AHL All Star Game: Team Canada

The rosters for the upcoming AHL All Star Game which will be taking place in Portland, Maine are starting to come out. Earlier today, the Roster for Team Canada came out today and it's got 2 Southwest based players as goalie Brent Krahn for the Texas Stars and Houston Aeros defensemen Maxim Noreau have made the team and will get to play at the AHL All Star Game which will be at the Cumberland County Civic Center which in Portland, Maine (Home of the Portland Pirates). This year, the All Star Game will take place on January 18-19.

Tomorrow, look for The Planet USA Team for it's roster and a profile of any players from the Texas Stars, Houston Aeros and the San Antonio Rampage that make the team

G: Brent Krahn (Texas Stars)
For Krahn, he's been among the best goalies in the AHL with an impressive 1.41 GAA and a .958 SV%. Also in 12 games has a 10-2-0 record with 3 shutouts this season and has helped the Stars to a strong lead in the West Division that they have held on to for nearly the entire season to this point.

He was also named the AHL Goaltender of the month for November and is being looked at by the Dallas Stars about possibly being on the team next year if Marty Turco doesn't resign after this season. Being named to the All Star Team is just making his case for a shot at making the NHL that much stronger and will be looking to impress.

D: Maxim Noreau (Houston Aeros)
For Houston Defensemen Maxim Noreau, he's been a part of the grinding defense style that the Aeros have played to have them among the league leaders in team defense by giving up just 80 goals this season.

He's been among the scoring leaders with defense men with 21 points in 33 games (9G 12A), in addition, he's also leading the team in plus-minus with a +12 and not afraid to help set up the forwards and get involved himself in the attack.

The young defense men who is in his 3rd season with the Aeros is looking for an NHL Call up as he has scoring totals for defense men as he had an impressive 25 assists last season and is looking to blow that number out of the water. After being named to the All Star Team, he will look to prove to the Minnesota Wild that he worthy of being looked at in the NHL.

The All Star Teams were picked by a combo of fan voting and coaches picks. The Planet USA team will be announced tomorrow which is a combo of players from both the USA and Europe.

Here's a look at Team Canada for the AHL All Star Game.

Goaltenders

X-Jonathan Bernier, Manchester Monarchs

Cedrick Desjardins, Hamilton Bulldogs

Brent Krahn, Texas Stars


Defensemen

X-(C) Nolan Baumgartner, Manitoba Moose

X-P.K. Subban, Hamilton Bulldogs

Tyler Eckford, Lowell Devils

Keaton Ellerby, Rochester Americans

Danny Groulx, Worcester Sharks

Mark Katic, Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Maxim Noreau, Houston Aeros

Bryan Rodney, Albany River Rats


Forwards

X-Logan Couture, Worcester Sharks

X-Alexandre Giroux, Hershey Bears

X-Dustin Jaffary, W-B/Scranton Penguins

Tyler Ennis, Portland Pirates

Andrew Gordon, Hershey Bears

Darren Haydar, Lake Erie Monsters

Jason Jaffray, Abbotsford Heat

Ryan Kelly, Binghamton Senators

Charles Linglet, Springfield Falcons

Corey Locke, Hartford Wolfpack

Jon Matsumoto, Adirondack Phantoms

Cal O'Reilly, Milwaukee Admirals

Martin St. Pierre, Binghamton Senators


X-Starters

(C)-Captain

Head Coach: Mark French, Hershey Bears

Assistant Coach: Troy Mann, Hershey Bears


Info on the All Star Game Starters

G: Jonathan Bernier (Manchester Monarchs)
The Reebok/AHL Goalie of the Month for October, 2nd year pro Jonathan Bernier is tied for the league lead with 16 wins in 26 games (16-8-2) for the Atlantic Division Leading Manchester Monarchs. A first round draft pick of the by the Los Angeles Kings back in 2006, the 21 year old native of Laval, Quebec ranks 3rd in GAA (1.88), 2nd in SV% (.944), 2nd in minutes played (1,528) and tied for 2nd with 4 shutouts.

D: Nolan Baumgartner (Manitoba Moose)
Veteran Defensemen and Team Canada All Star Captain shows one goal-an OT Game winner on October 19 against the Hamilton Bulldogs-and six assists in 24 games this season for Manitoba this season. The Calgary native began his pro career in Portland after being drafted 10th overall by the Washington Capitals. and has gone on to play 739 AHL Contests, including 306 for the Moose. Previously an AHL All Star in 2005 and 2007, Baumgartner helped Manitoba to the Calder Cup Final and has also appeared in 131 NHL Games.

D: P.K. Subban (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Twenty year old P.K. Subban ranks 3rd among AHL Defensemen with 20 points (7G 13A) in 32 games for Hamilton this season. A 2nd round draft pick of the Montreal Canadians in 2007, Subban scored a goal in 3 straight games from November 20-24 and registered a season high 3 points on December 19 against the Hartford Wolfpack. The native of Rexdale, Ontario has scored 4 of his 7 goals on the PP and is tied for the AHL Overall lead with a +17.

F: Logan Couture (Worcester Sharks)
Center Logan Couture has been one of the AHL's most dynamic newcomers this season, leading all AHL Rookies with 11 goals (tied) and 29 points in just 20 games for Worcester. Tops in the league with 6 game winning goals, the 20 year old of London, Ontario has picked up at least one point in 17 of his 20 games thus far. Drafted ninth overall in 2007, Couture also has a goal and an assist in 11 NHL Games for the San Jose Sharks this season.

F: Alexandre Giroux (Hershey Bears)
Coming off a season where he won league MVP Honors, a scoring title and a Calder Cup. Hershey's Alexandre Giroux has shown no signs of slowing down. The Quebec City Native has registered 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 23 games for the Bears this season and has also contributed a goal and 2 assists in nine NHL Games with the Washington Capitals. Giroux, whose 75 regular season games and playoff games were a league record, where he reached the 500 point plateau for his AHL Career back on December 19.

F: Dustin Jeffery (W-B/Scranton Penguins)
Dustin Jeffery leads W-B/Scranton and is tied for 2nd in the AHL with 35 points (10G 25A) in 31 games, already just two points shy of the total he put up in 63 games as a rookie in 2008-09. The 21 year old Jeffery has six 3 point games this season and went on a six game scoring streak from October 30 to November 13. The native of Sarnia, Ontario made his pro debut during the W-B/Scranton Penguins run to the 2008 AHL Calder Cup, and also shows 3 points in 14 career NHL Games with the Pittsburgh Penguins.