The American Hockey League announced that Amerks defenseman Zach Redmond has been named to the 2018-2019 AHL First All-Star Team. This is the second year in a row that Redmond has earned the end of season honor. He was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team for the 2017-2018 season.
“It’s an honor,” Zach Redmond said when asked for his reaction to the recognition. “Those are good players, good company to be amongst, and a credit to the team we have.”
“What a special player, what a special guy in the room, and special guy in the community,” Chris Taylor said when asked about Redmond. “Nothing but unbelievable things to say about him.”
Redmond has had a career season with games still to be played. In 56 games he has 50 points (21G+29A) which surpasses last seasons career best 47 points (15G+32A) in 66 games. Redmond has been either number one or top five all season in the American League for points by a defenseman. He’s scored a team high 10 power play goals which is also ties him for the league lead for power play goals by a defenseman. He’s also tied for the league lead with nine game-winning goals while his 196 shots are the most by an AHL blueliner this season.
Earlier this season when he scored his 19th goal he broke a 46 year old Rochester Americans franchise record for goals by a defenseman. Rick Pagnutti set the original record with 18 goals during the 1972-73 season.
“I guess it’s been a pretty good year numbers wise,” Redmond said when asked about his career season. “The injury bug kind of got me late but it’s been a fun year and it’s only getting better from here.”
Chris Taylor said, “He’s deserved it and he’s had a great year. I just wish he was healthy for all of it because the awards would’ve kept on piling in for him.”
The night that Redmond broke the franchise record for goals in the regular season he also took an odd stumble along the back boards that took him out of the lineup with a lower body injury. He missed the next 11 games, played played 12 games, missed another six, and has been back since.
Zach Redmond was an incredible addition to the team last season. Prior to the season he signed a two-year American League contract to lead the Amerks going forward. Many ask why he isn’t playing in the NHL or why he wasn’t called up and the answer is simple – he has a lucrative contract to play with Rochester and lead the team versus trying to find his way into an NHL lineup.
When asked about being put in positions and scenarios to score big goals Redmond said, “You don’t get those numbers without playing quite a bit and playing in positions that you’re relied on to score. You have to produce to keep getting that opportunity. They let me start there and let me dictate my future.”
“He’s very humble about that. He’s put into situations that he’s deserved,” Chris Taylor said. “We’ve put him into situations that we knew he would excel at and he’s exceeded our expectations. He has to put the puck in the net, he has to make the plays, he has to play good defense, and he has to do all of those little things. It doesn’t matter what situation any player is put in, they still have to do it. He’s done an unbelievable job and has made our team a lot better inside the room and out on the ice.”
He’ll likely win more team awards tonight and could still be in the running to win the Eddie Shore award for the leagues best defenseman. The last Amerks defenseman to win the award was Al Arbour in 1964-1965. The only other Amerks defenseman to ever win the award was Steve Kraftcheck for the 1958-1959 season. That was also the first year the award was given out.
Redmond is very humble and often hesitates when asked about his numbers. He’s a league leading defenseman and dictated his future as an Amerks Hall of Fame player.
Here’s the list of first and second All-Star teams:
2018-19 AHL First All-Star Team (stats through Apr. 10)
G – Alex Nedeljkovic, Charlotte Checkers (50gp, 33-9-5, 2.25gaa, .916sv%, 4so)
D – John Gilmour, Hartford Wolf Pack (67gp, 20+34=54pts., 5 GWG, 3 OTG)
D – Zach Redmond, Rochester Americans (56gp, 21+29=50pts., +14, 10 PPG, 9 GWG)
LW – Daniel Carr, Chicago Wolves (52gp, 30+41=71pts., +35, 12 PPG, 3 GWG)
C – Carter Verhaeghe, Syracuse Crunch (73gp, 31+46=77pts., +23, 6 PPG, 6 GWG)
RW – Jeremy Bracco, Toronto Marlies (73gp, 21+57=78pts., 7 PPG, 31 PPA)
2018-19 AHL Second All-Star Team (stats through Apr. 10)
G – Shane Starrett, Bakersfield Condors (41gp, 26-7-5, 2.31gaa, .919sv%, 4so)
D – Aaron Ness, Hershey Bears (69gp, 5+46=51pts., +22, 3 PPG, 23 PPA)
D – Ethan Prow, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (72gp, 18+31=49pts., +28, 9 PPG, 3 GWG)
LW – Tyler Benson, Bakersfield Condors (66gp, 14+51=65pts., +22, 22 PPA, 3 GWG)
C – Chris Mueller, Toronto Marlies (59gp, 33+32=65pts., 16 PPG, 8 GWG, 4 OTG)
RW – Andrew Poturalski, Charlotte Checkers (72gp, 23+47=70pts., +16, 2 PPG, 6 GWG)
