Derrick Walser Named CCM/AHL Player Of The Month

[Thrillhouse]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The American Hockey League announced that former Johnstown Chiefs and current Toronto Marlies defenseman Derrick Walser has been named the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for October.

Walser had 12 points (6g-6a) in eight games to help the Marlies to the best record in the AHL (7-0-1).

The Columbia Inferno is the ECHL affiliate of the Marlies of the AHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL.

The 29 year old had 20 points (8g-12a) in 24 games as a rookie with Johnstown in 1998-99 while also playing in the AHL where he had 10 points (3g-7a) in 40 games with Saint John.

He returned to the Chiefs in 1999-2000 and had 43 points (17g-26a) and 104 penalty minutes in 54 regular season games and six points (3g-3a) in seven Kelly Cup Playoff games for Johnstown. He also played in the AHL where he had five points (2g-3a) in 14 games with Saint John.

Walser had a point in each of Toronto's eight games in October, including matching his AHL career highs with three assists and four points, all in the second period, in a win against Lake Erie on Oct. 12. He is tied for fifth in the AHL with 12 points and his six goals and 12 points lead AHL defensemen. A Calder Cup champion and AHL All-Star in 2002 with Syracuse, Walser has 237 points (79g-158a) and 323 penalty minutes in 342 career regular season AHL games and 24 points (9g-15a) and 30 penalty minutes in 32 AHL playoff games with Albany, St. John, Syracuse and Toronto.

Other nominees for the CCM/AHL Player of the Month award included right wing Carl Corazzini, who played for Atlantic City and now plays for Grand Rapids; left wing Cody McLeod, who played for San Diego and now plays for Lake Erie; center Rich Peverley, who played for South Carolina and Reading and now plays for Milwaukee; left wing Charles Linglet, who played for Alaska and Las Vegas and now plays for Peoria; center Jared Ross, who played for Gwinnett and now plays for Philadelphia; defenseman Tim Hambly, who played for Las Vegas and now plays for Quad City; and goaltender Josh Tordjman, who played for Phoenix and now plays for San Antonio.