CHL Central Hockey League

CHL All-Star Starters Announced

January 2, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


The starting line-ups for the Central Hockey League Dodge 2003 All-Star Game in Oklahoma City on January 23rd have been determined, following the completion of balloting among CHL coaches, broadcasters and selected media members. Each voter was required to select three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender from a list of nominees provided by CHL member teams.

Leading all vote getters was Laredo Bucks left winger Eric Schneider, who appeared on 92 percent of all Southern Conference ballots. Schneider has led the expansion Bucks to a record of 17-9-4, and is among CHL leaders in goals (19), assists (25), and points (44). Joining the Calgary, Alberta native as Southern Conference starting forwards are New Mexico Scorpions center Chris Richards (Cornwall, Ontario) and Lubbock right wing Blaz Emersic, from Ljubljana, Slovenia. The starting defensive pairing for the Southern Conference features Odessa Jackalopes rearguard Scott Hillman (LaSalle, Ontario) and Laredo blueliner Michel Periard, out of Montreal, Quebec.

Tulsa Oilers left wing Todd Marcellus received the most votes in the Northern Conference, selected on 79 percent of all Northern Conference ballots. Marcellus, from Chesterville, Ontario, sits second in the CHL with 47 points, and has keyed the Oilers outstanding (22-9-2) first half. Atop the CHL scoring race with 53 points is defending regular season and playoff Most Valuable Player Don Parsons from the Memphis RiverKings. The Boston, Massachusetts native was listed on 75 percent of Northern Conference ballots and also starts. Rounding out the forward trio is Wichita center Travis Clayton from Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan, who is tied for third in CHL scoring with 46 points.

Starting on defense for the Northern Conference will be Hardy Sauter from the Oklahoma City Blazers and Derek Landmesser from the defending champion Memphis RiverKings. Sauter, from Maryfield, Saskatchewan leads all CHL defensemen with 39 points, while Landmesser (Thunder Bay, Ontario) is tied for second with 32 points among rearguards.

The remainder of both All-Star teams will be announced Wednesday, January 8th, as selected by All-Star coaches Brent Hughes (Austin, Southern Conference) and Garry Unger (Tulsa, Northern Conference). Each CHL club will have a minimum of one participant in the 2003 Dodge CHL All-Star Game.

Austin goaltender Matt Barnes has led the IceBats to the best record in the Southern Conference, and will start in goal for the Southern Conference. Barnes leads the CHL with a goals against average of 1.581 and a save percentage of .947 while compiling a record of 19-4-1 with five shutouts.

In the Northern Conference, Tulsa Oilers netminder Rod Branch will start. Branch has excelled this season for the Oilers, posting a remarkable seven shutouts, just one off the all-time CHL / WPHL record of eight in a season. Branch leads the CHL with 20 wins, with only 6 losses and 2 overtime/shootout losses.

Northern Conference All-Star Starters

Forwards
Todd Marcellus, Tulsa
Don Parsons, Memphis
Travis Clayton, Wichita

Defenseman
Hardy Sauter, Oklahoma City
Derek Landmesser, Memphis

Goaltender
Rod Branch, Tulsa

Southern Conference All-Star Starters

Forwards
Eric Schneider, Laredo
Chris Richards, New Mexico
Blaz Emersic, Lubbock

Defensemen
Michel Periard, Laredo
Scott Hillman, Odessa

Goaltender
Matt Barnes, Austin



Central Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2003


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