Leighton Named As AHL First Team All-Star

Published on April 4, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats announced today that goaltender Michael Leighton has been selected as a 2007-08 First Team AHL All-Star as voted by AHL coaches, players and members of the media.

Leighton has enjoyed a career year in goal for the River Rats, leading the AHL in goals-against average (2.03), save percentage (0.933), shutouts (7), and saves (1,545), all while logging the second most minutes played in the league (3,273). To date the Petrolia, Ontario native has appeared in 55 games for Albany and is tied for third in the AHL with 27 wins. In January Leighton was the starting goaltender for the Canadian All-Stars during the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic in Binghamton, New York.

"On behalf of the entire Carolina organization we want to congratulate Mike on this outstanding achievement," said River Rats Head Coach and General Manager Tom Rowe. "We are all thrilled for Mike to receive this award. It is a tremendous accomplishment and very well deserved. Mike is an enormous part of our team and with his individual success, the rest of our team reaps the awards right along with him."

Leighton has set several Albany franchise records over the course of the 2007-08 season. He becomes the first goaltender in River Rats history to be named to the AHL First All-Star Team, the sixth Albany player overall, and the first Rats player since Ray Giroux in the 2002-03 season to be selected for the AHL First All-Star Team.

2007-08 AHL First & Second All-Star Teams

First Team

Michael Leighton, G (Albany)

Andrew Hutchinson, D (Hartford)

Lawrence Nycholat, D (Binghamton)

Pascal Pelletier, LW (Providence)

Jason Krog, C (Chicago)

Teddy Purcell, RW (Manchester)

Second Team

Drew MacIntyre, G (Manitoba)

Joel Kwiatkowski, D (Chicago)

Brian Salcido, D (Portland)

Brett Sterling, LW (Chicago)

Martin St. Pierre, C (Rockford)

P.A. Parenteau, RW (Hartford)

The River Rats will play their next three games against the Norfolk Admirals, beginning with two games this weekend in Virginia. The Rats are back in action on Friday, April 4th for a 7:15 pm face off in Norfolk at the Scope. Albany's next home game is on Wednesday, April 9th against the Norfolk Admirals; a 7:00 pm face off at the Times Union Center.

River Rats playoff ticket packages and individual game tickets for the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now, with special pricing available for children and seniors. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2008


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