Team Canada Wins AHL Skills Competition

Team Canada has a 10 point surge in the last 2 events to clinch the AHL Skills Competition over Planet USA after a back and fourth affair that the Planet USA Team was up for the 1st half of the competition where it was tied at 5-5 after 4 events before the Canadians pulled away late to clinch it.

Tonight is the All Star Game for the American Hockey League which is at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland Maine to feature some of the top players in the league who have already have some NHL Experience or who are looking to boost their chances with a strong showing in Maine tonight.

AHL Skills Competition Scoresheet. http://theahl.com/2010-skills-competition-p140032

Press Release from the AHL Website: www.theahl.com

Hamilton Bulldogs goalie Cedrick Desjardins claimed the Reebok top Goaltender Award by stopping 16 of 19 shots for Team Canada. Desjardins, a 2nd year pro, entered the league's mid season showcase ranking 2nd in the AHL in goals against with a 1.81 tied for 5th for SV% .929 and leading the league in shutouts with 5 in 26 games for the North Division Leading Bulldogs.

Planet USA Defensemen Bobby Sanguinetti set an event record by completing the Reebok Fastest Skater Competition in 13.677 seconds. A first round draft pick by the NY Rangers in 2006, the 21 year old Sanguinetti hit the AHL All Star Break with 26 points (6G 20A) in 38 games for the 2nd year pro who plays for the Hartford Wolfpack.

Canadian Forward Blaie Jones of the Norfolk Admirals claimed the Reebok Hardest shot competition with a recorded 100.7 MPH, becoming the fourth AHL Player in the Event's history to go over 100 MPH. Jon Matsumoto from the Adirondack Phantoms recorded the best mark in the Ducks Unlimited Accuracy Shooting Event by hitting the 4 targets on just 5 shots.

Desjardins combined with Albany's Justin Peters and Manchester's Jonathan Bernier to help the Canadian AHL All Star Team end a 3 year losing streak in the Skills Competition.

The Canadian squad will go for the sweep with the 2010 AHL All Star Game contuines on Tuesday night (8:00 PM EST) with the annual AHL All Star Game. Check the www.theahl.com for air times and channels along with the AHL All Star Classic television network.

Here's a list of the networks carrying the game tonight. http://theahl.com/all-star-tv-network-p139696