Falcons Host Monsters Tonight
January 21, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
The Springfield Falcons and Lowell Lock Monsters meet tonight for the fifth time this season and third time at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons have gone 3-1-0-0 against the Lock Monsters this season, including 1-1 on home ice. These two teams haven't met since December 7 when Springfield shut out Lowell 3-0.
The Falcons enter tonight's game having defeated the Norfolk Admirals, 5-2, last night at the MassMutual Center. Springfield was led by left winger Mitch Fritz, who scored a pair of goals and earned the game's first star. Defenseman Mike Egener scored his first goal of the season for the Falcons, while forwards Ryan Vesce and David Spina also converted for the Falcons. Goaltender Brian Eklund made 28 saves earning the game's third star, while newly acquired Dan Cavanaugh picked up two assists in his Falcons debut earning the game's second star. Springfield improved their record to 15-20-2-4 good for 36 points within the Atlantic Division.
The Lock Monsters head into Springfield having lost to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 2-1, Friday night at Paul Tsongas Arena. Nicolas Corbeil scored the Lock Monsters' lone goal, while goaltender Vitaly Kolesnik stopped 44 of the 46 shots he faced. Lowell currently has a record of 16-21-3-4 good for 39 points. The Lock Monsters will play their next three games on the road, including a trip to Hartford on Sunday afternoon.
NUMBER ONE STAR: Falcons left winger Mitch Fritz earned the game's first star last night collecting his fifth and sixth goals of the season in leading the Falcons to victory. Fritz has six goals and two assists for eight points and 109 penalty minutes in 34 games this season and the 6-foot-8, 258-pound native of Osoyoos, British Columbia has set a new career high for goals in a season. Fritz is in his second season with the Falcons after collecting three goals and one assist and 179 penalty minutes in 45 games last season.
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT: Newly acquired center Dan Cavanaugh collected two assists in his first game with the Falcons last night against Norfolk. Cavanaugh was loaned to Springfield by the Philadelphia Phantoms on January 17. The Springfield, MA native spent the previous four seasons with the Houston Aeros where he was a member of the 2003 Calder Cup Championship team.
WELL-DESERVED PROMOTION: The Falcons announced today that center Jason Jaspers has been recalled by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jaspers will join Tampa Bay in Atlanta for their game against the Thrashers Saturday night. Jaspers currently leads the Falcons in scoring this season with 16 goals and 23 assists for 39 points in 41 games. The 5-foot-11, 207-pound native of Thunder Bay, Ontario also leads Springfield in power play goals this season with nine.
Jaspers is in his fifth season of professional hockey and first season within the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. Jaspers was signed by the Lightning as a free agent on August 18, 2005 after spending his first four pro seasons within the Phoenix Coyotes organization. Jaspers has spent parts of all five of his professional seasons with the Falcons and ranks fourth on Springfield's all-time games played list with 175. Jaspers recently played in his 300th career pro game on January 14 at Syracuse and he has played in nine career NHL games all with the Coyotes.
LEADING THE MONSTERS: Lowell center Keith Aucoin continues to lead the Lock Monsters in scoring this season with 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points in 41 games this season. Aucoin was recently selected to the Planet USA AHL All-Star Team for the first time in his career. The Chelmsford, MA native is in his fifth season of professional hockey after playing his college hockey with Norwich University. Aucoin graduated as Norwich's all-time leader in goals, assists and points and was signed as a free agent by the Carolina Hurricanes on August 4, 2005.
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