Thunder rookie wins award
Adirondack Thunder defenseman Stepan Falkovsky has been named the CCM ECHL Rookie of the Month for February.
The 20-year-old scored 12 goals, added three assists and was a plus-7 in 13 games in February, helping the Thunder to an 8-2-3 record during the month.
Falkovsky picked up at least one point in 10-of-13 games, including three points (1-2-3) in a 4-3 win at Norfolk on Feb. 1 and his first professional hat trick, in
addition to the lone goal in the shootout, in a 4-3 victory against Brampton on Feb. 25. Eight of his 12 goals in February were scored on the power play.
A native of Minsk, Belarus, Falkovsky leads ECHL defensemen with 20 goals — becoming the first defenseman since Aaron Schneekloth in 201112 to reach the 20-goal plateau — and 14 power-play goals. He won the Hardest Shot competition at the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, registering a shot of 99 miles per hour.
Selected by the Calgary Flames in the seventh round (186th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Falkovsky spent last season with Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League where he posted 32 points (9-2332) in 58 games. He also represented Belarus at the 2016 World Junior Championship.
McCollum leaves Thunder
The Stockton Heat, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames, announced that goaltender Tom McCollum has been recalled by the Stockton Heat from the Adirondack Thunder.
McCollum, 27, was loaned to the Thunder through last weekend’s games, helping the club pick up a pair of wins, improving his record to 3-1-1 in his five appearances in the ECHL this season.