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Minnesota Swarm's Craig Conn and Ryan Cousins Named To East Division All-Star Team

February 15, 2005 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) - Minnesota Swarm News Release

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The National Lacrosse League (NLL) and Minnesota Swarm announced today that forward Craig Conn and defenseman Ryan Cousins have been named reserves for the East Division All-Star Team at the 2005 NLL All-Star Game. Both players will be making their first-ever All-Star Game appearance. The 2005 All-Star Game will be played at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta on Saturday, February 26th and air live on NBC locally on KARE 11 at 1:00 PM Central.

Conn, 21 (11/16/83), leads the Swarm in scoring with 16 points (10-6=16) in three games this season. He also ranks first on the team with five power-play goals and second in loose balls with 32. The St. Catharines, Ontario-native was named the NLL Overall and Offensive Player of Week for Week #1 of the NLL season after scoring four points (3-1=4), including two power play goals and the game-winning goal in a 12-11 win at Rochester on January 1, 2005. Conn added a game-high 15 loose balls, won 15 of 27 face-offs (55.5%) and scored the first goal (PP) in franchise history 1:45 into the game. He was acquired by Minnesota with the first pick in the Vancouver Dispersal Draft.

Cousins, 23 (4/1/81), has recorded five points (4-1=5) and 22 loose balls in six contests with Minnesota this season. He ranks tied for fourth among NLL defensemen in goals with four. The Toronto, Ontario-native serves as the Swarm team captain. Cousins’ was acquired in trade with the Arizona Sting on November 5, 2004.

The East and West Division All-Star teams each consist of eighteen players (sixteen runners and two goaltenders). The starting lineups for the East and West Division teams were announced earlier. Online fan balloting comprised one-third of the selection of the starting lineups, with the league's general managers and media providing the other two-thirds. The league, in collaboration with East All-Stars head coach Paul Day (Rochester) and West All-Stars head coach Chris Hall (Calgary), selected the reserves.

The Swarm plays at Arizona on Friday at 8:30 PM and then returns home to face the Philadelphia Wings at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday at 2:00 PM for Family Day. As part of Family Day, all fans that buy one adult ticket to Sunday’s game will receive two tickets free for fans age 12-and-under. Other activities for kids include free ice cream while supplies last courtesy of Cass Clay, free face painting, and autographs and photo opportunities with Swarm players and the Swarm Performance Team after the game. Tickets must be purchased in-person at Xcel Energy Center Box Office and Ticketmaster Outlets, including Marshall Field's and Mall of America. Call 888-MN-SWARM for more information.

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