BRIDGEPORT, CT - The American Hockey League announced today that Bridgeport Sound Tigers center Casey Cizikas has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for January. Cizikas tallied eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points and registered a plus-14 rating in 11 games during January as the Sound Tigers climbed from last place to first in the Northeast Division on the strength of a 10-0-0-1 month.
Cizikas opened the month by scoring the game-winning goal in a 4-0 victory over Worcester on Jan. 2. He netted a third-period goal to help Bridgeport to a 3-2 shootout win at Providence on Jan. 8, and notched a goal and an assist in a 3-2 Sound Tigers win vs. Binghamton on Jan. 15. Cizikas earned Reebok/AHL Player of the Week honors for Jan. 23-29 after recording three consecutive three-point games, a stretch which included tallying a goal and two assists in the third period at Syracuse on Jan. 28 as Bridgeport rallied for a 5-4 shootout victory.
Cizikas finished the month by representing Bridgeport at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic, scoring a goal for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game on Jan. 30.
A first-year pro from Toronto, Cizikas is tied for third among all AHL rookies in scoring with 38 points this season, totaling 14 goals and 24 assists in 44 games with Bridgeport, and leads all AHL forwards with a plus-20 rating. The 20-year-old Cizikas was a fourth-round draft choice by the New York Islanders in 2009 and is coming off four seasons of junior hockey with Mississauga St. Michael’s (OHL).
In recognition of his achievement, Cizikas will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Sound Tigers home game.
The Sound Tigers travel to Portland on Friday to face the Pirates before returning home on Saturday to open a stretch of eight February home games at 7 p.m. against the Manchester Monarchs. Any fans who bring three or more canned, non-perishable goods to Saturday's game against Manchester will receive one free ticket to the Sound Tigers Feb. 20 game against the Albany Devils.
