AHL LEADING SCORER HEADS TO WASHINGTON

February 3, 2012

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forward Keith Aucoin from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.  Additionally, the club has assigned center Cody Eakin to Hershey.

Aucoin, 33, leads the AHL in points (70) and assists (59) and has collected 11 goals in 43 games with Hershey this season. This marks the seventh time Aucoin has tallied at least 70 points in an AHL campaign, the fourth as a member of the Hershey Bears. Additionally, Aucoin is 13 assists shy of tying a career high for assists in a single season, and 30 assists shy to match the AHL record for helpers in a single campaign (89).

The Waltham, Massachusetts, native has appeared in 75 NHL games with Washington and Carolina Hurricanes, collecting 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists). The four-time AHL All-Star was the winner of the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL’s leading scorer in 2010 and received the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s MVP for the 2009-10 season. In 673 career AHL games, Aucoin has recorded 777 points (223 goals, 554 assists) and is one assist shy of Art Stratton for fifth all-time in assists in AHL history. He is a two-time Calder Cup champion with the Hershey Bears. 

The 5’8”, 171-pound center was signed by the Capitals as a free agent on July 3, 2008. He will wear No. 23 for Washington and be available for the Capitals 10:30 a.m. practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Eakin, 20, has collected eight points (four goals, four assists) and a plus-two rating in 29 NHL games this season. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 1 vs. Anaheim and recorded his first NHL point (an assist) and scored his first NHL goal on Nov. 4 at Carolina.  

Eakin has recorded 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 20 games with Hershey in the AHL this season. In his first full professional season, Eakin leads all rookies on Hershey in goals, assists and points. Eakin appeared in four regular-season games for Hershey during the 2009-10 season (two goals) and played in five postseason games as Hershey won the 2010 Calder Cup.

The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native helped Canada earn a silver medal at the World Junior Championship last season and helped guide the Kootenay Ice to the Western Hockey League (WHL) championship. Eakin finished the Memorial Cup playoff round tied for second in points (six) and his three goals scored tied for third. He collected 239 points (118 goals, 121 assists) in 238 career WHL games.