CHL alumni highlight AHL award honourees
Four former Canadian Hockey League talents have been named award recipients following the completion of the 2020-21 American Hockey League campaign.
Former Kitchener Rangers captain and Dallas Stars draftee Riley Damiani is this year’s winner of the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award, presented annually to the league’s most outstanding rookie. Through 36 appearances with the AHL’s Texas Stars, the 21-year-old forward led the team in scoring in producing at a point-per-game pace that counted 11 goals and 25 assists while also outscoring all freshmen league-wide. Prior to joining the minor-league club, Damiani spent four seasons with the Rangers in which he collected 222 points over 245 career contests.
His 1st pro season keeps getting better 🏆
Riley Damiani has been selected as the winner of the AHL's Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award.
Read: https://t.co/eSEzt46FDN pic.twitter.com/5mJwzR4TUN— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) June 3, 2021
Elsewhere, another Rangers alumnus was also recognized league-wide as blue-liner Ryan Murphy was presented with the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s top defenceman. Through 37 showings with the Henderson Silver Knights, Murphy led all rearguards across the circuit with 27 points counting five goals and 22 assists while also finishing third in team scoring and just 10 points back of top spot. Originally chosen by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Murphy has since made 175 appearances at the NHL level and 232 in the minors. Murphy previously spent four seasons with the Rangers from 2009-13 in which he collected 220 points through 228 career games. In each season, Murphy was named to a year-end selection squad, including the OHL First All-Rookie Team, OHL First All-Star Team, and two appearances with the OHL Second All-Star Team.
Captain Ryan Murphy has won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenseman for the 2020-21 season! 🌟 https://t.co/BQL67TpgK1
— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) June 2, 2021
Between the pipes, Brandon Wheat Kings graduate Logan Thompson was presented with the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award, awarded annually to the league’s top goaltender. Making 23 appearances with the Silver Knights, Thompson came away with the victory on 16 occasions coupled with a 1.96 goals-against average and a league-leading .943 save percentage. Prior to joining the AHL, Thompson spent four seasons with the Wheat Kings from 2014-18, highlighted by an appearance at the 2016 Memorial Cup.
Logan Thompson has been named the winner of the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding goaltender for the 2020-21 season! 🌟https://t.co/fOQQOgi898
— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) June 1, 2021
Sticking in the blue paint, Quebec Remparts alumnus Zachary Fucale was named the co-recipient of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award, presented alongside fellow netminder Pheonix Copley in recognition of the league’s best goals-against average. Through 11 showings with the Hershey Bears, Fucale allowed just 20 goals across nearly 666 minutes of ice time, good for a 1.80 goals-against average. Fucale, 26, played four seasons in the QMJHL from 2011-15 with the Halifax Mooseheads and Remparts and helped both clubs compete for the Memorial Cup.
Say hello to the 2020-21 AHL All-Rookie Team.
G – @Thommy_31
D – @calenaddison
D – @GildonMax
F – @rileydamiani
F – @con91mcmichael
F – @philtomasino26https://t.co/UGMAmnUgew | #AHLAwards pic.twitter.com/Yy8y5NF9hT— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) May 25, 2021
Additionally, 15 CHL graduates were also named to the AHL divisional all-star teams, including four of five which also earned a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team:
Atlantic Division
Samuel Bolduc (Sherbrooke Phoenix/Bridgeport Islanders)
Jakub Lauko (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies/Providence Bruins)
Canadian Division
Egor Sokolov (Cape Breton Eagles/Belleville Senators)
Nathan Todd (Ottawa 67’s/Manitoba Moose)
Central Division
Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes/Iowa Wild)
Riley Damiani (Kitchener Rangers/Texas Stars)
Cody Franson (Vancouver Giants/Rockford IceHogs)
Adam Mascherin (Kitchener Rangers/Texas Stars)
Beck Warm (Edmonton Oil Kings/Chicago Wolves)
North Division
Boris Katchouk (Soo Greyhounds/Syracuse Crunch)
Connor McMichael (London Knights/Hershey Bears)
Taylor Raddysh (Erie Otters/Syracuse Crunch)
Pacific Division
Josh Mahura (Regina Pats/San Diego Gulls)
Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers/Henderson Silver Knights)
Logan Thompson (Brandon Wheat Kings/Henderson Silver Knights)
All-Rookie Team
Calen Addison (Lethbridge Hurricanes/Iowa Wild)
Riley Damiani (Kitchener Rangers/Texas Stars)
Connor McMichael (London Knights/Hershey Bears)
Logan Thompson (Brandon Wheat Kings/Henderson Silver Knights)
Philip Tomasino (Oshawa Generals/Chicago Wolves)