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AHL Utah Grizzlies

Ballard Named to PlanetUSA All-Star Team

January 27, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH * The Utah Grizzlies, in conjunction with the American Hockey League (AHL), announced on Thursday that Utah Grizzlies defenseman Keith Ballard has been selected to play for the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star Team at the 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic, which will be held February 13-14 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H.

Ballard, 21, has played in 41 games for the Grizzlies in this his rookie season leading blueliners with 14 points (two goals and 12 assists). The Phoenix Coyotes acquired the former collegiate star last March in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche.

The Baudette, Minnesota native spent his previous three season playing for the University of Minnesota helping the Golden Gophers to an NCAA Championship in 2003 when he posted 41 points (12-29 *41) in 45 games. Following the 2003-04 season, Ballard was voted the John Mariucci Most Valuable Player by his teammates and was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award given to the nations outstanding collegiate player. In his 123 career games with Minnesota, the 5-11, 204-pound blueliner posted 33 goals with 67 assists.

Other familiar names selected to the PlanetUSA team include Ballard*s teammate at Minnesota Thomas Vanek, Rochester goaltender Ryan Miller, Manchester forward Dustin Brown, Milwaukee defenseman Andrew Hutchinson and Houston forward Mikko Koivu.

The starters for the PlanetUSA team are goaltender Kari Lehtonen (Chicago), defenseman Joni Pitkanen (Philadelphia) and Niklas Kronwall (Grand Rapids) and forwards Brown, Vanek and Zach Parise (Albany).

The AHL All-Star Skills Competition will be on Sunday, February 13 at 7:00 PM (est) and the All-Star Game will be on Monday, February 14 and will be televised live nationwide on ESPN2 at 7:00 PM (est).

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