Forward Registers First Pro Hat Trick For Undefeated Lock Monsters

	Forward Ryan Bayda, the last player cut this year, has led Lowell to a 4-0-0-0 start to the season.

(Oct. 20, 2003) -- The American Hockey League announced today that Lowell Lock Monsters left wing Ryan Bayda has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending October 19, 2003. Bayda recorded four goals and one assist for five points in two games last week, as Lowell improved its record to 4-0-0-0 on the young season.

The 22-year-old Bayda recorded his first professional hat trick last Monday afternoon, scoring on a power play, while shorthanded and into an empty net to pace the Lock Monsters to a 4-2 win over Worcester. Then on Saturday, the second-year pro scored once and assisted on the overtime game-winner in Lowell's 2-1 triumph over Hartford. Bayda owned a plus-4 rating for the week.

In recognition of his achievement, Bayda will receive a Sher-Wood leather jacket, presented to him during an on-ice ceremony prior to an upcoming game. In addition, Sher-Wood will donate five travel bags to the Lowell Jr. Lock Monsters in Bayda's name.

A native of Saskatoon, Sask., Bayda leads the Lock Monsters with four goals, six points and a plus-5 rating so far in 2003-04. As a rookie last season, Bayda registered 11 goals and 32 assists in 53 games with Lowell, and four goals and 10 assists in 25 NHL contests with Carolina. A former NCAA champion at the University of North Dakota in 2001, Bayda was a third-round draft choice by the Hurricanes in 2000.

Other players nominated for Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week include Albany center Craig Darby, Bridgeport center Justin Mapletoft, Chicago left wing Simon Gamache, Cleveland goaltender Dimitri Patzold, Grand Rapids center Kevin Miller, Hamilton center Benoit Gratton, Hershey goaltender Peter Budaj, Manchester right wing Pavel Rosa, Manitoba center Fedor Fedorov, Milwaukee goaltender Brian Finley, Norfolk right wing Yorick Treille, Portland goaltender Maxime Ouellet, Providence center Matt Herr, San Antonio goaltender Travis Scott, Springfield center Gary Shuchuk, St. John's goaltender Sebastien Centomo, Syracuse goaltender Pascal Leclaire, Toronto goaltender Steve Valiquette and Utah defenseman Dan Jancevski.