Giroux scores, gets an assist in All-Star return to Hershey
Here’s a link to the Patriot-News’ (Harrisburg, Pa.) story on the AHL All-Sar Game
HERSHEY, Pa.–For the second consecutive night, Barons winger Alexandre Giroux received a standing ovation when he was introduced at the Giant Center during the American Hockey League’s All-Star festivities.
Monday night, Giroux had a goal and an assist, drawing another large applause from the appreciate crowd in Hershey but it wasn’t enough as the Western Conference fell 11-8 in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,736.
Giroux, who starred for back-to-back Calder Cup teams in Hershey the last two seasons, picked up his goal in the third period with a shot from the right circle at 17:43.
“I really wanted to get a goal for the fans,” Giroux told The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa.
He assisted on a second-period goal from Chicago’s Spencer Machacek.
The Barons’ other All-Star, Colin McDonald, assisted on a first-period goal by Grand Rapids’ Illari Filppula.
The West led 4-1 just past the midpoint of the first but the East scored five consecutive goals and nine of the next 11 to seize control.
Binghamton’s Bobby Butler had a goal and three assists to earn Most Valuable Player honors.
Andrew Gordon, Giroux’s former Hershey teammate, set an AHL All-Star record by scoring just 16 seconds in.
Giroux nearly brought the crowd to its feet late in the second but Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie John Curry stopped him on a breakaway. He also hit the post with a shot midway through the third.
Giroux told the newspaper he was touched by the response he received.
“It was amazing,” Giroux said. “I didn’t think the crowd would be that good with me. It’s something I’ll really remember a long time. I was pretty appreciative.”
Alexandre Giroux wistful when discussing return to Hershey
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
When asked about playing in Hershey, Alexandre Giroux gets a gleam in his eye.
Giroux starred for the Bears for the last two-plus seasons before signing a one-way contract with Edmonton that pays him a reported $500,000 regardless of whether he’s in the NHL or AHL.
The money was nice, sure, but with more money on the table from the KHL, Giroux didn’t sign with the Oilers over a return shot to Hershey just for financial gain. He thought it was a better path to the NHL.
So far, it hasn’t worked.
Giroux returned to Hershey yesterday for the American Hockey League All-Star weekend. In yesterday’s skills competition, Giroux’s ovation was the biggest of the night.
Before he left, Giroux spoke fondly of his Hershey experience.
“You realize how good you have it when you leave,” Giroux said. “Obviously, the crowd makes a big difference. It’s not everywhere in this league that gets good crowds. I remember we’d go to Lowell and it seemed like there was a dozen people. When you’re in Hershey, on a Wednesday night of a Sunday, you’d have 8 or 9,000 people. It makes a hell of a difference when you go on a road trip and come back to a place that’s almost sold out.”
