Konopka Named to Canadian AHL All-Star Team

Published on January 9, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME - The Portland Pirates have announced that forward Zenon Konopka has been selected to play in this year's 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic. Konopka has been selected as a starter for the Canadian All-Star Team.

The 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic will take place at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, home of the AHL's Toronto Marlies. The event features the 2007 CCM AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, January 28 (7:00 ET) and the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic on Monday, January 29 (7:00 ET), and will be televised live on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada and on a network of regional broadcast partners in the United States.

Konopka, who turned 26 last week, leads the Pirates in the top four offensive categories points (31), goals (9), assists (22) and plus/minus (+16) in 35 games this season and his +16 ranks sixth among the AHL leaders in that category. Earlier this season, the Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario native was named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending November 12, 2006. Last year, he helped the Pirates to within one win of the Calder Cup Finals last year, posting a team-high 29 points in 19 postseason contests. He also made his NHL debut with Anaheim in 2005-06 where he tallied seven points in 23 games for the Ducks.

The Canadian team comprises players born in Canada, while the PlanetUSA team is made of players born outside of Canada. AHL fans determined the starting lineups via on-line balloting at theahl.com, while a committee of AHL coaches selected the remainder of the rosters.

Of the 394 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Brad Boyes, Daniel Briere, Jonathan Cheechoo, Pavol Demitra, Rick DiPietro, Patrik Elias, Ray Emery, Miikka Kiprusoff, Kari Lehtonen, Ryan Miller, Dwayne Roloson, Marc Savard, Martin St. Louis, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Steve Sullivan and Kyle Wellwood.

The Pirates return to action on Friday night in Manchester against the Monarchs at 7:35 p.m.

The Pirates next home game is Saturday, Hockey Night in Portland, on January 13th, against the Hartford Wolf Pack at 7:05 p.m. Saturday's game marks the launch of Subway Restaurant's "Pirate for a Day" contest. Fifty fans will have the chance to record their "Why I should be a Pirate for a Day?" entry at the game. Plus MaineToday.com's SEEN TEAM will be at the game taking pictures of fans. For tickets, call the Cumberland County Civic Center box office at (207) 775-3458.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2007


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