Today the American Hockey League announced their 2012-13 AHL First and Second All-Star Teams, as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities. With this honor, each member of the team is presented a crystal award in honor of his selection to the team. So, without further ado, here are your First and Second Team Rosters. (Please note that this is a lot funner to read if you do so with an announcer’s voice.)

First All-Star Team

From the Providence Bruins, goaltender Niklas Svedberg. Svedberg has been a key asset to the baby Bruins squad as he has starred in 45 games with the team, posting a 34-8-0 record. He has helped the Bruins clinch their first Division title since the late 90′s and first post-season since 2008.  He was the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for March, and is the first rookie netminder named to the AHL’s First All-Star Team since Jim Carey in 1994-95.

From the Oklahoma City Barons, defenseman Justin Schultz has been selected. Schultz began his season with the Barons and was named October’s CCM/Rookie of the Month and the Rookie of the month for November.  He paced the team with 18 goals and 48 points prior to his call up with Edmonton in January. Since debuting in the NHL he has posted 20 points in 40 games for the club.

Two-time defenseman of the year Sami Vatanen of the Norfolk Admirals has been among one of the top players of the league this season.  He is currently tied for the AHL lead among defensemen with 36 assists and ranks second in points with 44.

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault is the fourth person named to the First All-Star team, notching 63 points in 68 games, helping the Springfield Falcons advance to the playoffs for the first time in ten years.  He  was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Month of January after posting 17 points in 12 games.

The next player was able to post 17 multi-point games this season, including his first professional hattrick this season on February 18 against the Albany Devils. Syracuse Crunch forward Tyler Johnson ranks second overall in goals scored with 32 and third in plus/minus with +25.

Last but not least from the Grand Rapids Griffins, Gustav Nyquist. He was an All-Rookie Selection just 365 days ago and notched 23 goals this season along with 37 assists for 60 points.

Second All-Star Team

Starting in net for the Second All-Star Team is Curtis McElhinney of the Springfield Falcons. McElhinney has been one of the biggest factors in the fresh new Falcons squad, helping lead them to a winning record and their first playoff run in a decade. He sports a 28-14-3 record and .924 save percentage with a 2.25 goals against average.

On defense we have last season’s Eddie Shore winner for the AHL’s best defenseman, from the Syracuse Crunch, Mark Barberio.  He has registered 8 goals and 32 assists in 70 games for the Crunch this season. He was a 2008 draft pick for the Tampa Bay Lightning and made his debut in the NHL ion April 9.

Representing Chicago, Illinois we have Adam Clendening from the Rockford IceHogs.  He was part of the All-Star festivities in Prvidence this season and helped fill the third rookie defenseman spot on the team for Rockford this season.  In 69 games he has 7 goals and 36 assists.

Moving our way up the line we have Matt Fraser, the league’s leading scorer. Last season he finished in second place with 37 goals in his rookie season. This year he recorded 33 with the Texas Stars and has improved his plus/minus rating from -13 to a +13.

What would an all-star team be without another bear in it? Of course it’s not from Providence, but Hershey is just as well. Jeff Taffe may be in his 11th professional playing career, but this will be his first career post-season AHL All-Star Team run.  He leads the Bears in scoring with 18 goals and 46 assists through 67 games this season.

Of course we have saved the best for last in announcing the final roster spot that belongs to, drum roll please…Brett Connolly.  The third member of the Syracuse Crunch and the final member being announced to this season’s team.  He was the CCM/AHL Player of the Month in February after posting 15 points in 13 games, including a 9-game goal-scoring streak.  He currently has 27 goals and 30 assists with a +15 rating in 67 games for the Crunch. Seems to me like Tampa Bay is going to have a pretty dominant future ahead, fans beware!

The League also announced Man of the Year winners yesterday and we will have a post to follow. For now, give a big round of applause for these amazing individuals who have worked hard all season and have earned this opportunity.

There was a fight at the Bruins scrimmage game this week. No, seriously. We’ll let Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com explain:

“McQuaid went right after Robins and the two parties circled several times before landing their punches. McQuaid threw a right hand that missed Robins’ head and then the Providence Bruins enforcer – who has racked up 183 penalty minutes this season – downed the Bruins defenseman with a strong overhand right punch.”

Well, see for yourself.

» Continue reading “Friday Fisticuffs: Adam McQuaid vs. Bobby Robins”

Better late than never, right?

This week’s fight comes to us from the Syracuse Crunch/ Norfolk Admirals game on January 5, 2012. The game was notable as the Admirals used to be the Tampa Bay Lightning’s AHL affiliate last season and even won the Calder Cup. This was the Crunch’s first return to their old stomping grounds.

» Continue reading “Friday Fisticuffs: Eric Neilson vs. Jay Rosehill”

Mike Kostka celebrates with Nazem Kadri, Keith Aucoin, Matt Frattin and Joe Colborne after scoring the third and game-winning goal for the Marlies. (Photo: Erin Pryde)

For Toronto hockey fans, their holiday season hockey dreams ended months ago when the ongoing NHL labour dispute caused the cancellation of the NHL Winter Classic and the Hockeytown Winter Festival, that was to include the AHL Outdoor Classic. The chance to take in a little of the great blue and white in the great outdoors for the Maple Leafs, Marlies and their fans had been wiped off the table.

But there was something else for fans to look forward to over the holidays – the annual Boxing Day game between the Marlies and Hamilton Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate – and Marlies fans had good reason to celebrate yesterday when their team took the 3-2 win.

» Continue reading “Toronto Marlies’ Boxing Day Blast Almost Blows Up”

Marlies’ netminder Ben Scrivens gets ready to pull a rabbit out of Amerks Marcus Foligno’s hat. (Photo: Micheline V via Rochester Americans Facebook)

There were several barn burners in the AHL on Saturday night, but only one that I was interested in roasting my marshmallows over. How could I resist another rematch between the Marlies and Amerks as they kept their North Division rivalry smokin’ hot in Rochester?

Sure, it would be the fourth time the two teams had met in two weeks. But the Marlies were hoping to give the Amerks a nice big lump of coal in their Christmas stocking by taking another win, the fifth this season and tenth in a row against the club.

Yes, Saturday night was a definitely special night and there was something magical in the air. Some force that hadn’t been felt before – curious, strong, sudden – no one could quite put their finger on it until – what’s that up there on the scoreboard?  Oh, the Kiss Cam. Gosh, isn’t it funny when they put the camera on the players on the visitor’s bench and… oh, look at Joe Colborne and Brad Ross. Oh!

» Continue reading “Marlies’ Love Sizzles In Tenth Straight Win Against Amerks”

Photo by Alexis Boucher

Our weekly foray into to the pugilistic arts doesn’t need much introduction. An AHL game with 15 fights in the final two periods. That includes 10 fights in about 2 minutes totaling 143 penalty minutes.

Old time hockey does indeed live.

» Continue reading “Friday Fisticuffs: Worchester Sharks vs. Portland Pirates”

The AHL has suspended Cody Beach for two games.

After just one game since being called up from ECHL Evansville, Rivermen rookie Cody Beach is making an impact…just not of the most positive sort.

Last night, he was +1 and had himself two fights before being ejected from the game near the beginning of the second period for an illegal check to the head of Bobby Sanguinetti, a Charlotte Checkers defenseman. Sanguinetti did leave the ice under his own power, but Beach was given a match penalty, which denotes that the officials believed there was intent to injure on the play. In the AHL, match penalties carry the weight of an automatic league review and one game suspension. Of course, upon review, the penalty can either rescinded or supplementary discipline can be applied.

But in reality, the league did not overturn the penalty, and instead decided to suspend Beach for two games, which is a more than fair punishment. Sanguinetti was in a vulnerable position and Beach made direct contact with the head. He will miss tonight’s game at Charlotte and tomorrow’s back in Peoria vs. Grand Rapids.

The lockout’s impact is even being felt here on Friday Fisticuffs. There have been no new NHL fights since May. This can’t sit well with devotees of the pugilistic arts. What are we to do?

Make like NHL players and head to the AHL, ECHL, and KHL of course!

» Continue reading “Friday Fisticuffs: Lockout Special”

Photo: rangerrick / flickr

Saturday was a Whale of a sweep for the Norfolk Admirals [@NorfolkAdmirals] who have increased their undrefeated record to 4-0-0. Don’t look now, but these kids be lookin just a little more legit that you thought they might.

Pre-Game – The starting line up is Andersen [@f_andersen] in goal, Clark [@MatClark2] & Gunentzel [@guentz10] for Defense, and Bodie [TroyBodie], Wagner [@ChrisWags23], & Rosehill [No Twitter] for Forwards. Admirals will be looking to maintain their undefeated streak tonight against the same Connecticut Whale [@CTWhale] they played the previous game.

First Period -

Gabe Guentzel finds himself in the box early for a boarding penalty and the whale get their first power play of the night at 2:44 of the first periond. Luckily the Admirals take fate into their own hands and score their own goal shorthanded. A goal by Troy Bodie assisted by Chris Wagner [@ChrisWags23].

“That’s our job, to bring energy. We’ve been preaching just to play simple, get pucks deep.” – T. Bodie

It’s 1-0 Admirals with 15:27 left in the first period. The Admirals find themselves on their own powper play moments later at 6:11 of the game which would turn into a 5-on-3 when Christian Thomas would get sent off for hooking. Sami Vatanen takes advantage of the 5 on 3 and scores for the Admirals bringing the score up 2-0. An unfortunate goal is given up by the Admirals when the Whale’s Kyle Jean sends a shot top shelf where only mama hides the cookies. The score becomes a nail biting 2-1, still in favor of the Admirals with 16 minutes remaining in the 1st.

First Period Recap: Admirals end the period up by 2-1 at the end. Shots on goal are Admirals 10 and Whale 14. Power Plays have Norfolk capitalizing on 1 of 3, and Connecticut failing to connect on 3 opportunities. Goals have been scored by Troy Bodie and Same Vatanen. Goaltender Frederik Andersen has 13 saves.

Second Period:  

It didn’t take long for the Admirals to set the tone for the second period as Ryan Lasch [@lasher19] scored 29 seconds in to give the Admirals a 3-1. Moments later Kyle Jean of the Whale is sent to the sin bin for tripping. Jordan Henry [@jordanhenry] gave his best shot at the net but all you could do was curse the crossbar. It always seems to get in the way at the most inopportune times. What’s worse is the Whale penalty expires and they’re able to connect the puck to the back of the netting to bring the score 3-2 (Still in favor of the Admirals).

Scrum Update

The boys decide enough is enough and some mitts get dropped in the process. Troy Bodie and Mike Venace decide to setting things the good old fashioned hockey way, and both get sidelined for a solid 5 minutes for fighting. Segal also joins Venace in the Whale’s box for boarding, while Bodie takes a seat for a while longer as he picks up a double minor for headbutting. That will be served by teammate Jay Rosehill. 64 seconds after the power play gets going Kris Newberry enters the sinbin for the Whale for slashing, and  that wasn’t enough for the penalty party, Patrick Maroon [@PatMaroon] wanted to join Bodie for some cross checking.

Second Period Resumed:

When everything returns back to even strength with 8 minutes left in the second period, the Admirals defense showed up and were able to keep the score at 3-2 with only 6:41 left in the period. Miller gets sent to the box at 15:35 for tripping and the Admirals find themselves back on the power play. Hampus Lindholm [@hampelindholm]then gets busted for a holding penalty so the next 54 seconds are 4 on 4 hockey. The penalty expires for the Whale and they go on at 56 seconds power play. Luckily the Admirals are able to hold on and no goals were scored.

Important to Note: The Connecticut Whale have plastered a total of 30 shots on goal at Andersen with 2:03 left in only the 2nd period and Andersen has stopped 28 of them so far.

Chris Wagner scores his first pro goal at 18:08 in the 2nd periond and gives the Admirals a 4 – 2 lead. It was the second short handed goal of the game and assisted by Troy Bodie.

“We’ve been lucky to spend quite a bit of time in their zone.” – T. Bodie

Second Period Recap: Norfolk lead the whale 4-2 at the end of the 2nd. Norfolk has 22 shots on goal and Connecticut has 30. Admirals are 2 for 6 on their powerplays and the Whale are 0 for 6. Goals have been scored by Bodie, Vatanen, Lasch, and Wagner. Andersen as 28 saves for the night.

Third Period:

The Whale start the period on an abbreviated power play of 1:54 and score 35 seconds in. The game is now 3-2 Admirals with the Whale not going down easily. Chris Kreider gets called for high sticking and Matt Gillroy ends up going to the box for slashing which gives the Admirals 44 seconds of 5 on 3. Patrick Maroon takes the opportunity when he sees it and scores a goal that puts the score at 5-3 in favor of the Admirals. All with 6:18 left in the 3rd.

Note: All 5 of the Admirals goals have been on special teams. Three power play goals, and two short handed goals.

Kyle Palmieri [@kylepalmieri] seals the deal for the Admirals to give them the 6-3 victory and sweep over the Connecticut Whale.

October 19th was the first of two nights in a row that the Norfolk Admirals would be facing the Connecticut Whale. First allow myself to apologize for the later updates, I have had one of THOSE weekends where there just isn’t time in the day. Now onward with these recaps.

Pregame – In goal for the Admirals is Igor Bobkov [@BigBobber91] and in goal for the Whale is Jason Missien. The starters for Norfolk are Kyle Palmieri [@kylepalmieri], Peter Holland [@PeterHolland] and Pat Maroon [@PatMaroon] for the forwards. For Defenese the starters were Nate Guenin & Hampus Lindholm [@hampelindholm].

1st Perod – Admirals would score early are first of a Corey Elkins [@CoreyElkins] goal. It was a beautiful set up by Elkins stealing the puck from one of the Whale forwards and slapping a nice wrister past Whale goalie Missaien for an easy 1-0 lead. Moments later the Whale came back to show that they wont be going down easy and Gilroy would score on a power play goal. The goal would tie the game 1-1 with 16: 59 left in the 1st period.

Not to be outdone on his own ice Corey Elkins [@CoreyElkins] would go on to notch his 2nd goal of the game to give the Admirals back their lead at 2-1. It was Elkins 2nd goal of the night with 10 minutes left in the 1st period.

1st Period Recap – At the end of the 1st period the Norfolk Admirals left 2-1. Shots on goal are in favor of Norfolk 11-6. Norfolk went 0-1 on their power play opportunities and Connecticut with 1 for 2 on their power play opportunities. Norfolk’s Elkins has 2 goals on the night and Igor Bobkov has 5 saves on the night.

2nd Period – In the 2nd periond Connecticut’s Matt Gilroy scored on the power play to even the score back up at 2 a piece with 10:47 remaining in the 2nd period. The Admirals would soon fire back with a goal of their own off a pass by Kyle Palmieri [@KylePalmieri] to Peter Holland [@PeterHolland13] that would increase the Admirals score to 4-2.

2nd Period Recap – At the end of the 2nd period the score remained Admirals 4, Whale 2. Shots on goals for the Admirals and Whale were all knotted up at 17 a piece. Norfolk has gone 1 for 4 on the powerplay while the Whale went 2 for 5 on their opportunities! Elkins, Rosehill, & Holland are the studd muffins of the night with the goal scorings, & Igor Bobkov has 15 saves on the night thus far.

3rd Period – The 3rd period began with the Whale scoring off the bat on a 4 of 4 power play to get themselves back in the game at 4-3 with 15:58 remaining. Minutes later Segal would score AGAIN to tie the game 4-4. This game will be heading into overtime.

Overtime –  Mat Clark [@Mat Clark] would try is best to win the game for the but goalteneder  would say no dice and the game kept going to decide the winner. The Norfolk Admirals would prove themselves victorious off a Corey Elkins [@CoreyElkins] hat trick goal that would extrend their regular season record to 3-0-0 on the season and their record breaking 31 Regular Season unbeated streak.

“I was a little tired, but Sami [Vatanen] made a great play.” – Corey Elkins

Go Admirals Go! For a more in depth look at this game against the Connecticut whale I suggest you check out the main Admirals page link right here: http://norfolkadmirals.com/release_story1.php?id=2675

3 Stars of the Game:

• Troy Bodie
• Chris Wagner
• Sami Vatanen