Downie, Steve

The American Hockey League announced today that Norfolk Admirals forward and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Steve Downie will play for Team Canada at the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications, to be played later this month at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Downie, a 5-foot-10, 192-pound native of Newmarket, Ontario, has posted six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in just 15 games for Norfolk this season. Among his notable accomplishments with the Admirals this season are a franchise-record tying four-assist game on December 13 versus Bridgeport, a hat trick on December 27 versus Philadelphia and a Norfolk season-high eight-game scoring streak from November 16 – December 27 during which he registered five goals and ten assists.

Downie was acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Philadelphia Flyers along with Steve Eminger on November 7 in the deal that sent Matt Carle to the Flyers. Prior to the trade, he also appeared in four games with the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, recording one goal and seven assists. In 19 total AHL games this season, Downie has seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points. In 41 career AHL contests between Norfolk and Philadelphia, the second-year professional has scored 12 goals and 38 assists for 50 points.

Spank.

PHI-2
NOR-7

Mike McKenna stopped 34 of 36 shots faced for the win.

First Period
NOR Segal, (12) , 2:37
NOR Keller, (4) (Ward, Potulny), 5:11

Second Period
NOR Potulny, (5) (Konopka, Bochenski), 1:25 (PP)
NOR Downie, (4) (Lundin, Bochenski), 3:10 (PP)
NOR Rosehill, (2) (Potulny, Lundin), 15:36
PHI Matsumoto, (11) (DeSantis, Syvret), 17:38 (PP)
NOR Downie, (5) (Smolenak, Lundin), 19:36

Third Period
NOR Downie, (6) (Mihalik), 10:16
PHI Klotz, (1) (Matsumoto, Sirianni), 14:08

Steve Downie, Grant Potulny, and Mike Lundin were the game's three stars.

Downie continues to make a strong case for a recall. That young man is a stud prospect.

Norfolk improves to 13-16-5 this season, just 3 games under .500. Next up, a three game roadie through the Northeast starting on New Year's Eve at Portland.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

Fun game to watch if you're an Ads fan.

ALB-0
NOR-5

Mike McKenna stopped all 24 shots he faced for the shutout victory.

First Period
NO SCORING

Second Period
NOR Smolenak, (10) (Konopka, Jones), 13:50 (PP)
NOR Wishart, (1) , 16:54

Third Period
NOR Smolenak, (11) (Gratton, Lawrence), 2:44
NOR Downie, (3) , 3:26
NOR Mihalik, (2) (Downie, Gratton), 8:56 (PP)

McKenna, Radek Smolenak, and Ty Wishart were the game's three stars.

I thought the Admirals best two players were probably Steve Downie and Chris Gratton in the game. Gratton looks like a man among boys at this level. Smolenak was in the right place at the right time for a power play goal after a puck bounced off an Albany defender and then on a nice setup by Gratton with Smolenak crossing the top of the crease. I didn't see Gratton out the second half of the third period. Hopefully that was to let the old man kick back and relax as opposed to an injury.

Downie's goal came after he pickpocketed a River Rats defender and then blistered a shot off the wing high glove side. If I have a criticism of Downie's game, it's that he doesn't shoot enough. That said, he's too good for the AHL level. He needs to be in the NHL soon.

Wishart got his first pro goal on a little harmless looking snap shot that skimmed off an Albany defender on the way in and found the back of the net. Not the most artistic goal, but he'll take it. Vladimir Mihalik found a rebound in the high slot and pounded a slap shot five hole on Justin Peters for his tally. Soft goal by Peters, in my opinion. In both defensemen's cases, beggars can't be choosers and I'm sure they're glad just to light the lamp.

Kevin Quick is starting to get back on schedule developmentally. He still makes mistakes (darned near cost McKenna his shutout on one shift in the third) but he's starting to look like a real AHLer, and when he gets it cranked up on the rush you can squint and see a bit of the puck carrying d-man the Lightning organization always thought he could become.

Jay Rosehill is becoming a Grade A badass. I remember when he was a lost little lamb playing for Johnstown in the Coast. He was a manimal dropping the gloves tonight. He beat Mike Angelidis like Angelidis owed him money tonight.

Don't read too much into this game, mind you. Albany is a thin team that was playing without one of their best players and all of a sudden the Admirals are laiden with NHLers and prospects who were recently up and proved their close to being NHLers. This was not a fair fight. Tomorrow night against Philly will be a truer test on just how far this configuration of the Ads can go. Still too many neutral zone turnovers by the forwards and the young d wasn't really tested under fire much considering how non-existent Albany's forecheck was tonight.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

Even with Lundin, the Admirals defense remains a sieve.

BRI-6
NOR-4

Mike McKenna allowed 6 goals on 27 shots for the loss.

First Period
BRI Lee, (1) (Iggulden, Hillen), 0:30
BRI Hennigar, (3) (Hillen, Iggulden), 8:16
NOR Ward, (1) (Downie, Lundin), 10:31
BRI Tambellini, (1) (Walter), 14:21
NOR Lawrence, (1) (Downie, Rosehill), 18:30

Second Period
BRI Smith, (12) (Colliton, Iggulden), 14:07
NOR Keller, (2) (Downie), 16:34
NOR Keller, (3) (Downie, Mihalik), 17:13

Third Period
BRI Smith, (13) (Colliton, Skinner), 16:47
BRI Smith, (14) (Iggulden, Hillen), 19:59

Steve Downie and Justin Keller were the game's second and third stars.

Downie is reacting just like you would hope a guy who has just been sent down would: like a guy who has gotten a taste of the show and wants to get back. Mike Lundin had an assist in his Norfolk debut. Chris Gratton is in Norfolk, but did not suit up for the Ads.

Box score from TheAHL.com.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned right wing prospect Steve Downie to the Norfolk Admirals (AHL), it was announced on Friday by Lightning Executive Vice President & General Manager Brian Lawton.

Downie, a 5-foot-10, 192-pound native of Newmarket, Ontario, appeared in eight games with the Lightning after being recalled on November 27. He posted one goal and 16 penalty minutes. Downie was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia on November 7 and has skated in 10 AHL games between Philadelphia and Norfolk this season, tallying a goal, 12 assists and 51 penalty minutes.

On Thursday, the Lightning recalled defenseman Jamie Heward from Norfolk. Heward, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman, leads all Norfolk defensemen in scoring with 14 points. In 20 games, Heward has six goals and eight assists with 25 penalty minutes. Four of his goals and seven of his assists have come on the power play. Heward ranks in the top 15 of AHL scoring by defensemen. The 37-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, has two assists and four penalty minutes in four games with the Lightning this season.