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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Barberio, Conacher and Smith Named AHL All-Stars

January 4, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The American Hockey League today announced that Norfolk Admirals players Mark Barberio, Cory Conacher and Trevor Smith have been named to the Eastern Conference All-Star roster for the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic, to take place Jan. 29-30 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

This is the first AHL All-Star selection for all three players. Norfolk's three AHL all-star selections are tied for the most in the AHL and are the second-most in team history.

Complete rosters of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference AHL All-Stars are posted at theahl.com. In addition, fans have the opportunity to vote for the starting lineups for the 2012 AHL All-Star Game at theahl.com.

Barberio (bahr-BAIR-ee-oh), a 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman, has posted three goals and 29 points in 31 games for the Admirals this season. The second-year pro is tied for the AHL lead in scoring by a defenseman while leading all AHL defensemen with 26 assists and 17 power play points (2G, 15A). Barberio also ranks fourth overall in the AHL with 26 assists and ranks second overall with a plus-19 rating.

The 21-year-old native of Montr�al, Qu�bec, has appeared in 99 career AHL games - all with the Admirals - posting 12 goals and 70 points with a plus-18 rating. Prior to turning professional, Barberio notched 46 goals and 168 points in 261 games with the Moncton Wildcats of the Qu�bec Major Junior Hockey League. He helped the Wildcats win the QMJHL championship in 2010 while leading all league defensemen in points and assists during the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning drafted Barberio in the sixth round (152nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Conacher (CAHN-ih-kur), a 5-foot-8, 180-pound left wing, has recorded 19 goals and 38 points in 32 games with the Admirals this season. He leads all AHL rookies in goals and points. Among all AHL players, Conacher is tied for first in goals and ranks fifth in points. He has recorded at least one point in 25 of 32 games this season.

The 22-year-old native of Burlington, Ontario, has appeared in 39 career AHL games between Norfolk, the Rochester Americans and the Milwaukee Admirals, posting 23 goals and 44 points. Prior to turning pro this season, Conacher completed a four-year career at Canisus College as the all-time leader in goals and points. In 129 career games at Canisius, Conacher posted 62 goals and 147 points.

The Admirals signed Conacher as an undrafted free agent on July 5, 2011.

Smith, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound center, has registered 15 goals and 39 points while playing all 33 games for the Admirals this season. A fifth-year pro, Smith leads the Admirals and ranks fourth overall in AHL scoring. Among all AHL players, he ranks tied for ninth in assists (24), tied for third in plus/minus (+17) and tied for second in game-winning goals (4).

The 26-year-old native of Ottawa, Ontario, has appeared in 315 career AHL games between the Admirals, Springfield Falcons, Syracuse Crunch and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 107 goals and 231 points. Smith has also appeared in seven career NHL games - all with the New York Islanders during the 2008-09 season - posting one goal.

Smith was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Islanders on April 2, 2007. He signed a one-year contract with Tampa Bay on July 5, 2011.

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. Voters will also be entered to win a grand prize of a team-signed authentic 2012 AHL All-Star jersey, and five more winners will each receive a pair of tickets to the 2012 AHL All-Star Skills Competition and All-Star Game, courtesy of Insurance Office of America.

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.

The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing in an internationally televised showcase from historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Of the 562 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Dan Boyle, Daniel Briere, Ryan Callahan, Brian Campbell, Zdeno Chara, Jimmy Howard, Miikka Kiprusoff, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Pekka Rinne, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, P.K. Subban and Tomas Vokoun.

The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, Caesars Entertainment, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the American Hockey League. For destination information about Atlantic City, please visit www.atlanticcitynj.com.

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