Zigomanis named Sherwood AHL Player of the Week

[guinevere]

The American Hockey League announced today that Lowell Lock Monsters center Mike Zigomanis has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending January 25, 2004. In three games, Zigomanis recorded four goals, an assist and a plus-5 rating as the Lock Monsters extended their winning streak to six games.

Zigomanis scored twice on Friday night in a 4-3 win over Worcester, including a shorthanded goal in the second period that gave Lowell the lead for good. On Saturday, he opened the scoring before assisting on the game-winner in a 3-2 victory at Portland. And Sunday, Zigomanis capped a big home-and-home sweep with the overtime goal to give the Lock Monsters another 3-2 win over the Pirates, moving Lowell two points ahead of Portland for fifth place in the Atlantic Division.

In recognition of his achievement, Zigomanis 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 Masco Girls Youth Hockey Program in Zigomanis’s name.

A second-round draft choice by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2001, Zigomanis has recorded 10 goals and 28 assists for a team-leading 38 points in 43 games with Lowell this season. The native of North York, Ont., has amassed 117 points (41g, 76a) in 160 contests with the Lock Monsters over the past three years, and has 19 games of NHL experience as well, recording two goals and an assist with the Hurricanes in 2002-03. He currently has a goal in four straight games and a point in eight straight.

[Stormbringer]

Good for Ziggy! :spin:

[Jeff O Rocks]

Hurray..... Great news.. I love Ziggy!! Bring him back and see what he can do!! :spin:

[jhardman]

Hurray..... Great news.. I love Ziggy!! Bring him back and see what he can do!! :spin:

He'll be here when Brindy gets traded.

[talkingcanes]

from NHL.com


Road rules -- This month, Lowell Lock Monsters center Mike Zigomanis has been called up twice and named Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Classic. What more could a guy want?

Well, a little sleep, for starters.

"It's a pretty tired living," Zigomanis said.

But one he would not trade. This February has been the high point of Zigomanis' professional career. He leads the Lock Monsters in scoring (12 goals, 32 assists) and is tied for No. 14 in the AHL.

Fatigue has hardly slowed him. Since Jan. 31, Zigomanis has toured through nine cities and missed three nights of sleep. Physically making it to the All-Star Classic proved more difficult than securing the MVP award.

On Feb. 1, one day after he played for Lowell in Springfield, Mass., Zigomanis was recalled and flown to Denver. He traveled with the Hurricanes to Anaheim, Calif., on Feb. 4, before being reassigned and sent to play in Bridgeport, Conn., on Feb. 6. He bussed the following day to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., then the next morning flew to Grand Rapids, Mich., where at the All-Star Classic he notched a goal and two assists to lead Team Canada to a 9-5 win over PlanetUSA.

"It was a lot of fun," the 23-year-old Zigomanis said. "The experience is really good. It's fun to get to play with guys around the League you don't see night in and night out."

On Feb. 13, the Hurricanes again called up Zigomanis for three days, allowing him to play in New Jersey that night. Last year, Zigomanis notched two goals and an assist in 19 NHL games. He has appeared in just three NHL contests this season, but his improved play may earn him another call up before the season ends.

"It was kind of a slow start this year," Zigomanis said. "I think I hit 25 goal posts my first 30 games. But I'm picking it up as of late. A strong finish here at the end would help."