Flames Weekly
January 13, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Saint John Flames News Release
The Flames enter the week ranked fourth in the Canadian Division with 29 points and a record of 13 wins, 21 losses, 2 ties and 1overtime loss.
Saint John plays four games this week, visiting the St. John's Maple Leafs for games Tuesday and Wednesday and travelling to Hamilton for games Friday and Saturday.
THE OPPONENTS...
The ST. JOHN'S MAPLE LEAFS enter the week ranked third in the Canadian Division with 30 points and a record of 13-25-3-1. The Maple Leafs, 3- 6-1-0 in their last ten games, are coming off a 5-2 win over Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.
These mid-week game will be the fifth and sixth of twelve meetings between the Canadian Division rivals this season.
Leading St. John's are left wing Brad Leeb (21g- 15a=36pts), centres Brad Boyes (12g-19a-31pts) and Josh Holden (11g-17a=28pts) and defenceman Anders Eriksson (3g-20a=23pts).
Mikael Tellqvist and Sebastien Centomo handle the netminding duties for the Maple Leafs. Tellqvist, 7- 17-2 through 28 games, posts a 3.63 GAA and a .901 sv%. Centomo, 6-8-1 through 16 games, sports a 3.76 GAA and an .883 sv%.
Entering the week, Mikael Tellqvist ranks second among AHL netminders in saves (865) and losses (17). Brad Boyes ranks sixth among Legaue rookies and Anders Eriksson ranks 12th among AHL defencemen in scoring.
The HAMILTON BULLDOGS enter the week tops in the AHL with 70 points and a record of 32-6-3-3. The Bulldogs are coming off a 6-5 OT loss to Milwaukee on Saturday. These weekend games will be the third and fourth of eight games between the Canadian Division rivals this season.
Leading Hamilton are the AHL's top two scorers, former Flame Benoit Gratton (19g-36a=55pts) and right wing Jason Ward (19g-34a=56pts).
Ty Conklin and Mathieu Garon handle the netminding responsibilities for the Bulldogs. Conklin is 15-6-1 with a 2.35 GAA and a .916 sv% through 23 games. Garon is 13-2-1 in 17 appearances with a 1.87 GAA and a .932 sv%.
Entering the week, Gratton and Ward rank first and second respectively in overall scoring and assists. Gratton also ranks second in the League with 8 game-winning goals. Defenceman Francois Beauchemin leads the League in plus/minus with a +28. Garon lead all AHL netminders with a 1.87 GAA and ranks second in save percentage at .932. Conklin is tied for first among AHL goaltenders in wins (15) and ranks 10th overall with a 2.35 GAA.
NOTABLES
Saint John posted back-to-back overtime victories on the weekend, 2-1 vs. Portland on Friday and 3-2 vs. Lowell on Saturday. The Flames overtime record now sits at 5-1-2.
Flames veteran Dave Lowry recorded the overtime goal in Saturday's contest versus Lowell. Lowry has recorded three goals this season, two of them OT winners.
Eight separate Flames recorded a point in the Flames 3-2 win on Friday. Saint John left-wing Jason Payne recorded his first goal as a Flame versus Portland on Friday.
Flames veteran defenceman Mike Martin appeared in his 100th game as a Flame on Friday night. Saint John leading scorer Robert Dome was recalled by Calgary on Sunday.
ALUMNI WATCH...
Former Saint John Flame Derrick Walser led the Blue Jackets with 3 assists as Columbus defeated Calgary 7-2 in NHL action Saturday.
Walser, a member of Saint John's 2001 Calder Cup Championship team, signed with Columbus on September 17, 2001 and led the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, in scoring last season with 61 points (23 goals, 38 assists).
This season, the 5'10", 199 lb native of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, in 39 appearances with Columbus, has recorded 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) and currently ranks 9th in scoring among NHL rookies.
DID SOMEONE SAY MOVIES?
With the generosity of the Saint John Flames fans who attended the weekend games, the Flames wives and girlfriends, on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Saint John, collected 562 children's movies for distribution to pediatrics departments of local hospitals. Thank you for your support!
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