Thursday, January 5, 2012
Collegians Fill AHL All-Star Rosters
More than half of those named to play in AHL All-Star Classic played college hockey.
More than half of the players named to the 2012 American Hockey League All-Star Classic rosters, released Wednesday, played U.S. college hockey.
Twenty-six former college stars are among the players expected to take the ice at the event, slated for Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall Jan. 29-30. The Eastern and Western Conference teams each feature 24 players – 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. Rosters were determined by committees of AHL coaches, and all 30 AHL teams are represented by at least one All-Star.
Among the selections are seven AHL rookies who played college hockey last season: Cam Atkinson (Boston College), Carter Camper (Miami), Cory Conacher (Canisius), Cade Fairchild (Minnesota), Andy Miele (Miami), Gustav Nyquist (Maine) and Zach Redmond (Ferris State).
20 Schools Represented
Twenty schools have at least one alumnus represented, led by Miami and Providence with three each. Former RedHawks Camper, Miele and Jeff Zatkoff are all on the Eastern Conference team, while former Friars Colin McDonald and Matt Taormina (East) will face off against fellow alumnus Jon DiSalvatore. Boston College (Atkinson, Krys Kolanos) and New Hampshire (Darren Haydar, Trevor Smith) each have two representatives.
From Jan. 5-23, fans will have the opportunity to vote for the starting lineups for the 2012 AHL All-Star Game by visiting theahl.com or facebook.com/theahl and completing the official Reebok AHL All-Star Fan Ballot.
Tickets for the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic – which include admission to both the 2012 AHL All-Star Skills Competition at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, and the 2012 AHL All-Star Game at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 30 – are on sale now at the Boardwalk Hall box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available for the Post-Skills Party (January 29, 5:30 p.m.) and the 2012 AHL Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Ceremony (January 30, 11 a.m.) at Caesars Atlantic City.
Former College Players Named to AHL All-Star Rosters
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference | ||
| G: Jeff Zatkoff | Miami | G: Yann Danis | Brown |
| D: Matt Irwin | Massachusetts | D: Kevin Connauton | Western Michgian |
| D: Zach Redmond | Ferris State | D: Cade Fairchild | Minnesota |
| D: Matt Taormina | Providence | D: Clay Wilson | Michigan Tech |
| F: Cam Atkinson | Boston College | F: Joe Colborne | Denver |
| F: Keith Aucoin | Norwich | F: Jon DiSalvatore | Providence |
| F: Chris Bourque | Boston University | F: Darren Haydar | New Hampshire |
| F: Carter Camper | Miami | F: T.J. Hensick | Michigan |
| F: Cory Conacher | Canisius | F: Krys Kolanos | Boston College |
| F: Colin McDonald | Providence | F: Jon Matsumoto | Bowling Green |
| F: Andy Miele | Miami | F: Chris Mueller | Michigan State |
| F: Kyle Palmieri | Notre Dame | F: Gustav Nyquist | Maine |
| F: Trevor Smith | New Hampshire | F: Brandon Pirri | Rensselaer |