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Pair of SteelHounds Named Starters for the CHL All-Star Game

December 27, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Youngstown SteelHounds, in conjunction with the Central Hockey League (CHL), announced today that center Chris Richards and left wing Jeff Christian have been named as starters for the Northern Conference in the Dodge 2007 Central Hockey League All-Star Game to be held at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, Louisiana. Starters were selected through balloting by CHL Head Coaches, Communications Departments and selected media members in each market.

"We are very proud of the first half we have had as a team," said Head Coach Kevin Kaminski. "Both Chris and Jeff have been the catalysts for our strong play and we couldn't be more proud to have those two represent the SteelHounds as starters in the all-star game."

Christian, the SteelHounds Captain, currently leads all CHL players in points (49) and assists (33) and is ranked second with a plus/minus rating of +18. The Burlington, Ontario native has had a point in all but one of the 23 games he has played this season and is currently on a league-high 13-game point streak that has seen him amass 10 goals and 19 assists. The veteran was a starter in last year's mid-season classic played in Hidalgo, Texas at the home of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and during the game he posted two goals (including the game winner in a shootout) and an assist.

Richards makes a return to the all-star game for the first time since the 2003-04 season when he played for the New Mexico Scorpions (he notched three assists in the game played at his home arena in Albuquerque). The former Ohio State Buckeye is following up his best career season last year (92 points) with a better first half this year. Through 26 games, the Cornwall, Ontario native has 16 goals and 30 assists and ranks second in the CHL with 46 points. He twice has been named the Oakley CHL Player of the Week.

The two will join Bossier-Shreveport goaltender Ken Carroll, Colorado's Riley Nelson, Memphis defenseman Derek Landmesser and Oklahoma City defenseman Mike Burgoyne as the Northern Conference starters. Colorado Head Coach Chris Stewart will lead the Northern Conference.

The SteelHounds continue their home stand with a pair of games this weekend versus the Northeast Division leading Memphis RiverKings. Face-off for both Friday, December 29th and Saturday, December 30th will be at 7:05 PM at the Chevrolet Centre.

For more information contact the SteelHounds Media Relations department at (330) 747-PUCK (7825) or visit the team's online home at www.steelhounds.com.

--steelhounds.com--

***Fans, also be sure to visit www.steelhounds.com and sign up for your own page on mysteelhounds.com through ONE Site. The new feature is an online community where fans can interact with players, front office staff members and other fans from around the CHL.

***Don't forget that each and every Monday night is Hounds Happy Hour on ESPN Radio, 1240-The Fan. Join host Tim Sampsell as he wraps up the teams action from the previous week, takes a look ahead to the coming week and interviews some of the top names from the Hounds and around the CHL.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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