It's been quite a week for former Surrey Eagles defenceman Tyler Eckford.
First, the 24-year-old Langley native was named the American Hockey League's Player of the Week for Nov. 8-15 after the blueliner registered two goals, seven assists and was a plus-6 in just three games for the Lowell Devils, the farm club of the New Jersey Devils.
That performance was enough for the National Hockey League club to come calling. On Wednesday, Eckford was promoted by the Devils and on Thursday he was in the lineup when New Jersey dropped a 3-2 decision to the Nashville Predators. Eckford saw just over nine minutes of ice time in the one-goal shootout loss.
“He's playing extremely well, so we're going to take a look at him,” Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told the North Jersey Record earlier this week.
On Saturday, Eckford picked up his first NHL point, assisting on a second period power-play marker by Brian Rolston in a 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars.
Eckford played two full seasons for the Eagles before departing for college, picking up 29 goals and 102 points in 118 games. His best season came durng the 2004-05 campaign when he bettered the point-a-game mark with 22 goals and 43 assists.
The former Eagle was drafted by the Devils in the seventh round of the 2004 draft. He played three seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks before turning pro last year. Before his call up Wednesday, Eckford had 15 points in 18 games in Lowell.
