Curtis McKenzie Named December's CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month

McKenzie (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)
League recognition continues to roll in for the season Texas is having. Curtis McKenzie was named the December CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month after posting 12 points in just 11 games. McKenzie's 29 points are good for 12th overall in league scoring and second among rookies. His point total would make him the leading scorer on 23 of 30 AHL teams. Obviously his linemates have helped (Morin and Sceviour) but he has a nose for the net and his work on the power play has been excellent (six PPGs of 11 total).

McKenzie is the fifth player in Stars' history named as a monthly award winner by the AHL. He is the second this season. Linemate Travis Morin was October's player of the month.

Here's the release:
The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced today that left wing Curtis McKenzie has been selected as the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for December.

With leading scorers Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour both missing action due to NHL recall during the month, McKenzie helped the Stars roll to a 9-1-0-1 record by tallying five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 11 games.

McKenzie's month featured five multiple-point games, beginning with his first career two-goal effort in a 5-4 win at Oklahoma City on Dec. 3. He scored twice more - including the game-winning goal - at San Antonio on Dec. 15, and set a personal best with three assists in a 5-2 win over the Rampage on Dec. 28. McKenzie closed out the month by assisting on the game-tying goal as Texas erased a four-goal deficit en route to a 6-5 overtime win at Oklahoma City on New Year's Eve.

A 2009 draft choice by Dallas, McKenzie ranks second among all AHL rookies in scoring with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 33 games for Texas this season. His is also second among rookies with 99 shots on goal, and his 16 power-play points are tied for third among all league skaters. McKenzie, 22, is a native of Golden, B.C., and played four seasons at Miami University before making his pro debut with Texas at the end of last season.

In recognition of his achievement, McKenzie will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Stars home game. This is the fifth time in club history that a Texas player has received an AHL monthly award. Brent Krahn was chosen as the league's Goalie of the Month for November 2009, Reilly Smith was Rookie of the Month for December 2012, Jamie Oleksiak was Rookie of the Month for January 2013 and Travis Morin was Player of the Month for October 2013.

Comments

  1. Christine Shapiro's pic is awesome.
    Ross

    ReplyDelete
  2. Way to go Curtis! Your line makes a lot of good things happen.

    ReplyDelete

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