Fornataro, Wilson Selected As ECHL All-Stars

Published on December 30, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release


PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, a proud affiliate of the San Jose Sharks and the Worcester Sharks, are pleased to announce today that rookie forward Matt Fornataro and rookie defenseman Michael Wilson have been selected to the National Conference roster that will participate at the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game Jan. 21 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pa.

Fornataro, 23, currently ranks third on the RoadRunners in scoring with nine goals and 18 points, and has amassed 54 penalty minutes in 21 games. The Calgary, Alberta native was recalled to Worcester of the American Hockey League on Dec. 6 and has one goal and five points in 10 games this season with the Sharks.

Fornataro signed a free agent contract with Worcester after recording 18 goals and 46 points in 38 games last season at the University of New Hampshire. He finished fourth among Hockey East scorers and was recognized as a 2007-08 RBK Hockey Division I All-American and selected to the 2007-08 All-Hockey East Second Team. Fornataro recorded 44 goals, 74 assists, and 118 points in 156 games during a four-year collegiate career at New Hampshire.

Wilson, 21, leads all RoadRunners' defensemen in scoring with two goals and 10 points in 15 games. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native was also recalled to AHL Worcester on Dec. 6 and has collected one goal and one assist in 10 games with the Sharks.

Wilson finished tied for third among Western Hockey League defensemen in 2007-08 with 41 assists and tied for seventh among WHL blue-liners in scoring with a career-high 47 points in 64 games as a member of the Swift Current Broncos.

Wilson participated in the Sharks Prospect Tournament this summer in Las Vegas and attended San Jose's training camp on a tryout contract. He recorded 19 goals, 78 assists, and 97 points in 169 career games during three seasons with Swift Current.

The Reading Royals, the City of Reading and the Sovereign Center will host the 17th Annual ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 21, 2009 and the 12th Annual All-Star Skills Competition on Jan. 20, 2009.

There are 13 rookies on the National Conference and 20 of the 21 players are making their first appearance in an ECHL All-Star Game.

There have been 46 players from the All-Star Game who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 29 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The starting lineups are determined in voting by National Conference coaches, team captains, media directors, broadcasters and media members. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference to determine the final roster with each of the nine teams having a representative.

The Stanley Cup and the Patrick J. Kelly Cup will both be on display throughout the event, marking the ninth time in the last 10 years that the NHL championship trophy and the ECHL championship trophy have been displayed together at the All-Star Game.

The RoadRunners have teamed up with local Hooters restaurants across the Valley to host "Hooters on Ice" at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday when the RoadRunners welcome the Bakersfield Condors to US Airways Center.

As part of the festivities, RoadRunners' fans will be treated to Hooters giveaways and contests throughout the game, including the first ever "Ms. RoadRunners' Hooters Girl" talent and bikini competition that will take place on the ice during both the first and second intermissions.

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