Salmon Kings' Atherton Named Starter for 2011 ECHL All-Star Classic

December 29, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC ‚¬" The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks and Manitoba Moose, announced today that defenseman P.J. Atherton has been selected to represent the ECHL All-Stars at the 2011 ECHL All-Star Classic in Bakersfield, California on Wednesday, January 26th, 2011.

The Edina, MN native will make his first ECHL All-Star Game appearance. He has played in 29 games this season with the Salmon Kings recording 21 points (6g-15a) and 34 minutes in penalties. Atherton's 15 assists leads all ECHL defenders, while he ranks second in points (21) and third in goals (6). The blue liner also tops all Victoria skaters with a +8 rating.

Joining Atherton in the starting line-up for the 2011 All-Star Classic will be:

G ‚¬" Michael Ouzas, Las Vegas (16 gp, 11-3-1, 1 shutout, 2.24 GAA, .921 save pct.)

D ‚¬" Julien Brouillette, Greenville (25 gp, 11g, 12a, 23 pts)

F ‚¬" Brendan Connolly, Greenville (27 gp, 13g, 15a, 28 pts)

F ‚¬" Mark Derlago, Idaho (29 gp, 15g, 16a, 31 pts)

F ‚¬" Mitch Fadden, Florida (31 gp, 14g, 31a, 45 pts)

The 6-2, 205 lb blue liner was a sixth-round pick (#170 overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He also had a four-year career in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, helping lead the team to two consecutive NCAA Championships (2002-03 and 2003-04).

Atherton, 28, becomes the 11th Salmon Kings' player to participate in the ECHL's mid-season event following Brad Dexter (2005), Steve Lingren (2006), Milan Gajic (2007), Ash Goldie (2008), Julien Ellis (2008), Wes Goldie (2009), Dylan Yeo (2009), Dan Gendur (2009), David Shantz (2010) and Taylor Ellington (2010).

This year's All-Star Classic will see the Bakersfield Condors, the host for the 2011 event, take on a team of ECHL All-Stars. This will be the second time in the 19 years of the ECHL All-Star Classic that the host team will play together in the event. In the 1997 contest, the Charlotte Checkers defeated the ECHL All-Stars 7-6.

The Salmon Kings finish two-game set versus the Ontario Reign tonight at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com .



ECHL Stories from December 29, 2010


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