AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Haydar Named to AHL Second All-Star Team

Published on April 2, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The American Hockey League on Thursday named Grand Rapids Griffins right wing Darren Haydar to the 2008-09 AHL Second All-Star Team.

Haydar, 29, leads the Griffins and ranks among the AHL's leaders with 29 goals (T8th), 46 assists (T10th), 75 points (T5th), 14 power play goals (T8th), 23 power play assists (T12th), 37 power play points (4th), five game-winning goals (T18th) and nine first goals (T2nd). His current totals already place him among the Griffins' top all-time single-season performers in first goals (T2nd), power play goals (4th), points (9th) and assists (12th).

On Feb. 7, Haydar became the 73rd player in AHL history to reach 500 career points, a distinction that briefly was his alone among active players. He posted a 10-game point streak from Feb. 20 to March 13 that tied for the seventh-longest in franchise history and included his first hat trick as a Griffin, on Feb. 27 at Syracuse.

Haydar has captained the Griffins to their 10th playoff berth in 13 seasons, leading the way with his remarkable offensive consistency. He has registered points in 39 of Grand Rapids' last 50 games, never going without a point for more than two consecutive contests during that stretch.

Haydar earned the second postseason all-star honor of his career through voting by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league's 29 member cities, adding to his 2006-07 First Team selection as a member of the Chicago Wolves. He is the first Griffin to be chosen for an AHL All-Star Team since 2005-06, when Donald MacLean (First Team LW), Jiri Hudler (Second Team LW) and Bryan Helmer (Second Team D) were tabbed.

One of the most decorated players in AHL history, Haydar became the league's all-time leading playoff scorer last season while leading Chicago to the Calder Cup, which followed his first AHL championship as a member of the 2003-04 Milwaukee Admirals. His personal honors have included the 2002-03 Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the league's outstanding rookie, the 2006-07 Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's most valuable player, the 2006-07 John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the league's leading scorer, and AHL All-Star Game appearances in both 2003 and 2007.

The First All-Star Team consists of left wing Alexandre Giroux (Hershey), center Keith Aucoin (Hershey), right wing Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (Hartford), defensemen Johnny Boychuk (Providence) and Danny Syvret (Philadelphia), and goaltender Cory Schneider (Manitoba).

Joining Haydar on the Second All-Star Team are left wing Janne Pesonen (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), center Jason Krog (Manitoba), defensemen Cody Franson (Milwaukee) and Ben Lovejoy (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), and goaltender Drew MacIntyre (Milwaukee).

Giroux (2001-02), Syvret (2006-07) and MacIntyre (2004-06) are all former members of the Griffins.

Each player will receive a custom-designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2008-09 AHL First and Second All-Star Teams.

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2009


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