Falcons Host Sharks Tonight

Published on January 6, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


GAME PREVIEW - The Springfield Falcons and Worcester Sharks meet for the firth time this season when they get together on Friday night at the MassMutual Center starting at 7:30 pm. The Falcons are 2-1-1-0 against the Sharks this season including a mark of 1-1 at The Nest.

The Falcons head into tonight's action starting a busy stretch of three games in three days with home contests against the Sharks on Friday and back on home ice again on Sunday against the Connecticut Whale. Springfield will visit Hartford on Saturday evening as part of a home and home series with the Whale.

The Sharks head into Springfield looking to snap a two-game losing streak. Worcester will also play three games in three days this weekend as they return home to host Providence on Saturday and Portland on Sunday.

RUSSELL RECALLED BY BLUE JACKETS: The Falcons announced on Friday that forward Ryan Russell has been recalled by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Russell will join the Blue Jackets in Los Angeles for their game on Saturday against the Kings. Russell has nine goals and six assists for 15 points in 30 games with Springfield this year. He is third on the Falcons in goals and second in game-winning goals this year with two.

YORK JOINS CHICAGO EXPRESS, LEGACE INKS AHL DEAL: The Falcons announced on Wednesday that goaltender Allen York has been assigned to the ECHL's Chicago Express by the Columbus Blue Jackets. York has spent time with the Express, Falcons and Blue Jackets this season. The Falcons also released Wednesday that goaltender Manny Legace has been signed to a standard AHL player's contract. Legace has started 10 straight games for the Falcons and he is 11th in the league in goals against average at 2.34.

ATKINSON NAMED TO ALL-STAR TEAM: The Falcons announced Wednesday that forward Cam Atkinson has been named to the Eastern Conference roster and will represent the Falcons at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic. This year's event will be held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey from January 29-30.

Atkinson is in his first full season of pro hockey and leads the Falcons in goals with 15 in 30 games this year. The Greenwich, CT native is second on the Falcons in scoring this year with 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points, and he leads the club in power play goals with eight. Atkinson is also currently sixth in the league in rookie scoring.

Atkinson started the 2011-12 campaign with the Columbus Blue Jackets and scored his first National Hockey League goal on October 10, 2011 against the Vancouver Canucks. Atkinson began his pro career with the Falcons at the end of last season making his debut on April 1, 2011 scoring the game-winning goal against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Prior to turning pro, Atkinson played three seasons for the Boston College Eagles where he was a 2011 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate hockey player. He led Boston College in goals (31) and scoring with 52 points during the 2010-11 season, his second consecutive 30-goal campaign.

Atkinson won a National Championship with Boston College and was named the team's Most Valuable Player during the 2009-10 season. He was also named the team's recipient of the Outstanding Freshman Award with Boston College in 2008-09.

FALCONS TEAM TIDBITS

* Tomas Kubalik has four goals in his last four games played.

* Maksim Mayorov is on a four-game scoring streak having collected two goals and two assists in that span.

* Springfield is currently 4th in the league in shorthanded goals with five.

* 50% of Springfield's games this year have been one-goal games. The Falcons are 6-8-1-1 in one goal games this year.

* 12 of Springfield's 18 home games this year have been one goal games.

WORCESTER ALL-STARS: The Sharks had defenseman Matt Irwin and goaltender Tyson Sexsmith named to the AHL Eastern Conference All-Star Team this week.

Irwin has seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 27 games played and leads the team in power play markers with six. Irwin leads all AHL blueliners in power play goals this year and also leads all league defensemen in game-winning goals with three.

Sexsmith is currently second in the AHL in goal against average at 1.98. He has a record of 8-6-3 on the season with the league's fifth best save percentage at .927.

WINGELS UP TO SAN JOSE, BOURRET SIGNED TO PTO: San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced Thursday that the club has recalled forward Tommy Wingels from the Worcester Sharks, the team's top development affiliate in the American Hockey League.

Wingels is second on Worcester in scoring and first in goals, posting 13 goals, eight assists for 21 points in 29 games. He was named American Hockey League period ending Dec. 18, 2011 after recording four goals, two assists and a plus-6 rating

In eight career NHL games, all with San Jose, Wingels has posted one assist and four penalty minutes.

In addition, the Worcester Sharks announced the signing of forward Alex Bourret to a player tryout agreement from Wichita in the Central Hockey League.

Bourret had recorded 39 points (13-26-39) in 27 games and 82 penalty minutes with Wichita this season. He was named the CHL Player of the Month for December with 23 points (9-14-23) in 14 games and will represent the Thunder at the 2012 CHL All-Star Game.

In 170 career AHL games with Chicago, Hartford, and San Antonio, Bourret has posted 97 points (28-69-97) and 180 penalty minutes. The 25-year-old native from Drummondville, PQ was originally drafted by Atlanta in the first round (16th overall) in the 2005 NHL Draft. Alex will wear number 22 with the Worcester Sharks.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2012


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