Gratton Named Player of the Week
December 2, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA ... The American Hockey League announced today that Hamilton Bulldogs center Benoit Gratton has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, December 1, 2002. In four games last week, Gratton scored two goals and added six assists for eight points and recorded a plus-six rating as the Bulldogs posted four consecutive road victories.
Gratton began the week with the first five-point game in the AHL this season, scoring once and dishing out four assists in Hamilton's 8-2 victory at Lowell on Wednesday night. He added another assist in a 3-1 win over Albany on Friday, before netting his second game-winning goal of the week and assisting on the insurance tally in the Bulldogs' 2-0 win at Portland on Saturday. It was Gratton's 10th multiple-point effort of the season.
In recognition of his achievement, Gratton will receive a Sher-Wood leather jacket, presented to him during an on-ice ceremony prior to an upcoming game. In addition, Sher-Wood will donate five travel bags to the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs in Gratton's name.
A native of Montreal, the 25-year-old Gratton ranks first in the AHL with 20 assists, second with 31 points and second with five game-winning goals in 24 games with Hamilton this season. In 375 career AHL games, Gratton has recorded 91 goals and 237 assists for 328 points. He also skated in the 2001 AHL All-Star Game. Drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1995, Gratton has tallied six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 54 career NHL matches with Washington, Calgary and Montreal.
Other players nominated for Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week include Bridgeport goaltender Steve Valiquette, Cincinnati goaltender Jean-Francois Damphousse, Cleveland left wing Miroslav Zalesak, Hartford goaltender Johan Holmqvist, Hershey right wing Brian Willsie, Lowell defenseman Steve Halko, Manchester left wing Derek Bekar, Milwaukee center Greg Classen, Norfolk center Brett McLean, Rochester center Chris Taylor, San Antonio right wing Jim Campbell, Springfield goaltender Evgeny Konstantinov, St. John's right wing Brad Leeb, Syracuse left wing Andrej Nedorost, Utah center Eric Landry, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Milan Kraft and Worcester goaltender Phil Osaer.
American Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2002
- Wilson Suspended One Game - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Griffins Lose to San Antonio, 5-3 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Flames Weekly - Saint John Flames
- Checkers Look to Snap Four-Game Skid - Charlotte Checkers
- Holland Back With The Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- Seven Griffins Players Team Up for Charity - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Amerks Set Sail for Two Games Against Norfolk - Rochester Americans
- Exelby to Appear at Max & Erma's - Chicago Wolves
- First Place Sound Tigers Turn Calendar Page With Tough Four Game Week - Bridgeport Islanders
- Admirals Back Home to Face Archrivals - Milwaukee Admirals
- Damphousse Named Fifth Third Bank Mighty Ducks Player of the Month for November - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Moose Finish Homestand with 2-2-2 Record - Manitoba Moose
- Gratton Named Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Thankful to be Home - Houston Aeros
- River Rats Start Fresh in December - Albany River Rats
- Griffins Say Goodbye to Memorable November - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Gratton Named Player of the Week - AHL
- Sound Tigers, Bulldogs Rule the East - AHL
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Columbus Assigns Levokari to Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
- Bulldogs Tops In Eastern Conference - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Spiderman Swings into First Union Spectrum on December 6 - Adirondack Phantoms
- Ottawa Assigns Spezza To Binghamton - Binghamton Senators
- Blue and Gold Stay Atop Western Conference - Norfolk Admirals
- Patience, Persistence Pay off for Pirates - Portland Pirates
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
