StocktonThunder

Rajala: ECHL Award Runner-Up

Tuesday, 11.06.12 / 6:38 PM

By Stockton Thunder Staff

Rajala leads Thunder to a 3-0-0 week with seven points against Bakersfield, Alaska

PRINCETON, N.J. – Michael Forney of the Colorado Eagles is the Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week for Oct. 29-Nov. 4. Forward Toni Rajala of the Thunder and Fort Wayne forward Thomas Beauregard were named runners-up for the award.

Rajala put up seven points (4g-3a) and was +3 to help the Thunder beat the Alaska Aces and Bakersfield Condors in three games. The Thunder outscored its opponents 18-6 in the three wins, extended its winning streak to six consecutive games and moved into first place in the Western Conference with a 7-1-1 record (15 points).

Rajala’s 11 points are tied for second among ECHL rookies and his six goals share the ECHL rookie lead with Gwinnett’s Doug Jones.

Forney scored four goals, added three assists and was a +5 as the Eagles won two games against San Francisco.

The 24-year-old opened the week with three points (1g-2a) in a 6-1 win against the Bulls on Friday and then tallied a hat trick and added an assist in Colorado’s 7-2 win on Saturday.

Forney leads the ECHL with nine goals, is tied for ninth with 12 points and his four power-play goals are tied for the league lead.

Also Nominated: Jonathan Hazen (Cincinnati), Todd Robinson (Evansville), Marc-Olivier Vallerand (Greenville), Evan Bloodoff (Gwinnett), Andrew Carroll (Idaho), Brett Lysak (Kalamazoo), Colton Yellow Horn (Ontario), Alex Berry (Reading), Tommy Cross (South Carolina), Byron Froese (Toledo) and Paul McIlveen (Utah).