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Salmon Kings Shantz And Ellington Named To 2010 ECHL All-Star Game

December 30, 2009 - 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 goaltender David Shantz and defenseman Taylor Ellington have been selected to represent the National Conference at the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game in Ontario, California on January 20, 2010.

Shantz, under contract to the AHL's Abbotsford Heat, has been named as the starting goaltender for the National Conference, and makes his second All-Star Game appearance after representing the Florida Everblades in the 2007 contest. The native of Burlington, Ontario holds a record of 8-2-3 in 14 games played, along with a league-leading 0.927 save percentage. Shantz is also second among goaltenders in goals against average (2.35) and is tied for the league-lead in shutouts with two.

Ellington, a Victoria, BC native, will appear in his first ECHL All-Star game in his rookie professional season. In 22 games played this year he has registered two goals and nine assists for 11 points while tallying 16 minutes in penalties. The defenseman is under contract to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League.

Shantz and Ellington become the ninth and tenth Salmon Kings players respectively to participate in the 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), and Dan Gendur (2009). Salmon Kings General Manager and Head Coach Mark Morrison has also participated in the ECHL All-Star Game as a coach in both 2008 and 2009.

The 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario will be hosted by the Ontario Reign at Citizens Business Bank Arena and played on Jan. 20, 2010 while the 2010 ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will be held on Jan. 19, 2010.

There are 11 rookies on the National Conference and 18 of the 21 players are making their first appearance in an ECHL All-Star Game.

There have been 58 players from the All-Star Game who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 33 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The starting lineups are determined in voting by National Conference coaches, team captains, media directors, broadcasters and media members. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference to determine the final roster with each of the nine teams having a representative.

The Salmon Kings are in Salt Lake City to begin a five-game road trip and will begin by taking on the Utah Grizzlies in a mini two-game set with contests tonight and tomorrow, Thursday, December 31, 2009. Victoria will then finish the trip with a three-game series in Alaska (January 2nd, 3rd, and 4th). The Salmon Kings then return home to play host to the Idaho Steelheads for a two-game set on January 8th and 9th. Puck drop for both games is 7:05. For tickets, call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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