OHL Saginaw Spirit

Combs, Watson to Participate in All Star Classic

January 15, 2008 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Saginaw Spirit News Release


(Sault Ste. Marie, ON) The Ontario Hockey League announced the rosters today for the 2008 OHL All Star Classic. Spirit center Jack Combs was named to the Western Conference roster. Spirit head coach Todd Watson was named as an assistant coach of the Western Conference as well, and will join former Whalers head coach Mike Vellucci behind the bench.

"This is a very deserving award," stated Spirit General Manager Don Edwards, "Jack has had a tremendous season and has shown great leadership abilities all year long. His overall game has stepped up to an elite level."

Said Edwards, "This is a great honor for Todd as well and is a result of his dedication and leadership qualities, which he delivered to the Plymouth Whalers last season and he now brings to the Saginaw Spirit this season."

The game will take place in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario at the Steelback Centre - home of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - on Tuesday February 5th and Wednesday February 6th.

For a complete roster, please visit www.ontariohockeyleague.com

Saginaw hosted 2007 All Star Classic, presented locally by The Dow Chemical Company with support from Meijer, Fabiano Brothers Distributed Bud Light, Citizen's Bank and the Saginaw County Convention and Visitors Bureau last year at TheDow Event Center. The Saginaw Spirit tied in the All Star game with a community festival, the first ever PRIDE Ice Fest. The weeklong event saw more than 18,000 people visit downtown Saginaw and provided an estimate $3.5 million economic boost to the mid-Michigan community.

Spirit defenseman Patrick McNeill and forwards Tom Pyatt and Ryan O'Marra represented Saginaw in last year's All Star Classic.

***Information courtesy the Ontario Hockey League***

The 2008 OHL All-Star Classic will feature 40 of the league's brightest stars in an Eastern Conference versus Western Conference showdown format. It is a two-day event that includes the OHL All-Star Skills Competition and Three-on-Three Game on Tuesday February 5, along with the All-Star Luncheon and OHL All-Star Classic on Wednesday February 6.

The OHL All-Star Game was first played in 1977 in Sudbury when the Emms Division defeated the Leyden Division 6-5 in overtime. The Emms vs. Leyden format continued for nine seasons through 1985 following which the game was replaced by the OHL/QMJHL All-Star Challenge Series. The East-West format was re-introduced for the 2004 OHL All-Star Classic in Peterborough. Last year's contest was held in Saginaw, Michigan where the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 13-9. Steven Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting and Hunter Tremblay of the Barrie Colts were the players of the game.

The OHL All-Star Classic was last hosted in Sault Ste. Marie in 1979 when Gary Green led the Leyden Division to an 8-6 win over the Emms Division squad coached by the late Bert Templeton. That game included current Greyhounds' coach Craig Hartsburg on defence.

The OHL All-Star Game has featured many of the league's most famous graduates, including current NHL stars Joe Thornton, Rick Nash, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner.

The 2008 OHL All-Star Classic is supported by OHL partners Boston Pizza, All Weather Windows, Subway, NAPA and Reebok.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2008


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