January 5, 2008

Eizenman Top Rookie in December

PRINCETON, N.J. - Fresno center Oren Eizenman, who played at Rensselaer, is the CCM Vector ECHL Rookie of the Month for December.

The 22 year old scored 16 points and had 10 goals, including two game-winning goals, two on the power play, and a shorthand goal, while helping the Falcons go 9-3-1 to move into second place in the Pacific Division.

Selected to the ECHL All-Star Game on Dec. 21, Eizenman started the month with a four-game point streak (3g-2a) including a power-play goal and an assist in a 7-6 win at Bakersfield on Dec. 1 and an assist in a 4-3 win against Bakersfield on Dec. 2. The 6-foot and 190-pound forward scored goals in back-to-back one-goal wins at Idaho on Dec. 5, where he recorded the game winner, and Dec. 7.

The Toronto, Ontario native recorded his first three-point game with a shorthand goal, an even-strength goal and an assist in a 6-1 win at Utah on Dec. 19. He then registered back-to-back three-point games with a goal and two assists in a 4-3 shootout loss against Victoria on Dec. 29 and two goals, including the game winner, and an assist in a 5-3 win against Victoria on Dec. 30.

Eizenman is tied for second among league rookies and ranks sixth overall with 17 goals while his 29 points in 27 games are tied for eighth among rookies. His three game-winning goals tie him for second among first-year players and for eighth overall.

Eizenman played four seasons at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he had 99 points (37g-62a) and 90 penalty minutes in 129 games. He was named to the ECAC All-Rookie team after scoring 18 points (6g-12a) in 37 games in 2003-04.

Runners Up: Tyler Howells, Cincinnati (14 gp, 5g, 11a, 16 pts), Bobby Goepfert, Augusta (5-2-0, 1.60 GAA, .937 save pct) and Pierre-Luc Faubert, Elmira (12 gp, 5g, 11a, 16 pts).

Also Nominated: Tim Spencer (Alaska), Matt Beaudoin (Dayton), Tomas Pospisil (Gwinnett), Mark Bomersback (Idaho), Bryan Esner (Pensacola), Peder Skinner (Phoenix), Patrik Hersley (Reading), Steve Pinizzotto (South Carolina) Jacob Micflikier (Stockton), Ryan Gunderson (Trenton), Justin Bourne (Utah) and Dylan Yeo (Victoria).