Leighton Named To The All-Star Starting Lineup

January 9, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats announced today that Michael Leighton has been selected as the starting goaltender of the Canadian AHL All-Star team for the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Reebok, to be played on January 28th at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York.

Leighton, 26, was one of 24 players selected to the Canadian AHL All-Star Team, comprised of 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders all born in Canada. AHL fans chose Leighton as the starting goaltender via on-line balloting at theahl.com; a committee of AHL coaches chose the 18 roster members not selected to the starting lineup.

The Petrolia, Ontario native will be making his second appearance at the AHL All-Star Classic and combined with Keith Aucoin it will be the first time that two or more Albany players have been chosen for the All-Star Classic in the same season since Jiri Bicek and Pierre Dagenais were chosen for the 2000 All-Star Classic in Rochester, New York. The River Rats have not had a goaltender named to the mid-season exhibition since Peter Sidorkiewicz in the 1997 AHL All-Star Classic in St. John, New Brunswick.

Leighton, who is currently on NHL call-up with the Carolina Hurricanes, has led the River Rats between the pipes, setting new franchise records for shutouts in one season (5), longest individual shutout streak (165:37) and first Albany goaltender to record back-to-back shutouts in consecutive team games. He also helped the team set new records in single season shutouts (7) and longest team shutout streak (165:37).

Leighton was named the Rbk/AHL Player of the Week award for the week ending on October 28th, becoming the first River Rat to receive that honor since the 2004-05 season. He currently leads the AHL in shutouts (5), while ranking second in the league in save percentage (0.928), fourth in minutes player (1,740) and fifth in goals-against average (2.14).

The River Rats begin a busy four-game week with a road game against the Manchester Monarchs Wednesday night at 7:05 pm at Verizon Arena. Albany's next home game comes on Saturday, January 12th against the Worcester Sharks at the Times Union Center.

Partial season tickets and flex ticket packages for the 2007-08 River Rats season are on sale now. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2008


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