SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Manchester Monarchs, the primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, and the American Hockey League announced today that Monarchs center Justin Azevedo has been selected as the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 25, 2012.
Azevedo notched four goals and two assists for six points in three games last week as Manchester maintained its hold on a post-season spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
After scoring a goal in Friday’s 5-2 loss against the Providence Bruins, Azevedo netted a shorthanded tally to help the Monarchs to a 5-0 win over the Portland Pirates on Saturday night. He then led Manchester with two goals and two assists, including his second shorthanded goal of the weekend, in a 5-1 win over the Worcester Sharks on Sunday afternoon that kept the Monarchs in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, four points clear of ninth.
In his fourth season with Manchester after being drafted by the Kings in 2008, Azevedo has established a career high with 24 goals and leads the Monarchs with 43 points in 55 games this season. The 23-year-old native of West Lorne, Ontario, has totaled 68 goals and 91 assists for 159 points in 229 career AHL games.
In recognition of his achievement, Azevedo will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Monarchs home game.
Azevedo is playing like he can. He’s holding that team a float right now. It would be nice to see him him play up wih the kings but LA isn’t smart enough to call him up…