Eastern Conference Shines at All-Star Game
January 17, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Flags News Release
(FORT WAYNE, IND.) - The Eastern Conference outshot the Western in the 2007 United Hockey League All-Star Classic, recording an 11-6 victory over the boys from the West on Wednesday night.
Nighttime festivities kicked off with a showdown of skills between the two squads in three challenges that showcased fastest skaters, hardest shots and breakaway goals. Pat Sutton's three shots clocked in at 92, 90 and 88 mph, respectively. Mike Watt of the Muskegon Fury took first place honors for the Eastern team, with shots at 95, 93 and 93, while Nathan Lutz made the Rockford IceHogs proud when he recorded 92, 97, and 97.
Elmira's Brent Cullaton had the fastest lap time at 11.92 seconds, and was the only skater to break 12 seconds. From the West, Justin Chwedoruk of the Quad City Mallards took first, with a time of 12.18 seconds. In the breakaway relay, Colt King put a nice move on Kevin St. Pierre to score for the Eastern conference.
Both teams notched three goals in the first frame, with the Western conference taking an early lead off a marker from Kevin Ulanski at 2:53, with assists from Jonathan Goodwin and Chad Woollard. The Eastern All-Stars tied it up at 6:19 when Cullaton put the pack past St. Pierre, assisted by Todd Robinson and Nick Bootland. Five minutes later, Cullaton sent the East ahead, on assists from Adam Elzinga and Robinson. Goodwin knotted the score at 14:11 with assists from Woollard and Andrew Lackner. Watt's tally at 17:42 came from Jeff Brown, answered by Woollard's first goal of the night at 19:12, tipped by Mario Larocque and Goodwin. The East outshot the West, 22 to 10 in the period.
Lutz needed just 19 seconds in the second to put the West in front again, but after his goal, which was assisted by Don Parsons, the Eastern squad went on a 6-goal run, putting them up by five. Robinson, Justin Cross, Bootland, Dave Van Drunen, Rustyn Dolyny and Evan Kotsopoulos found the net at 2:09, 5:00, 6:02, 10:39, 15:13 and 15:42, respectively. Sutton recorded an assist on Bootland's goal. Halfway through the period, both teams subbed goalies on the fly, sending in Clayton Pool for the East and Frederic Cloutier for the West. Eastern's 27 shots on goal more than doubled the West's 11
Van Drunen, a defenseman who played fourth line center for the East, netted his second goal at 9:23 in the third, assisted by Gerrard Miller and Kotsopoulos. The Western All-Stars swung the momentum when they blazed two goals past Pool in 10 seconds. Parsons was credited with the first at 14:59, off assists from Brett Pilkington and Woollard, who had the follow-up at 15:09, with another assist from Pilkington. Dale Lupul's goal at 18:06 was the final of the night, assisted by Robinson and Cullaton. With 23 shots in the third frame, the East had a game total of 56, compared to the West's nine in the period, and 31 overall.
Cullaton finished the game with two goals, two assists and a +5 rating, earning him MVP honors for the night.
The Port Huron Flags travel to Flint on Friday to face the Generals and return to McMorran on Saturday night to host the Kalamazoo Wings, with the puck dropping at 7:30 p.m. Call (810) 982- FLAG for tickets today!
CHEFS' SHOWCASE DINNER GALA: On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Flags organization is hosting its annual Chefs' Showcase Dinner at the Fogcutter Restaurant. The $75 ticket includes a dinner from the area's top chefs that is served by the 2007 Flags players. Call the office at (810) 982-FLAG to reserve your ticket. Hurry! Space is limited!
The Port Huron Flags are a community owned, nonprofit member club of the United Hockey League. For more information on the 2006-07 season, contact the front office at (810) 982-3524 or visit the website at www.porthuronflags.net
International Hockey League 2 Stories from January 17, 2007
- Eastern Conference Shines at All-Star Game - Port Huron Flags
- Jackals Reach Halfway Point Tied For Fourth Place - Elmira Jackals
- All-Star Game Broadcast Viewable for Free - Port Huron Flags
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