Captain Vincent LoVerde, Goalie Peter Budaj and Forward Michael Mersch Named to AHL All-Star Classic
January 7, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Ontario Reign News Release
Ontario, CA - The Ontario Reign, proud American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL), announced today that defenseman and team captain Vincent LoVerde, goaltender Peter Budaj and forward Michael Mersch have been named to the Pacific Division AHL All-Stars to compete in the 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic in Syracuse, New York on January 31 and February 1.
LoVerde leads Reign defensemen with 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 29 games this season.
Budaj leads the AHL with a 1.69 goals-against average, 17 wins and 1565:32 minutes played, tied for first with four shutouts and stands fourth with a .930 save percentage.
Mersch, who is currently with the Kings, leads the team with 12 goals and tied for first on the Reign with four power-play tallies in 19 games.
All three members join Reign head coach Mike Stothers in Syracuse, who was named the Head Coach of the Pacific Division AHL All-Stars earlier this week.
Each of the AHL's four divisions will be represented by 13 players: seven forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders. Rosters were determined by committees of AHL coaches, and all 30 AHL teams are represented by at least one All-Star.
The 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Jan. 31 (8 p.m. ET) will keep its traditional format, with All-Stars from the Eastern Conference squaring off against All-Stars from the Western Conference in seven skills events.
The 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Challenge will take place on the evening of Feb. 1 (7 p.m. ET); instead of a traditional 60-minute game, the AHL's All-Stars will be divided into four teams, one representing each of the league's divisions (Atlantic, North, Central, Pacific). The teams will then play a round-robin tournament featuring six games of nine minutes each; the first half of each game will be played at 4-on-4, and the second half at 3-on-3. The two teams with the best records at the end of the round-robin tournament will face off for the championship, a six-minute game played at 3-on-3.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2016
- Jujhar Khaira Assigned to Condors from Edmonton - Bakersfield Condors
- Griffins and Flagstar Bank Unveil Floor Hockey Program - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Military Appreciation Night Next Sunday - Bridgeport Islanders
- Captain Vincent LoVerde, Goalie Peter Budaj and Forward Michael Mersch Named to AHL All-Star Classic - Ontario Reign
- Condors Brad Hunt and Laurent Brossoit Selected for AHL All-Star Classic - Bakersfield Condors
- Hellebuyck Selected to 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic Roster - Manitoba Moose
- Cal O'Reilly Named to American Hockey League All-Star Roster - Rochester Americans
- Mikko Rantanen Named to 2016 AHL All-Star Classic Roster - San Antonio Rampage
- Rychel Named to 2016 AHL All-Star Team - Cleveland Monsters
- Wolf Pack Defenseman Ryan Graves Earns AHL All-Star Classic Nod - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Cousins, Stolarz Named to 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic in Syracuse, N.Y. - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- McCarron, Barberio Named AHL All-Stars - St. John's IceCaps
- Dustin Jeffrey to Represent Falcons at AHL All-Star Classic - Springfield Falcons
- Iowa Defenseman Gustav Olofsson Named to 2016 Western Conference All Star Team - Iowa Wild
- Heat Forward Derek Grant Selected for 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic - Stockton Heat
- Ouellet Named 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic Participant - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Benoit and Cannone Chosen as 2016 AHL All-Stars - Chicago Wolves
- Ryan, Carrick Selected for AHL All-Star Classic - Charlotte Checkers
- Pulock and Whitney Named to 2016 AHL All-Star Team - Bridgeport Islanders
- Danis, Sislo Selected to 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic Roster - Albany Devils
- Three Penguins Announced to 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Brandon Montour & Nick Ritchie Named to 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic - San Diego Gulls
- Gaudreau, Kamenev Selected for 2016 AHL All-Star Classic - Milwaukee Admirals
- Kristers Gudlevskis, Matt Taormina Join Mike Angelidis as 2016 AHL All-Stars - Syracuse Crunch
- Playing Rosters Announced for 2016 Toyota AHL All-Star Classic - AHL
- Hunter Shinkaruk Named to 2016 AHL All-Star Classic Roster - Utica Comets
- Morin, Ranford, Lindell Named to AHL All-Star Classic - Texas Stars
- Rob Schremp Named to 2016 AHL All-Star Roster - Portland Pirates
- Canucks Reassign Cannata to Comets; Comets Reassign Witt to Kalamazoo - Utica Comets
- Wolf Pack Announce 2016 Dollar Dog Challenge - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Reign Drop the Gloves against Breast Cancer on Pink in the Rink - Ontario Reign
- Anaheim Ducks Acquire Dustin Tokarski from Montreal - San Diego Gulls
- Amerks to Host Teacher Appreciation Day Presented by Coca-Cola on Monday, January 18 - Rochester Americans
- Pasquale Recalled from Brampton - St. John's IceCaps
- Tokarski Traded by Canadiens to Ducks for Friberg - St. John's IceCaps
- Anderson Recalled by Blue Jackets for Second Time - Cleveland Monsters
- B-Sens Bring Back Hockey & Heels - Binghamton Senators
- Poulin Stops 32-Shots in Return But Heat Fall in OT to San Jose - Stockton Heat
- Barracuda Battle Back for 4-3 Overtime Win Past Heat - San Jose Barracuda
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.
