AHL Manchester Monarchs

Royal Review

Published on December 8, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

vs. Hartford (12/03): Goaltender Milan Hnilicka earned his second win of the season as he stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced in the Monarchs 4-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack. Defenseman Tomas Zizka scored his first goal of the season. He also added an assist for his first two-point game of the season. The Monarchs also had goals from left wings Noah Clarke, Jeff Giuliano and Scott Barney. Barney added to his seven-game point streak (5-7=12) with his tally. Right wing Pavel Rosa added to his seven-game point streak (5-6=11) with two assists. vs. Lowell (12/05): Left wing Noah Clarke tied his career high for points in one game with three (one goal and two assists) to lead the Monarchs to a 4-2 victory over the Lock Monsters. Other Monarchs goals came from right wings George Parros, Pavel Rosa and Leon Hayward. Center Yanick Lehoux added two assists. Rosa's goal extended his point streak to eight games (6-6=12). Goaltender Milan Hnilicka stopped 28 of 30 shots for his third win of the season. vs. Providence (12/06): Center Steve Kelly scored the lone goal as the Monarchs fell to the Providence Bruins, 2-1. Right wing Pavel Rosa's assist on Kelly's goal extended his point streak to nine games (6-7=13). His streak is the longest since former Monarchs player Derek Bekar recorded 15 points (8-7=15) during a nine-game streak that lasted from March 15 to March 30, 2003. Goaltender Adam Hauser took the loss for the Monarchs, stopping 24 of 26 shots.

TEAM NOTES

Left wing Noah Clarke is the top-scoring rookie in the AHL with 23 points (9-14=23). His nine goals are tied for first and his 14 assists rank second in the AHL among rookies.

Clarke, who finished with a plus-6 in three games last week, also leads all league rookies with a plus-12 plus/minus rating. His rating ranks second in the league overall.

Clarke has scored in each of his last three games, totaling five points (2-3=5) during the streak. The three-game streak matches a career high. Clarke also scored in three straight games from October 26 through November 2, totaling five points (1-4=5) during the streak.

Clarke matched a career high with three points (1-2=3) against the Lowell Lock Monsters on December 5. Clarke also notched three points (3-0=3) against the Springfield Falcons on November 23, and three points (1-2=3) against the Falcons on November 22.

The Providence Bruins handed the Monarchs their first home regulation loss in 11 games on December 6. The Monarchs entered the game with a 9-0-0-1 record in their previous 10 games at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The Monarchs outscored the opposition 45 to 17 during the franchise record 10-game streak.

The Monarchs have lost three straight road games. The team record for longest road losing streak is four games. The Monarchs set the record by losing four straight from November 3 through November 13, 2001.

The Monarchs have won two straight games in which they trailed the opposition after one period of play. The Monarchs trailed the Lowell Lock Monsters, 1-0, on December 5 before coming back to post a 4-2 victory. The Monarchs also trailed the Hartford Wolf Pack, 1-0, on December 3 before coming back to post a 4-2 victory. The Monarchs were 0-6-0-0 in games in which they trailed after the first period before starting their current streak.

Nearly 38 percent (37.8) of the Monarchs AHL-leading 82 goals have been scored in the third period. The Monarchs are outscoring the opposition in the third period 31-16.

Center Andre Savage's goal 9:49 into the second period of the Monarchs game against the Providence Bruins on December 6 put an end to goaltender Adam Hauser's personal shutout streak against the Bruins. The streak lasted 149:49 minutes. Hauser entered play with two consecutive shutouts against the Bruins. Hauser has stopped 71 of the 73 shots he's faced from the Bruins this season for an eye-popping .973 save-percentage. Hauser's goals-against-average against the Bruins is 0.67.

Savage's goal also put an end to a Monarchs shutout streak against the Bruins that dated back to last year. The streak lasted 154:59. Prior to the Savage marker, Matt Herr's tally at 19:50 of the third period on April 5, 2003, was the last goal scored by the Bruins against the Monarchs.

Last weekend's Nor'easter helped put an end to an impressive streak in the Monarchs/Bruins series. Saturday's game (December 6) was the first in eight head-to-head match-ups at the Verizon Wireless Arena that did not sell out. The seven-game sellout streak dated back to March 23, 2002.

Right wing Pavel Rosa enters this week with a nine-game scoring streak. Rosa has 13 points (6-7=13) during his streak, the longest for the Monarchs this season. Rosa's streak is the longest since former Monarchs left wing Derek Bekar scored in nine straight games (7-8=15 during the streak) from March 15 through March 30, 2003.

Rosa, who has 93 points (38-55=93) in 87 career games with the Monarchs, moved into third place on the Monarchs all-time assist list with his 55th assist on December 6 against the Providence Bruins. Center Steve Kelly ranks first on the list with 79 assists. Former Monarchs left wing Eric Healey ranks second on the list with 65 assists.

Goaltender Milan Hnilicka has posted wins in his last three games at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Hnilicka, 30, has allowed the opposition just six goals while collecting wins against the Lowell Lock Monsters (4-2, December 5), the Hartford Wolf Pack (4-2, December 3) and the Springfield Falcons (5-2; November 23).

TICKET AVAILABILITY FOR UPCOMING MONARCHS GAMES

Fri., Dec. 12 vs. Utah: Seats remaining in the Gold Level: Single seats. Seats remaining in the Silver Level: 2,100.

Sat., Dec. 27 vs. Worcester: Seats remaining in the Gold Level: Single seats. Seats remaining in the Silver Level: 1,785.

Sun., Dec. 28 vs. Hartford: Seats remaining in the Gold Level: Single seats. Seats remaining in the Silver Level: 2,500.

MONARCHS IN THE COMMUNITY

On Tuesday, December 9 captain Richard Seeley and goaltender Adam Hauser will be at South Londonderry School from 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. Seeley and Hauser will talk with the fifth graders about how to set and achieve goals as part of the Monarchs Goals For Success Program.

Monarchs head coach Bruce Boudreau will speak to Manchester Regional Youth Hockey Association (MYRHA) coaches on Tuesday, December 9 from 7-9 p.m. at the Puritan Back Room in Manchester. Boudreau will speak about the game of hockey, strategy, players and some of his experiences through his years in hockey. There will also be an open forum for the coaches to ask Boudreau questions.

Defenseman Tim Gleason and right wing Leon Hayward will help coach the Mite Minor & Major AAA youth hockey practice at Tri-Town Ice Arena from 5:40 – 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday, December 10. Gleason and Hayward will sign autographs after practice.

Left wings Ryan Flinn and Jeff Giuliano, right wing Dan Welch and defenseman Tomas Zizka will dine and sign autographs at The Wild Rover in Manchester on Wednesday, December 10 from 6-8 p.m.

Catholic Medical Center will host goaltender Milan Hnilicka, center Yanick Lehoux and defensemen Joe Rullier and Bryan Muir on Thursday, December 11. The players will be available to sign autographs and visit with their fans from 1-3 p.m.

MONARCHS PROMOTIONS THIRD ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR TOSS – The Monarchs take on the Utah Grizzles for the first time in franchise history on Friday, December 12 at 7:35 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The Monarchs will hold their Third Annual Teddy Bear Toss during the game. Fans are encouraged to take a stuffed animal to the game and throw it onto the ice during the first intermission. The stuffed animals will be collected and donated to Child Health Services and Easter Seals.

CAP NIGHT WITH THE MONARCHS – The first 5,000 fans attending the Monarchs 7:35 p.m. contest against the Worcester IceCats on Saturday, December 27 will receive a free Monarchs hat, sponsored by Executive Health & Fitness.

TRADING CARD NIGHT/UNION LEADER FAMILY VALUE NIGHT – The first 5,000 fans attending the Monarchs game against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday, December 28 at 4:05 p.m. will receive a free Monarchs trading card set, courtesy of the New Hampshire Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. Also, be sure to check the Union Leader and the New Hampshire Sunday News all next week for a Union Leader Family Value Night coupon. With the coupon, fans can purchase the Union Leader Family Series package, which includes four Silver Level tickets, four sodas and four hot dogs or pretzels for only $46. See the Monarchs on the 28th and save over $30 thanks to the Union Leader and the New Hampshire Sunday News.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2003


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