3 Wildcatters named to ECHL All-Star team

[DenisGScott]

Roster Includes 12 Rookies, 19 First-Time Selections

PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL on Thursday announced the starting lineup and roster of the American Conference for the 2007 Rbk Hockey ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 17 at Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho.

The starting lineups and roster for the National Conference will be announced at 3 p.m. ET on Friday.

There are 12 rookies on the American Conference and only one of the 21 players has played in an All-Star Game. Starting forward Sean Collins of Wheeling played for the American Conference as a rookie in 2006. Reading’s Greg Hogeboom was selected to represent the American Conference as a rookie in 2006, but was on call up with Manchester of the American Hockey League and unable to play in the game.

The 15th Annual ECHL All-Star Game will be at 7 p.m. MT on Jan. 17 and the 10th Annual ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will be at 7 p.m. MT on Jan. 16.

The starting lineups are determined in voting by American Conference coaches, team captains, media directors, broadcasters and media members. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference to determine the final roster with each of the 15 teams having a representative.

American Conference Starters

G - Adam Berkhoel, Dayton (14 gp, 10-4-0, 1 shutout, 2.05 GAA, .918 save pct.)

D - Jon Awe, Gwinnett (23 gp, 11g, 16a, 27 pts)

D - Mike Jarmuth, Columbia (22 gp, 4g, 12a, 16 pts)

F - Kevin Baker, Texas (21 gp, 18g, 12a, 30 pts)

F - Sean Collins, Wheeling (23 gp, 10g, 28a, 38 pts)

F - Brad Schell, Gwinnett (26 gp, 10g, 37a, 47 pts)

Making his first appearance and start is Dayton goaltender Adam Berkhoel, who is under National Hockey League contract to the Buffalo Sabres and is 10-4-0 with a shutout, a goals-against average of 2.05 and a save percentage of .918 in 14 games.

Also making his first appearance and start is Columbia defenseman Mike Jarmuth, who has 16 points (4g-12a) in 22 games.

Gwinnett’s Jon Awe and Brad Schell are both making their first appearance and their first start. Awe leads ECHL defensemen with 11 goals and 10 power-play goals in 23 games and he is second among blueliners with 27 points and second overall in power-play goals. Under NHL contract to the Atlanta Thrashers, Schell leads the league with 37 assists and 47 points in 26 games. The pair will be joined by teammate Colton Fretter, who is under American Hockey League contract to the Chicago Wolves and who leads ECHL rookies with 16 goals and is second with 29 points in 26 games.

Texas is represented by three first-time All-Stars with forward Kevin Baker, who is also a starter, and rookie defensemen Paul Albers and Mike Madill, who are both under NHL contract to the Minnesota Wild. Baker leads the league with 18 goals while he is tied for second with four game-winning goals and tied for eighth with 30 points in 21 games. Albers is tied for ninth among ECHL defensemen with 18 points (5g-13a) in 24 games and Madill is tied for 14th with 17 points (1g-16a).

Wheeling forward Sean Collins is making his second appearance and first start while Nailers defenseman Paul Bissonnette received his first All-Star selection. Collins is tied for second in the ECHL with 28 assists and tied for third with 38 points in 23 games for Wheeling while Bissonnette, who is under NHL contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins, leads Nailers defensemen with five goals, 10 assists and 15 points in 23 games.

Representing Johnstown is Maxime Boisclair, who is under AHL contract to the Springfield Falcons and who leads ECHL rookies with 30 points in 25 games while he is second among first-year players with 19 assists and tied for third with 11 goals.

Toledo is represented by rookie forwards Jamie Tardif and Andrew R. Martin. Tardif leads the Storm with 20 points and is tied for the team lead with 12 assists in 21 games while Martin is tied for second on the team with 19 points and eight goals in 17 games.

Trenton’s selection is John Laliberte, who is tied for fourth among league rookies with 10 goals and tied for 16th among first-year players with 17 points in 13 games, while Pensacola will be represented by Rob Rankin, who has 12 points (8g-4a) in 24 games.

Representing South Carolina is Jamie Fraser, who leads ECHL rookies and defensemen with 23 assists while his 28 points in 24 games are first among blueliners and third among first-year players.

Chosen for his second consecutive All-Star Game is Greg Hogeboom of Reading, who did not play in the game as a rookie last year because he was called up to Manchester of the American Hockey League. Under NHL contract to the Los Angeles Kings, Hogeboom leads the ECHL with five shorthand goals, including three that are game winners. He is tied for fourth in the ECHL with three game-winning goals while he is fifth with 36 points in 24 games and tied for sixth with 14 goals and 22 assists.

Augusta will be represented by Shane Hynes, who is under NHL contract to the Anaheim Ducks and tied for fifth among league rookies with 20 points, while Charlotte will be represented by Mark Lee, who is under AHL contract to the Hartford Wolf Pack and second in the ECHL with 39 points and fourth with 27 assists.

Representing Cincinnati is rookie goaltender Cedrick Desjardins, who is under AHL contract to the Hamilton Bulldogs and is 8-6-0 with a league-leading three shutouts and a goals-against average of 2.42 and a save percentage of .920 in 14 games.

Florida will be represented by rookie goaltender David Shantz, who is under NHL contract to the Florida Panthers and is 9-2-0 with a goals-against average of 2.97 and a save percentage of .906 in 12 games.

[hockeyfan]

Congrats, guys!

[AshlyHasBeen]

I think we would have more starters if all of our guys weren't called up to the AHL. I know I voted for JF David (Called up to Binghamton) and Marco Rosa (Called up today by Providence). But hey getting closer to the NHL is is more important than an All-Star Game. I also thought Yeats should have made the team (maybe he's next to go up?)

[DenisGScott]

I know the ECHL does place a premium on rookies more than veterans when it comes to all star announcements. Yahtzee was still a surprise to be left off though especially after being named goaltender of the month.

[hockeyfan]

I'm also surprised that Proulx didn't get chosen.

But DG is right about the ECHL focusing on rookies more, especially those with AHL/NHL contracts like Madill and Albers.

After all, the ECHL is the premier developmental league. :?

[DenisGScott]

cant take them all with what 21 spots and every team having to be represented

[KFDM COOP]

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