AHL American Hockey League

Realigning the stars, 10 years later

Published on January 17, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... A decade ago today, the American Hockey League held its first All-Star Game in 35 years, bringing the top players to Providence, R.I., for what would become an annual showcase event.

On Jan. 17, 1995, the spotlight of the hockey world was shining brightly on the event, as the NHL season was still three nights away from starting after a 103-day lockout. A capacity crowd of 11,909 fans packed the Providence Civic Center and an international TV audience tuned in on ESPN2, TSN and RDS to watch a team of All-Stars from the AHL's six Canadian teams face off against All-Stars from the league's 11 U.S.-based clubs.

There were two days of festivities leading up to the 1995 AHL All-Star Game, but no skills competition (it was introduced in 1996). The first goal in modern AHL All-Star history was scored by current Hershey Bears winger Dennis Bonvie, at the 7:08 mark of the first period. Kevin Dean, who would win both the Calder Cup (Albany) and the Stanley Cup (New Jersey) in the spring of 1995, scored the first U.S. goal. Ralph Intranuovo was named the game's MVP; the Edmonton Oilers prospect went on to tally 46 goals during the 1994-95 AHL season.

Among the All-Stars on display in Providence were Jody Gage and Tim Tookey, two of the top four scorers in American Hockey League history. Michel Picard, Jeff Nelson and 2005 All-Star team captain Craig Darby would also go on to join the AHL's 500-point club in their careers. Scott Walker, Steve Sullivan, Martin Lapointe, Philippe Boucher, Mattias Norstrom, Steve Poapst, Cory Stillman, Valeri Bure, Joel Bouchard, Corey Schwab and Dwayne Roloson all went on to successful careers in the National Hockey League after skating in the 1995 AHL All-Star Game.

The defending Calder Cup champion Portland Pirates, who started the year on a 14-0-3 streak that remains the best start in league history, had four representatives at the game, including goaltender Jim Carey, who would be named the AHL's outstanding rookie and outstanding goaltender in 1994-95 before winning the Vezina Trophy in the NHL in 1995-96.

The tradition of the AHL's mid-season showcase continues in four weeks, when the 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic takes place in Manchester, N.H., on February 13-14. Fan balloting to determine the starting lineups continues at theahl.com through 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 23.

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HALFWAY HOME ... With 559 games in the books, the AHL is one game shy of the midpoint of the 2004-05 regular season. Two players are on pace to score at least 50 goals, four are on track to record over 100 points, and three are halfway to registering 40 victories in net. At 29-7-3-1, the Manchester Monarchs lead the league with 62 points through 40 games, on pace for a record-tying 124 points over the entire 2004-05 season. The 1992-93 Binghamton Rangers established the mark with their 57-13-10 campaign.

Other league leaders at the turn:

Points 60 Jason Spezza, BNG
Goals 27 Michel Ouellet, WBS
Assists 43 Jason Spezza, BNG
Points (rookie) 30 Brandon Bochenski, BNG
Goals (rookie) 16 Thomas Vanek, ROC
Assists (rookie) 21 Zach Parise, ALB
Points (defenseman) 30 Niklas Kronwall, GRA
Brian Pothier, BNG
Goals (defenseman) 9 Niklas Kronwall, GRA
Andrew Hutchinson, MIL
Assists (defenseman) 25 Greg Hawgood, CHI
Power Play Goals 12 Mike Cammalleri, MCH
Simon Gamache, MIL
Shorthanded Goals 4 Noah Clarke, MCH
Game-Winning Goals 6 Several players tied
Plus/Minus +28 Colin Forbes, LOW
Penalty Minutes 261 Brian McGrattan, BNG
GAA 1.73 Steve Valiquette, HFD
Save Percentage .943 J.S. Aubin, STJ
Wins 21 Ryan Miller, ROC
Shutouts 5 Ryan Miller, ROC
Adam Hauser, MCH
Saves 988 Maxime Ouellet, POR
Minutes 2,034 Maxime Ouellet, POR
Power Play % 21.7 Binghamton
Penalty Killing % 89.8 Hartford
Goals For/Game 3.75 Manchester
Goals Against/Game 1.90 Hartford
Average Attendance 8,960 Manchester

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OFF THE ICE ... Grand Rapids players and staff will serve as bartenders and waiters at two local Max & Erma's restaurants; proceeds from tips collected and auctions will go to the Special Olympics... The Utah Grizzlies' annual Guns & Hoses charity hockey game, pitting several area police and fire departments against each other on the ice, will take place Jan. 22 to benefit the University of Utah Burn Camp... Eleven-month-old Fred Paul Keaton of Manchester earned a prize package from Tiny Tot Land for winning the Monarchs' first-ever Amazing Baby Race, a 30-foot crawl during the first intermission of Saturday's game.

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ETC. ... After sweeping a four-game Texas road trip, Manitoba has earned a point in 14 straight away from home (12-0-1-1)... Houston's 7-0 win over Milwaukee on Tuesday night marked the most lopsided home victory in the Aeros' 11-year franchise history... Albany ended an 11-game winless skid with a convincing 5-1 win over then-league-leading Hartford on Friday night, snapping Jason LaBarbera's personal 14-game winning streak in the process... Wolf Pack defenseman Lawrence Nycholat has recorded an assist in nine straight games, tied for the longest such streak in the AHL since Jim Montgomery had a helper in 10 straight contests during the 1998-99 season... Binghamton's Denis Hamel has recorded seven goals and seven assists in his last seven games... Hamilton's Benoit Dusablon, who has been suffering from neck spasms and had not played a game this year, announced his retirement last week... Cincinnati is 9-0-0-0 this season when Joffrey Lupul scores a goal... Lowell extended its winning streak to six games with a 3-1 win over Bridgeport on Sunday; the Sound Tigers are winless in nine overall (0-8-0-1) and 12 straight on the road (0-10-1-1)... Grand Rapids has lost seven in a row at home, a franchise record... To avoid the traffic and parking problems that would result with the NFC Championship game scheduled for next door at Lincoln Financial Field, the Philadelphia Phantoms have moved their game with Albany at the Wachovia Spectrum from Jan. 23 to Jan. 24 at 7:05 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2005


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