WHL Tri-City Americans

Americans Named to 2007-08 All-Star Teams

Published on March 20, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - The Tri-City Americans are proud to announce that the Western Hockey League has selected three Americans to the Western Conference All-Star team at the 2008 WHL Playoff press conference on Thursday, March 20 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia. Colton Yellow Horn, Chet Pickard and T.J. Fast were all selected to the first team. The Americans have never had three first-team all-star selections in the same season and is only the 12th Western Conference team to have three nominees in League history. The last Western Conference team to do it was the Kelowna Rockets after the 2002-03 season.

Chet Pickard, who was also selected as the Western Conference finalist for the Del Wilson Trophy as the League's best goaltender, makes his first appearance on the all-star roster. Pickard went 46-12-2-2 during the 2007-08 regular season, becoming just the sixth goaltender in WHL history to win 46 games in a season. Pickard finished the season with a 2.32 goals against average (8th in the League) and a 0.918 save percentage (4th in the League). Pickard is the third Americans' goaltender to be selected to the first team all-star roster, joining Carey Price (2006-07) and Brian Boucher (1996-97).

T.J. Fast, the 20-year-old team captain, who was also selected as the Western Conference finalist for the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy, also was picked to his first all-star roster. The Calgary, AB native appeared in 71 games in his first full season in the WHL, collecting 17 goals and 54 points to finish fifth in the League in scoring among defensemen. The Los Angeles Kings' draft pick is the third Americans' defenseman to be selected to the first-team all-star roster, joining Zenith Komarniski (1996-97) and Steve Jaques (1988-89).

Also, team-leading scorer, Colton Yellow Horn was tabbed to the Western Conference first-team all-star roster. Yellow Horn, who led the League in goals scored (48) and finished with 97 points in his final season in the WHL. After appearing on the second-team all-star roster last season, Yellow Horn was the only unanimous selection in the Western Conference this season. He joins Ian McDonald (2005-06), Ryan Kinasewich (2003-04), Scott Gomez (1998-99), Dylan Gyori (1998-99), Daymond Langkow (1994-95), Vladimir Vujtek (1991-92) and Brian Sakic (1990-91) as Tri-City forwards who have earned the honor.

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