in the Swedish Elite League collecting one goal and nine assists for 10 points and 54 penalty minutes in 32 games.
Eriksson has played in 225 career AHL games collecting 19 goals and 104 assists for 123 points and 259 penalty minutes spending time with the Adirondack Red Wings, St. John's Maple Leafs and Syracuse Crunch. Eriksson started his professional career with Adirondack in 1995 before spending time with Detroit, Chicago, Florida, and Toronto from 1996-2003. Eriksson has recorded 20 or more points in eight of his previous 10 seasons.
STILL AT THE TOP:
Falcons rookie center Ryan Vesce remains tied for the league lead in rookie scoring with six goals and 13 assists for 19 points in 17 games. Vesce led Springfield in scoring last week with two goals and four assists for six points in three games. Vesce was the game's second star against Albany last Friday and the game's first star against Bridgeport last Saturday.
LOWELL LEADERS:
Lowell center Keith Aucoin continues to lead the Lock Monsters in scoring this season with nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 19 games played. Aucoin is in his fifth season of professional hockey after spending the majority of last season with the Providence Bruins. Aucoin made his AHL debut while with the Lock Monsters during the 2001-02 campaign collecting six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 30 games with Lowell that season. Aucoin played his college hockey at Norwich University where he graduated as Norwich's All-Time leader in goals, assists and points.
Tied with Aucoin for the Lowell lead in assists this season is center Colin Forbes. Forbes has five goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 19 games this season. Right wing Chad Larose is tied with Aucoin for the team lead in goals. Larose has nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 18 games this season.
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