Six Players From 2002 ECHL All-Star Game Play In NHL

January 10, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - The 2002 ECHL All-Star Game was the first that asked ECHL coaches were asked to name players who they felt to be prospects to move up to the American Hockey League and the National Hockey League.

The game produced six players who went on to play in the NHL and countless others who played in the AHL.

Michael Ryder, who was one of the top rookies in the NHL in 2003-04 and who has played more than 200 games in the NHL, was selected to play in the All-Star Game after scoring 15 points (7g-8a) in 10 games with Mississippi. He was unable to play in the game after being called up to the AHL, but returned and finished the season with 27 points (14g-13a) in 20 games for Mississippi.

Voted to be the starting goaltender for the Northern Conference, Curtis Sanford made his NHL debut with St. Louis on Oct. 17, 2002 and has played each of the past two years with the Blues. Selected to the All-Star Game and named to the All-Rookie Team, Vern Fiddler made his NHL debut with Nashville on Nov. 2, 2002 and has played over 100 games with the Predators the last three seasons.

Named to the ECHL All-Star Game as a rookie, Pat Leahy has made his NHL debut on Dec. 6, 2003 and has played each of the last three seasons in the NHL with Boston and Nashville. Selected as replacement starter for the Northern Conference, Kevin Colley made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders on Oct. 27, 2006 and had 52 penalty minutes in 16 games before suffering a career-ending injury on Jan. 31, 2006.

Selected to the All-Star Game as a rookie, David Gove made his NHL debut on Jan. 31, 2006 with Carolina and has played in the NHL each of the last two seasons with the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes.

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• MacDonald Added to All-Star Game Roster - Fresno Falcons
• Gajic, MacDonald, Schwartz Added To National Roster - ECHL
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