Thursday, January 14, 2010

OHL Announces Rosters for the 2010 OHL All-Star Classic

Press Release

Kingston, ON – The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Kingston Frontenacs Hockey Club held a media conference today to announce the rosters for the 2010 OHL All-Star Classic featuring 40 of the top players in the OHL representing all 20 member clubs.

The Eastern Conference All-Stars will host the Western Conference All-Stars in the two-day event beginning with the skills competition on Tuesday February 2, 2010, with the game taking place on Wednesday February 3, 2010. Both events are at 7:00 pm at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston, ON.

Leading the way with five players each are the top ranked Western and Eastern Conference teams the Windsor Spitfires and the Barrie Colts. The rosters also include all five OHL members of Team USA that captured gold at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships including defenceman Brian Lashoff of the host Kingston Frontenacs. All eight OHL members of Canada’s National Junior Team will also participate including top NHL entry draft prospect and Kingston native Taylor Hall who is tied for the league-lead in scoring with Tyler Seguin of the Western Conference’s Plymouth Whalers. Seguin is one of 25 players competing in their first OHL All-Star Classic. The Eastern Conference has the advantage in terms of experience with eight players returning from last season including Frontenacs’ forward Ethan Werek, compared to six players from the West. Alex Hutchings and Alex Pietrangelo of the Barrie Colts are participating in the event for the third straight year. Goaltender Tyler Beskorowany rounds out the local content as the third member of the Frontenacs club.

Both rosters were selected by a management team of two club General Managers from each conference. The Eastern Conference All-Stars management team consists of Brian Kilrea of the Ottawa 67’s and Jeff Twohey of the Peterborough Petes. Selecting the Western Conference All-Stars was Dave Torrie of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Mike Vellucci of the Plymouth Whalers. Behind the bench for the Eastern Conference will be the coaching staff from the 2009 Bobby Orr Trophy Winners the Brampton Battalion including Head Coach Stan Butler. Head Coach Bob Boughner of the Windsor Spitfires and his staff represent the Western Conference as Wayne Gretzky Trophy winners and OHL Champions from last season.

The Eastern Conference All-Stars have won four straight games most recently at the 2009 event in Windsor by a score of 11-6. The Battalion’s Cody Hodgson and Justin DiBenedetto of the Sarnia Sting received player of the game honours. Over the years the game has featured many players that have moved on to be NHL stars including the last three players to be selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft including Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares.

Proud sponsors of the event include All Weather Windows, Boston Pizza, Jack Link’s, and Subway. The game will be broadcast live to a national television audience on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.

Tickets to the All-Star Classic are on sale now for $55 a piece for the two day event. These may be purchased by going on-line at www.k-rockcentre.com or by calling 1-877-KLIVE-99. They may also be purchased at the K-Rock Centre box office at 1 Barrack Street in Kingston.

Tickets to the “Fire & Ice” Luncheon on Wednesday February 3rd at noon, you’re only chance to meet the All-Stars up close and personal, can be purchased by calling the Frontenacs box office at 613-542-4042 x 6054.

2010 OHL All-Star Classic Rosters:

Western Conference All-Stars

Goaltenders (2)
Matt Hackett, Plymouth Whalers
Robin Lehner, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Defence (6)
Jesse Blacker, Owen Sound Attack
Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
Cam Fowler, Windsor Spitfires
John Moore, Kitchener Rangers
Jacob Muzzin, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Joe Rogalski, Sarnia Sting

Forwards (12)
Taylor Beck, Guelph Storm
Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires
Adam Henrique, Windsor Spitfires
AJ Jenks, Plymouth Whalers
Nazem Kadri, London Knights
Philip McRae, Plymouth Whalers
Jeremy Morin, Kitchener Rangers
Greg Nemisz, Windsor Spitfires
Tyler Seguin, Plymouth Whalers
Jeff Skinner, Kitchener Rangers
Jordan Skellett, Saginaw Spirit
Zack Torquato, Erie Otters

Coaching Staff – Windsor Spitfires, 2009 Western Conference Champions
Head Coach – Bob Boughner
Associate Coach – Bob Jones
Assistant Coach – D.J Smith
Athletic Therapist – Joey Garland
Equipment Manager – Tyson Tatomir

Eastern Conference All-Stars:

Goaltenders (2)
Tyler Beskorowany, Kingston Frontenacs
Chris Carrozzi, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Defence (6)
Nick Crawford, Barrie Colts
Calvin de Haan, Oshawa Generals
Cameron Gaunce, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
Shawn Lalonde, Belleville Bulls
Brian Lashoff, Kingston Frontenacs
Alex Pietrangelo, Barrie Colts

Forwards (12)
Andrew Agozzino, Niagara IceDogs
Casey Cizikas, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Alex Hutchings, Barrie Colts
Sean Jones, Brampton Battalion
Matt Kennedy, Barrie Colts
Cody Lindsay, Ottawa 67’s
Eric O’Dell, Sudbury Wolves
Devante Smith-Pelly, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
Ryan Spooner, Peterborough Petes
Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67’s
Ethan Werek, Kingston Frontenacs

Coaching Staff – Brampton Battalion, 2009 Eastern Conference Champions
Head Coach – Stan Butler
Assistant Coach – Kelly Harper
Assistant Coach – Jamie Allison
Head Athletic Trainer – Binne Brouwer
Assistant Trainer – Greg Phillips

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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