AHL Providence Bruins

Karsums Named To All-Star Team

Published on January 8, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, in their 17th season in the American Hockey League, announced that right wing Martins Karsums has been named to the PlanetUSA team for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications. He joins teammate Johnny Boychuk and current Boston Bruins center Martin St. Pierre, both named yesterday to the Canadian team, as Providence representatives.

The event, set for January 25-26 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, features the top young talent in the AHL competing in the Skills Competition and the 2009 AHL All-Star Game. The game, scheduled for at 7 p.m. on January 26, will be televised nationally in the United States and Canada.

The team comprises 24 players - 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders - born outside of Canada. AHL fans determined the starting lineup via on-line balloting at theahl.com, while a committee of AHL coaches selected the remainder of the roster.

Karsums, 22, earns his first career All-Star selection in his third season. He leads the P-Bruins with 38 points, tied for seventh in the AHL, including a team-high 15 goals in 37 games. Karsums' 23 assists rank third on the club. The alternate captain has enjoyed five point-streaks of at least three games this year, along with nine multiple-point outings, and he notched his 100th career point with a goal on October 12, 2008 against the Springfield Falcons. Karsums also received his first career National Hockey League call-up to Boston on December 13, 2008, making his NHL debut that night against the Atlanta Thrashers.

Karsums posted career-highs with 20 goals, 43 assists and 63 points in 79 games for the P-Bruins in 2007-08. He added another 10 points, including seven goals, in 10 playoff contests before recording three points in two games for Latvia in the IIHF World Championships.

In his career, Karsums has 48 goals, 88 assists and 136 points in 171 games. Prior to turning pro, the native of Riga, Latvia, suited up for three seasons for the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Karsums was drafted by Boston 64th overall in round two of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

The PlanetUSA AHL All-Star starters include forwards Chris Bourque (Hershey Bears), Nikita Filatov (Syracuse Crunch) and Nathan Gerbe (Portland Pirates), along with defensemen Jakub Kindl (Grand Rapids Griffins) and Yannick Weber (Hamilton Bulldogs). Cory Schneider of the Manitoba Moose gets the starting duties in net.

Because the Chicago Wolves won the Calder Cup championship in 2008, their current staff of head coach Don Granato and assistants Jason Christie and Wendell Young will serve as the coaches for the PlanetUSA team. John Anderson was promoted to Atlanta after guiding the Wolves to the title last spring.

Providence Bruins season tickets, Flex Tix packages and single game tickets are on sale now for the 2008-09 season. To purchase tickets or to learn more information, call the P-Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or log on to the team website at providencebruins.com.

Check out the Providence Bruins Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central