Manitoba Moose

Chicago's Peter Mannino named Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Peter Mannino of the Chicago Wolves has been named the Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month for January. Mannino was 6-1-0 with a 1.28 goals-against average, a .958 save percentage and one shutout for the month. 

Mannino allowed only nine goals on 212 shots in seven starts during January, helping Chicago post an 11-point improvement relative to the final playoff spot in the West Division, from five points back on Jan. 1 to six points up on Feb. 1. Mannino made 33 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over Peoria on Jan. 2, and turned aside 32 of 33 shots in a 2-1 win at San Antonio on Jan. 15. He closed out January with 32 saves in a 3-0 win at Grand Rapids on Jan. 29, his first shutout in more than 15 months. 

In recognition of his achievement, Mannino will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Wolves home game. 

In his second professional season out of the University of Denver, Mannino has a record of 13-3-0 in 18 appearances with for the Wolves in 2009-10, leading the AHL with a 1.76 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage. He was 17-12-2 as a rookie with Bridgeport last season and also appeared in three games with the N.Y. Islanders, earning the win in his first NHL start on Mar. 15, 2009, at Chicago. A native of Farmington Hills, Mich., Mannino signed as a free agent with Atlanta on July 6, 2009. 

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month include Adirondack’s Johan Backlund, Albany’s Justin Peters, Bridgeport’s Nathan Lawson, Hamilton’s Cedrick Desjardins, Hartford’s Chad Johnson, Hershey’s Braden Holtby, Houston’s Wade Dubielewicz, Lake Erie’s Tyler Weiman, Lowell’s Mike McKenna, Manitoba’s Cory Schneider, Norfolk’s Dustin Tokarski, Providence’s Dany Sabourin, Rochester’s Alexander Salak, Rockford’s Corey Crawford, San Antonio’s Justin Pogge, Syracuse’s Kevin Lalande, Texas’s Todd Ford and Worcester’s Alex Stalock. 

Milwaukee Centre Colin Wilson named Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Milwaukee Admirals center Colin Wilson has been named the Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month for January. In 17 games during a busy month, Wilson tallied seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points along with a plus-5 rating. 

Wilson entered January with just five points in his first 16 AHL games, but by month’s end he had cracked the league’s top 20 among rookie scorers for the season. Wilson notched his first multiple-point game as a pro on Jan. 3 at Hamilton, registering a goal and two assists in a 6-4 loss to the Bulldogs. He had an assist in three straight games from Jan. 7-10, and then went off for five points (1g, 4a) in Milwaukee’s 6-2 win at Manitoba on Jan. 16, at the time tying an AHL season high. Wilson wrapped up the month on a five-game scoring streak, including a goal and an assist on Jan. 31 vs. Hamilton. 

In recognition of his achievement, Wilson will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Admirals home game. 

Wilson, 20, was the seventh overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by Nashville and currently sits with 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 33 games with Milwaukee. Wilson began the season with the Predators and notched two points in 10 games, including his first career NHL goal on Oct. 21 at Boston. Born in Greenwich, Conn., while his dad Carey played for the New York Rangers, Wilson represented the United States at the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Championships. In 2008-09, he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and helped Boston University capture an NCAA championship. 

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month include Adirondack defenseman Joonas Lehtivuori, Albany center Chris Terry, Chicago defenseman Paul Postma, Hamilton defenseman P.K. Subban, Hartford goaltender Chad Johnson, Houston center Cody Almond, Lake Erie left wing Justin Mercier, Lowell defenseman Matt Taormina, Manchester center Corey Elkins, Manitoba right wing Sergei Shirokov, Norfolk goaltender Dustin Tokarski, Portland center Tyler Ennis, Rochester goaltender Alexander Salak, Rockford defenseman Brian Connelly, San Antonio center MacGregor Sharp, Syracuse center Tomas Kana, Texas center Travis Morin, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton forward Eric Tangradi and Worcester left wing Brandon Mashinter. 

Hershey's Keith Aucoin named Reebok/AHL Player of the Month

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Hershey Bears center Keith Aucoin has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for January. Aucoin erupted for 35 points in 14 games on the month, registering 12 goals and 23 assists along with a plus-11 rating. 

Aucoin averaged 2.50 points per game in January, a scorching pace that vaulted him to the top of the league leaderboard in goals, assists and points. Among his 10 multiple-point performances were five three-point efforts and three four-point nights, and he capped the month by becoming the 42nd player in AHL history to reach 600 career points with a goal and two assists on Jan. 31 vs. Binghamton. Aucoin had at least one assist in every game, and he enters February with a 16-game assist streak – one game shy of the all-time AHL record. He also appeared in his fifth consecutive AHL All-Star Classic last month and scored his first career All-Star goal. 

In recognition of his achievement, Aucoin will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bears home game. 

Aucoin sits first in the AHL with 28 goals, 43 assists and 71 points in 41 games for Hershey in 2009-10. He ranks second with seven game-winning goals – including three in January – and fourth with his plus-26 rating. In 546 games over nine AHL seasons, Aucoin has registered 187 goals and 413 assists (good for 24th all-time) for 600 points. He has added eight goals and 18 assists in 74 career NHL games, including a goal and four assists in nine contests with Washington this year. 

Other nominees for Reebok/AHL Player of the Month include Adirondack right wing David Laliberte, Albany right wing Jerome Samson, Binghamton right wing Ryan Keller, Bridgeport left wing Jesse Joensuu, Chicago right wing Tim Stapleton, Hamilton center Brock Trotter, Houston defenseman Maxim Noreau, Lake Erie center T.J. Hensick, Lowell defenseman Cory Murphy, Manchester center Corey Elkins, Manitoba left wing Matt Pettinger, Milwaukee center Colin Wilson, Norfolk right wing Mark Parrish, Peoria right wing Pascal Pelletier, Portland right wing Mark Mancari, Providence right wing Jordan Knackstedt, Rochester center Jamie Johnson, Rockford left wing Kyle Greentree, San Antonio left wing Brett MacLean, Syracuse center Derek MacKenzie, Texas center Travis Morin, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton left wing Luca Caputi and Worcester center Steven Zalewski.