Amerks’ Grigorenko nabs weekly honor

January 19, 2015
Photo: Micheline Veluvolu

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Rochester Americans center Mikhail Grigorenko has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 18, 2015.

Grigorenko tallied three goals and four assists for seven points in three games last week, helping the Americans to a pair of impressive come-from-behind road wins.

On Wednesday night at Texas, Grigorenko scored once, assisted on the tying goal late in the second and set up the winning score with just 1:33 in regulation as Rochester erased a 4-1 deficit and defeated the Stars, 6-5. He recorded the first two-goal game of his AHL career on Saturday night and tied a game high with five shots on goal, earning third-star honors in a 5-3 loss at San Antonio. And on Sunday, Grigorenko notched two more assists – including one on the tying goal with 2:01 to play – as Rochester came back from two goals down late in the third period to defeat Oklahoma City in a shootout, 8-7.

The 12th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by Buffalo, Grigorenko has recorded 10 goals and 19 assists and is tied for the team scoring lead with 29 points in 34 games for Rochester this season. The 20-year-old native of Khabarovsk, Russia, has also skated in 12 games with the Sabres in 2014-15, tallying one goal and one assist, and shows four goals and six assists for 10 points in 55 career NHL contests.

In recognition of his achievement, Grigorenko will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Americans home game.