AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Report

Published on October 5, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

At Albany (10/3): Number 18, rookie center Andrei Loktionov made history as he scored a hat trick and picked up an assist in his professional debut as the Manchester Monarchs extinguished the Albany River Rats, 6-3, in their 2009-10 season debut at the Times Union Center on Saturday night. Monarchs right wing Brandon Segal began the season's scoring in the first period, followed by three tallies from Loktionov, the game-winner from defenseman Joe Piskula and an extra insurance tally by center Gabe Gauthier. The River Rats picked up goals from left wing Drayson Bowman, defenseman Brett Carson and defenseman Chris Terry. Monarchs goaltender Jonathan Bernier earned his first win of the season stopping 35-of-38 shots while River Rats netminder Justin Peters took the loss with 25 saves. Manchester went 0-for-1 on the power play. Albany was 1-for-6 with the man advantage.

MONARCHS NEWS & NOTES

With Saturday's 6-3 win over Albany, the Monarchs are 3-for-9 in season openers. This is the fourth time in Manchester's history that the team has opened their season on the road and it's the first time the team has won their season opener on the road. The Monarchs fell to Lowell 6-3 in 2001, dropped the opener to Hartford 4-3 in 2006 and then lost to Portland 6-3 in 2008.

Monarchs Season Opener History

October 5, 2001, 6-3 loss to Lowell at the Tsongas Arena

October 11, 2002, 7-3 loss to Lowell at the Verizon Wireless Arena

October 10, 2003, 3-2 loss to Worcester at the Verizon Wireless Arena

October 15, 2004, 5-2 win over Worcester at the Verizon Wireless Arena

October 8, 2005, 4-3 loss to Hartford at the Hartford Civic Center

October 7, 2006, 5-4 shootout win over Worcester at the Verizon Wireless Arena

October 6, 2007, 2-1 loss to Providence at the Verizon Wireless Arena

October 11, 2008, 6-3 loss to Portland at the Cumberland County Civic Center

October 3, 2009, 6-3 win over Albany at the Times Union Center

Manchester is 4-4 in Home Openers at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The Monarchs open the 2009-10 season on home ice on Saturday, October 17.

Monarchs Home Opener History

November 16, 2001, 3-1 win over the Lowell Lock Monsters

October 11, 2002, 7-3 loss to the Lowell Lock Monsters

October 10, 2003, 3-2 loss to the Worcester IceCats

October 15, 2004, 5-2 win over the Worcester IceCats

October 15, 2005, 3-2 overtime win over the Springfield Falcons

October 7, 2006, 5-4 shootout win over the Worcester Sharks

October 6, 2007, 2-1 loss to the Providence Bruins

October 18, 2008, 2-1 loss to the Lowell Devils

The Monarchs collected a record of 3-9-0-0 when they played on the road on a Saturday during the 2008-09 season. Currently, they are undefeated on Saturdays this season.

Manchester is tied with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Providence Bruins and the Worcester Sharks for first place in the Atlantic Division. All four teams won their season opener for two points in the standings.

The Monarchs improved their record against the Albany River Rats to 17-4-1-1 in 23 games since the team's inception into the AHL in 2001.

Center Andrei Loktionov scored a hat trick and added an assist in Saturday's game against the River Rats to become the first player in Monarchs history to collect three goals and four points in his professional debut in a Monarchs uniform.

Loktionov also became the 18th player in team history to score a hat trick and the 25th player to collect four points (three goals, one assist) in a game.

The rookie center is tied with Binghamton Senators center Martin St. Pierre for the AHL lead in goals and points. Both players picked up a hat trick and an assist in their teams' season openers.

Defenseman Joe Piskula picked up his first professional goal, the game-winner on Saturday. He's played in 123 games with the Monarchs from 2007 to the present and has 18 assists to add to his one goal for a total of 19 career points.

Center Gabe Gauthier scored his first tally of the season in his 200th career Monarchs game on Saturday night. Gauthier now has 50 goals and 95 assists for 145 points in Manchester from 2006 to the present.

Right wing Brandon Segal scored the first goal of the Monarchs 2009-10 season at the 5:18 mark of the first period on Saturday night.

Center Corey Elkins and defenseman Patrick Mullen picked up their first professional points in their debuts with the Monarchs on Saturday night. Elkins assisted on Piskula's game-winning goal and Mullen helped complete Loktionov's hat trick by assisting on the rookie's third tally.

Defenseman Drew Bagnall, right wing Scott Parse and right wing Kevin Westgarth each picked up two assists in Saturday night's season opener.

Netminder Jonathan Bernier earned his first win between the pipes for the Monarchs this season. He stopped 35-of-38 shots for a 3.00 goals-against-average and a .921 save percentage.

MONARCHS PROMOTIONS

Max & Cheese Food Drive - The Monarchs have partnered with Shaw's and AutoFair to accumulate the largest known collection of macaroni and cheese in the state of New Hampshire. Fans are asked to bring in boxes of macaroni and cheese to the Monarchs Home Opener on Saturday, October 17 when the team takes on the Portland Pirates. Fans can use the boxes as noisemakers during the game and then donate them to the New Hampshire Food Bank following final buzzer. The Monarchs Care Foundation will also have boxes on the concourse for donations.

Magnetic Schedule Night - The first 5,000 fans attending the Monarchs Home Opener against the Portland Pirates on Saturday, October 17, at the Verizon Wireless Arena will receive a Monarchs 2009-10 magnetic schedule, courtesy of Ray The Mover.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Richie Ladd Memorial Golf Tournament - Join the 2009-10 Monarchs players and personnel at the Richie Ladd Memorial Golf Tournament at Candia Woods Golf Links on Tuesday, October 13. The tournament benefits the Monarchs Care Foundation and gives fans the opportunity to meet the team before the season's Home Opener. Each foursome will be paired with a member of the 2009-10 Monarchs team. Space is limited, register today!

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American Hockey League Stories from October 5, 2009


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