Kolesnik Called Up to Colorado
Published on December 6, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
Lowell, Mass. - The Colorado Avalanche have announced today the recall of G Vitaly Kolesnik from the Lowell Lock Monsters. Kolesnik will leave immediately for Denver and be replaced on the roster by G Tom Lawson, who Colorado has reassigned from the San Diego Gulls in the ECHL.
Kolesnik, 26, is in his rookie season in North America and has appeared in 19 of the Monsters 25 games this season, with one relief appearance. He was nominated for the CCM/Vector AHL Player of the Week after appearing in all three games last weekend for the Lock Monsters, turning in one shutout and allowing just three goals. On the year, Kolesnik has a 2.80 GAA and..916 save percentage.
The backstop from Kazakhstan was not drafted, and the Colorado Avalanche signed him as a free agent on August 16th. He started the season with Lowell and backstopped nine of the Monsters first 11 games. He turned in a four-game winning streak from October 26th - November 4th. He also has two shutouts on the season, including a 35-save performance on Teddy Bear Toss Night last Saturday against the Providence Bruins. Kolesnik currently leads the AHL with 1,115 minutes played and 565 saves. No American Hockey League goaltender has faced as many as his 617 shots against this season.
Colorado's next game is at home on Wednesday, December 7th against the Boston Bruins.
Lawson, 26, attended training camp with both the Avalanche and the Lock Monsters this season, and started the 2005-06 campaign in the ECHL with the San Diego Gulls. The Whitby, Ontario native has spent most of the last two seasons in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, where he turned in a 2.84 GAA and..914 save percentage in 27 games last season. He is currently ninth in the ECHL with a 2.37 GAA and has compiled a 6-1-2 record with one shutout and a..919 save percentage with the Gulls. Lawson was selected as the Gulls Player of the Month for November.
The Monsters return home Wednesday night to host the Springfield Falcons at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, December 10th the Portland Pirates come to town for Patriots Night at Tsongas Arena. Select members of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders will be performing and signing autographs. Plus, enter to win an autographed Rodney Harrison Pats helmet, courtesy of Nashua Sports Collectibles.
Individual tickets start at $10 and 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. Contact the Lock Monsters ticket office at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for more information. All games, home and away, can be heard live on 980 WCAP and viewed through B2 Networks online with the Voice of the Monsters, Ryan Johnston.
MonstersWear
Check out the new stock of Lock Monsters merchandise now at The Penalty Box - the official retail outlet of the Lowell Lock Monsters. Located inside the Tsongas Arena, The Penalty Box features items new for the 2005-06 season, including sweatshirts, Lock Monsters logo hats, ladies' wear and more. Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes items are featured as well. The store is open from 8:30 - 5:00 Monday through Friday, and during games. Fans can also shop online at www.lockmonsters.com.
American Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2005
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- Canucks assign McVicar to Victoria - Manitoba Moose
- Sound Tigers snippets - Bridgeport Islanders
- P-Bruins Release Ford - Providence Bruins
- Kolesnik Called Up to Colorado - Albany Devils
- Phantoms to host School Day Game - Adirondack Phantoms
- Lee and Thompson Recalled From Trenton - Bridgeport Islanders
- Leclaire Recalled By Columbus - Syracuse Crunch
- Portland Pirates Weekly Report - Portland Pirates
- Thorburn returns to Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Fernholm re-assigned from Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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- Monarchs Report - Manchester Monarchs
- St. Louis recalls forward - Peoria Rivermen
- Stuffed animal night this Saturday - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Richardson and Estrada Return to Monsters - Albany Devils
- Wolves and Marines Looking to Draft Toys This December - Chicago Wolves
- Capping off a busy stretch - Manitoba Moose
- Rampage Weekly - San Antonio Rampage
- Right Wing Joe Motzko Wins November's Haylor, Freyer & Coon Insurance Goal of the Game Award - Syracuse Crunch
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