Falcons Set To Host Admirals Tonight - 7:30 Pm

January 22, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Norfolk Admirals meet for the first time this season when they battle on Friday night at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons head into Friday's contest having won three of their last four games, including having earned at least a point in four of their last five games overall. Springfield won back-to-back games to conclude last weekend having defeated the Binghamton Senators 5-2 on Saturday, followed by a 6-3 win on Sunday afternoon against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Norfolk heads into Springfield looking to snap a two-game losing streak having dropped a pair of games last weekend at home against the Adirondack Phantoms. Norfolk starts a road trip tonight that will see them conclude the month of January on the road with a total of seven straight games away from home. The Admirals will be back in Springfield next Friday, January 29 for their second and final visit to The Nest this year.

FALCONS PLAYER NOTES

Falcons all-star representative Charles Linglet has collected one goal and seven assists for eight points in his last four games. Linglet scored one goal and added one assist in the AHL All-Star Classic in Portland, Maine on Tuesday night. Linglet is currently tied for third in the AHL in scoring with 10 goals and 37 assists for 47 points in 46 games. Linglet also leads the league in assists entering this weekend.

Liam Reddox has scored a goal in four straight games entering tonight's contest and overall he has six markers in his last eight games played.

Slava Trukhno has three goals in his last three games played.

Goaltender J.P. Levasseur has won his last three starts posting a.930 save percentage in that span.

ADMIRALS PLAYER NOTES

Former Falcons captain Ryan Craig is Norfolk's current active leader in scoring with 14 goals and eight assists for 22 points in 36 games played.

Blair Jones is tied with Ryan Craig for the active team lead in scoring with 22 points, six goals and 16 assists. Jones participated in the AHL's All-Star Classic Tuesday night in Portland, Maine and recorded a slap shot over 100 mph in the hardest shot competition on Monday evening. Jones started his pro career with Springfield during the 2006-07 campaign.

FALCONS PLAYER MOVEMENT RECAP: The Springfield Falcons announced Thursday that they signed forwards Thomas Beauregard, Jason Pitton and defenseman Sasha Pokulok to Professional Tryout Agreements. Beauregard has played in 41 games with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers this year collecting a team-leading 26 goals, 15 assists and 41 points. His 26 goals also leads the entire ECHL in that category. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Montreal, Quebec made his AHL debut as a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs last season collecting two goals and one assist in eight games.

Pokulok has played in 36 games with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors this season totaling 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound native of Vaud-Dorion, Quebec currently leads all Condors defensemen in scoring. Pokulok was originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the first round (14th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He split his first three pro seasons between the AHL's Hershey Bears and ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays. In 53 career AHL games, Pokulok has collected one goal and six assists for seven points.

Pitton has played in 34 games for the Falcons' ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder.

The Falcons also announced Thursday that they have signed forward Rick Cleaver and defenseman Zach Tarkir to Professional Tryout Agreements. Bill Thomas was also released from his PTO contract to pursue an opportunity to play in Europe.

Cleaver has played the majority of this season with the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings where he was leading the team in scoring with 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points in 32 games. The 6-foot, 190-pound native of Parksville, British Columbia has also spent some time with the AHL's Hershey Bears and Syracuse Crunch this year. Prior to turning pro, Cleaver spent four seasons with Norwich University from 2004-2008 where he scored 92 goals and added 66 assists for 158 points in 102 games played.

Tarkir has split time this season wit the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters and ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays. In 29 games with the Stingrays this season, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound blueliner has four goals and 13 assists for 17 points and 28 penalty minutes. He currently leads all South Carolina defensemen in assists.

OILERS RECALL TAYLOR CHORNEY FROM THE FALCONS In the final transaction of a busy Thursday, defenseman Taylor Chorney was recalled by the Falcons' National Hockey League affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers.Chorney has played in 21 games for the Falcons this season collecting four goals and five assists for nine points. Chorney has also played in 13 games for the Oilers this year totaling one assist and four penalty minutes.

CHANGE BEHIND THE BENCH: On January 16, 2010, the Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, announced that Jim Johnson will be taking over for Darren Rumble behind the Admirals' bench. Johnson began the 2009-10 season as Associate Coach of the Admirals. He had a lengthy NHL career as a defenseman, playing 829 games with 29 goals and 166 assists. His NHL career included stops in Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Dallas, Washington and Phoenix. The New Hope, Minnesota, native also represented the United States in international competition on seven occasions including the 1991 Canada Cup. Following his retirement, Johnson spent four years with the Phoenix Coyotes as a consultant to the general manager, broadcast analyst and an assistant coach. He has also served as a U.S. National Junior Team assistant coach at the IIHF World Junior Championships three times. Johnson has been involved with USA Hockey development programs at the state, regional and national levels as a coach, evaluator and presenter. He was named 2006 USA Hockey Volunteer Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the United States Olympic Committee Coach of the Year.

On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Lightning announced that Ben Eaves will join the Admirals' coaching staff as Strength and Conditioning/Video Coach. A six-year professional forward, Eaves retired earlier this season after appearing in seven games with the Milwaukee Admirals. Eaves was a fourth-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2001. In 55 career American Hockey League games between Milwaukee and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Eaves recorded six goals and ten assists. He also appeared in two ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers and had one goal.



American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2010


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