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Monday, October 29, 2001
Lowell's Ritchie named Player of the Week
The American Hockey League announced today that Lowell Lock Monsters center Byron Ritchie has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week
for the period ending Sunday, October 28, 2001. In three games, Ritchie
recorded three goals and six assists for nine points, along with a
plus-4 rating, as Lowell improved its season-opening unbeaten streak to
nine games.
The 24-year-old Ritchie set a Lock Monsters franchise record with six points in Friday night's 8-4 victory over Portland, tallying two goals and four assists. He added a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win at Springfield on Saturday, and recorded another assist in Lowell's 2-2 tie with Portland on Sunday. The native of Burnaby, B.C., is now tied for the AHL scoring lead with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in nine games. In recognition of his achievement, Ritchie will receive a Sher-Wood leather jacket, presented to him during an on-ice ceremony prior to an upcoming game. In addition, Sher-Wood will donate five travel bags to the Nashua Panthers Youth Hockey Association of Nashua, N.H., in Ritchie's name.
Drafted by the Hartford Whalers in 1995, Ritchie has skated in 146 career AHL contests, recording 46 goals and 60 assists for 106 points. He has registered two assists in 29 career NHL matches, all with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Other players nominated for Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week include Albany right wing Michael Rupp, Bridgeport left wing Dave Roche, Chicago defenseman Brett Clark, Cincinnati goaltender Ilja Bryzgalov, Cleveland right wing Jonathan Cheechoo, Grand Rapids left wing Petr Schastlivy, Hamilton right wing Kevin Brown, Houston defenseman Travis Roche, Manitoba left wing Steve Kariya, Norfolk left wing Matt Henderson, Providence right wing Ivan Huml, Quebec center Eric Chouinard, Rochester center Francois Methot, Saint John left wing Jason Botterill, St. John's defenseman Nathan Dempsey, Syracuse left wing Mathieu Darche, and Worcester center Eric Boguniecki.
As Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week, Ritchie will participate in an on-line chat at the AHL's official web site, theahl.com, on Thursday evening, November 1, at 7:00 ET.