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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Nhl Sets Crowd Mark

Compiled From Wire Services

A record 17,640,529 fans attended National Hockey League games this season.

The Montreal Canadiens led the way, averaging 21,002 a game and 99 percent capacity at the Molson Centre. The Canadiens, who drew 861,072 fans this season, became the first NHL club to attract more than 20,000 fans to each home game during a full season.

The league announced the average attendance was 16,548, a 3.5 percent increase from last season.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Wade Redden was named the NHL rookie of the month for April after helping his team earn its first playoff berth.

Redden, 19, and goaltender Ron Tugnutt gave Ottawa a sweep of NHL honors. Tugnutt was named the player of the week and player of the month after posting a 3-0-0 record and a 2.00 goals-against average in the final week of the season.