Former Lock Monsters to Participate in Turin
Published on December 23, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
Lowell, Mass. - The men's hockey rosters for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy were announced this week, with five former Lock Monsters being anointed positions and one additional player named to a reserve squad.
Goaltender Vitaly Kolesnik, who has backstopped the Lock Monsters to 10 of their 12 wins this season, was named to the Kazakhstan team for his first Olympic Games. Recalled by Colorado in December, Kolesnik has gone 3-3-0 with a 2.99 GAA in six starts with the Avalanche. He has represented his homeland in each of the last four World Championship tournaments, including last season when his..952 save percentage ranked third among all goaltenders. Kolesnik has two shutouts and a 2.80 GAA with a..916 save percentage with Lowell in 2005-06.
Goaltender Arturs Irbe was one of three netminders named to the Latvian squad for the Olympics. On the Lock Monsters 2002-03 roster when he was under contract with Carolina, Irbe was 3-3-1 with Lowell, with a 2.95 GAA and a..908 save percentage. He will play in his second Olympics.
Goaltender Roberto Luongo was named one of three goaltenders for Team Canada and spent much of the 1999-00 season with the Lock Monsters. He appeared in 26 games, compiling a record of 10-12-4 with one shutout, a 2.93 GAA and a..908 save percentage. At the time, Luongo was assigned to Lowell by the New York Islanders, but is currently playing for the Florida Panthers. He will make his Olympic debut in Turin.
Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle was assigned to Lowell by the Los Angeles Kings in 1999-00, and had two assists in his brief four-game stint with the Lock Monsters. Coincidentally now a member of the Lock Monsters current parent club, the Carolina Hurricanes, Kaberle was named to the Czech Republic squad for his first Olympics.
Defenseman Zdeno Chara, who played 23 games for the Lock Monsters during his second pro season in 1998-99, was named to the Slovakian team. Under contract at the time with the New York Islanders, Chara scored two goals and four points, with 47 penalty minutes. He is also making his Olympic debut.
Center Eric Staal, who has exploded onto the scene in the NHL after spending the lockout season with the Lock Monsters in 2004-05, was named to Team Canada's reserve squad. Staal established new team records for Lowell last season by racking up 51 assists and 77 points. In his second NHL season, he has 47 points in 33 games to tie for sixth overall. He is also tied for the league lead with 24 goals.
Lowell Adds Defenseman from Northeastern
The Lock Monsters bolstered their lineup today with the addition of D Donny Grover. The Rockton, Mass. native was playing this season with the Danbury (Conn.) Trashers in the United Hockey League, appearing in 27 games and amassing 11 points, which is tied for the team lead among defensemen. He made his professional debut with Quad City in the UHL last season, skating in six games and chalking up three points after finishing his college career at Northeastern University. Grover is expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Monsters take on the Binghamton Senators on the road.
In other news, defenseman Kurt Sauer was recalled the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. Sauer played in four games with Lowell, recording no points or penalty minutes and a -1.
The Providence Bruins come to town for a 7:05 match on Wednesday, December 28th at Tsongas Arena. That night, the first 1,500 kids 12 and under will get a free Lock Monsters Scarf, courtesy of MassBank. It's the only home game for Lowell in a stretch of the next eight games until the middle of January.
Individual tickets are on sale now at the Tsongas Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Flex Packs and Holiday Hat Trick packages make great gifts for the holidays, and are on sale now for all those last-minute holiday shoppers. Contact the Lock Monsters ticket office at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for tickets or more information.
All games home and away can be heard live on 980 WCAP, and viewed through B2 Networks, the official broadband provider of the AHL, with the "Voice of the Lock Monsters" Ryan Johnston. Log on to www.lockmonsters.com to watch or listen online.
American Hockey League Stories from December 23, 2005
- Aeros Edge Knights In OT, 4-3 - Abbotsford Heat
- Santa Law's goal lifts Aeros to comeback win - Houston Aeros
- Nycholat gets game-winner as Bears down Chicago 4-3 - Hershey Bears
- Iowa Stars Win Fifth Straight - Iowa Chops
- Sound Tigers Outshot By Hartford 3-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Senators shutdown Lock Monsters in 4-1 win - Binghamton Senators
- Monarchs Slip Past Pirates In Shootout - Manchester Monarchs
- Binghamton not so merry for Monsters, 4-1 - Albany Devils
- Penguins blank Phantoms - Adirondack Phantoms
- Barons Fall at Grand Rapids, 4-1 - Cleveland Barons
- 'Dogs Drop 3-2 Decision to Amerks - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Columbus Reassigns Hartigan to Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Late Barrage lifts Griffins to 4-1 win - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Former Lock Monsters to Participate in Turin - Albany Devils
- Columbus Recalls Hartigan - Syracuse Crunch
- Marlies' White to Play for Canada at Spengler Cup - Toronto Marlies
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Moose Re-Assign Centomo to Oklahoma City - Manitoba Moose
- Skinner to Join Canada at Spengler Cup - Manitoba Moose
- Aeros Update - Houston Aeros
- Rampage Shoot Past Knights 3-2 - Abbotsford Heat
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