Team Canada Completes AHL All Star Sweep with 10-9 win in SO

Team Canada looked to sweep the 2010 AHL All Star Festivities as the Team Canada just like in the Skills Competition last night. The Canadians used a comeback where they scored 4 goals in the 3rd period including an extra attacker goal with 18 seconds left to get the game to OT, then won in the SO 10-9 over the Planet USA Team which is a team made up of the top USA and European Players throughout the AHL.

From the American Hockey League website: www.theahl.com

Team Canada 10 Team Planet USA 9 (SO) (2-5, 3-2, 4-2, 0-0, 1-0)
http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1007217

After an 18-12 win in Monday night's Skills competition, the Canadian All Stars completed a sweep of the 2010 Time Warner All Star Classic tonight with a come from behind 10-9 win over Team Planet USA in the 2010 AHL All Star Game at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine.

Rookie Tyler Ennis of the hometown Portland Pirates was selected the games MVP, notching a goal and 2 assists and was just a big time play maker all over the ice.

The Canadians were down by 4 goals when the Worcester Sharks Logan Couture began the comeback at 7:48 of the 3rd period. Then Binghamton Senators forward Ryan Kelley collected his 2nd goal of the night at 12:30 of the 3rd period and Dustin Jeffery of the W-B/Scranton Penguins cut the deficit to 9-8 at 14:41 mark of the 3rd period.

Then, with their goalie pulled for an extra attacker in the final minute, the Canadian Squad evened the score at 9-9 when last year's MVP Alexandre Giroux of the Hershey Bears banged home a shot with just 18 seconds left in the 3rd period to force OT.

Couture and Hamilton Bulldogs rookie goalie P.K. Subban scored in the shootout while Hamilton's Cedrick Desjardins stopped 4 of the 5 Planet USA Shots to clinch the victory for Team Canada. est. the 3rd largest comeback in AHL All Star Game History. Planet USA's offense was led by Brett Sterling of the Chicago Wolves, Mikko Lehtonen, of the Providence Bruins and Sergei Shirokov of the Manitoba Moose with 2 goals apiece.

Corey Locke of the Hershey Bears set an All Star Record with his 9th career AHL point in the AHL All Star Game with an assist on Nolan Baumgartner's goal that made it a 5-4 game in favor of the Planet USA team.

As for the 3 Texas Teams, Ivan Vishnevskiy had 2 assists in the game for the Planet USA. As for the goalies, Houston Goalie Anton Khudobin had 20 SVS on 23 Shots in the game as the Game ended in a very tight and exciting SO. These players lead the way from the Southwest at the recent All Star Game.

After an off day on Thursday, the AHL returns to action on Friday with a full schedules on Friday and Saturday, then 7 games coming up on Sunday, mostly in the afternoon.

This Weekends AHL Schedule (All Start Times are CST)

1/22

Bridgeport Sound Tigers VS. Albany River Rats 6:00 PM

Toronto Marlies VS. Grand Rapids Griffins 6:00 PM

Manchester Monarchs VS. Hartford Wolfpack 6:00 PM

Manitoba Moose VS. Hershey Bears 6:00 PM

Adirondack Phantoms VS. Binghamton Senators 6:05 PM

Lowell Devils VS. Providence Bruins 6:05 PM

Hamilton Bulldogs VS. Rochester Americans 6:05 PM

Texas Stars VS. Lake Erie Monsters 6:30 PM

Norfolk Admirals VS. Springfield Falcons 6:30 PM

W-B/Scranton Penguins VS. Syracuse Crunch 6:30 PM

Chicago Wolves VS. Milwaukee Admirals 7:00 PM

Rockford Icehogs VS. Peoria Rivermen 7:00 PM

Houston Aeros VS. Abbotsford Heat 9:30 PM


1/23

Texas Stars VS. Lake Erie Monsters 12:00 PM

Houston Aeros VS. Abbotsford Heat 6:00 PM

Albany River Rats VS. Adirondack Phantoms 6:00 PM

Manitoba Moose VS. Hershey Bears 6:00 PM

Norfolk Admirals VS. Manchester Monarchs 6:00 PM

Lowell Devils VS. Portland Pirates 6:00 PM

Hamilton Bulldogs VS. Toronto Marlies 6:00 PM

Bridgeport Sound Tigers VS. Binghamton Senators 6:05 PM

W-B/Scranton Penguins VS. Rochester Americans 6:05 PM

Hartford Wolfpack VS. Springfield Falcons 6:30 PM

Worcester Sharks VS. Syracuse Crunch 6:30 PM

Milwaukee Admirals VS. San Antonio Rampage 7:00 PM

Grand Rapids Griffins VS. Rockford Icehogs 7:05 PM

Chicago Wolves VS. Peoria Rivermen 7:30 PM


1/24

Hartford Wolfpack VS. Manchester Monarchs 2:00 PM

Grand Rapids Griffins VS. Chicago Wolves 3:00 PM

Norfolk Admirals VS. Lowell Devils 3:00 PM

Milwaukee Admirals VS. San Antonio Rampage 3:00 PM

Syracuse Crunch VS. Toronto Marlies 3:00 PM

Springfield Falcons VS. Providence Bruins 3:05 PM

Adirondack Phantoms VS. Rochester Americans 4:00 PM

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

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.