NAHL names All-Star team to face Texas Tornado
January 27, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release
The North American Hockey League is proud to announce the team of All-Stars who will challenge the Junior A National Champion Texas Tornado as part of the NAHL's All-Star Festival in February.
The All-Star Game will be played at the Deja Blue Arena of the Dr. Pepper Star Center in Frisco, Texas on Tuesday, February 8.
The All-Star Team was selected by the coaches of the NAHL and includes a representative from each NAHL club, with the exception of the USA National Team Development Program, whose two teams are both scheduled to be out of the country during this time.
"We wish to congratulate all our All-Stars and the All-Star coaches and staff," said NAHL commissioner Michael Santos. "Narrowing this team down to 21 players was a difficult task and many other fine players could very easily have been included. When this team takes the ice against the Tornado, we are assured of having a thrilling All-Star Game."
The NAHL All-Star Team will be backstopped by three of the leading netminders in the league at the season's mid-point -- ANDREW STRICKER of Fargo-Moorhead, JASON KEARNY of the Soo and RILEY GILL of Texarkana. These three along with Ben Bishop of the Tornado are the league's top four in goals against average.
The defense corps features some of the NAHL's standout blueliners. SEAN ERICKSON of the Springfield Spirit and CLAY REHM of Bismarck are currently tied for fifth among all defensemen in scoring. BRYAN PLASZCZ of Santa Fe is tied for eighth and MIKE MAYRA of Billings is tied for 14th. The other two defensemen, MATT SHOUNEYIA of Cleveland and MARK ZARBO of Youngstown, are outstanding all-around defenders who are team leaders on their clubs.
With the high-scoring Tornado having four of the top six point producers in the league -- Brad Cooper, Tom Train, Karl Sellan and Nick Mazzolini -- the All-Star Game will boast seven of the league's top 10 scorers. The All-Stars will counter Texas' firepower with the likes of PAT LEE of the Springfield Jr. Blues, who is the league's second leading scorer and second in goals. RYAN HAWKINS of Minnesota is tied for third in scoring and is second in assists. BRANDON MARINO of Helena is tied for seventh in scoring. Also among the NAHL's top 25 scorers on the All-Stars is PAT GALIVAN of Texarkana.
The other All-Star forwards who will test the league-leading Tornado defense include BILL LEAHY of Bozeman, who is second in team assists and tied for second in team scoring and power play goals. NICK LARSON leads Central Texas in assists and is tied for the team scoring lead. JOHN GOEBEL of Cleveland leads his team in goals, is second is team scoring and is tied for second in the NAHL for shorthanded goals. MIKE PHILLIPICH of Fairbanks is second in team scoring and leads his team in power play goals. DAIN PREWITT of Fargo-Moorhead is tied for the team lead in game-winning goals. ERIC GIOSA of Toledo is tied for the team lead in scoring. KYLE KRAMER of Wichita Falls leads his team in goals and game-winning goals. KYLE LAUGHLIN of Youngstown, a excellent all-around performer, has a penchant for clutch goals and team leadership.
The All-Stars will be coached by Youngstown's BOB MAINHARDT and Fargo-Moorhead's TODD KNOTT, who have piloted their teams to first place in the North and West Divisions respectively at the season's mid-point. They will match wits with Texas coach Tony Curtale, who was last season's NAHL Coach of the Year.
JASON DODD of Wichita Falls was named the All-Star athletic trainer and MARK KULP of the Springfield Spirit was named All-Star equipment manager.
The Game is part of a two-day All-Star Festival that also includes a unique NAHL Skating Party on Monday, February 7, in which fans will have the opportunity to skate on the Deja Blue ice with the All-Stars and the Tornado to the rock ân' roll hockey sounds of the Zambonis, the Official Band of the NAHL.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2005
- NAHL names on-ice officials for All-Star game - NAHL
- NAHL names All-Star team to face Texas Tornado - NAHL
- NAHL announce first All-Star Festival set for Frisco, Texas - NAHL
- NAHL selects two "Miracle on Ice" Olympians as honorary captains for All-Star game - NAHL
- Barons fall to USA-18, 2-1 - Cleveland Barons
- First Place on the Line This Weekend at the Coliseum - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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