The American Hockey League today announced that Providence Bruins defenseman Jonathan Girard and Lowell Lock Monsters goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier have been added to the team rosters for the 2002 Assante & Baker Hughes AHL All-Star Classic at Mile One Stadium in St. John's, Nfld.
Jonathan Girard |
Jean-Marc Pelletier |
Girard will replace Utah defenseman Greg Hawgood on the Canadian AHL All-Star team, while Pelletier will replace Cincinnati goaltender Ilja Bryzgalov on the PlanetUSA squad. Bryzgalov is being considered by Russia for a spot on their 2002 Olympic roster.
Girard, 21, has already skated in 77 career NHL matches with the Boston Bruins, including 20 this season. The native of Joliette, Que., has recorded five goals and 17 assists in 27 AHL games with Providence in 2001-02. Girard, the Bruins' second-round choice in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, will be making his first AHL All-Star appearance.
Pelletier, 23, was the MVP of the 1999 AHL All-Star Game, when he stopped 17 of 18 shots in one period of work at the First Union Center in Philadelphia. Originally drafted by the Flyers in the second round of the 1997 NHL draft, Pelletier was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 23, 2000, in a five-player swap that included Keith Primeau. A native of Atlanta, Pelletier will be making his third AHL All-Star appearance.
Of the 232 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, nearly 92% have competed in the NHL, including Brian Boucher, Valeri Bure, Anson Carter, Pavol Demitra, Mike Dunham, Patrik Elias, Miikka Kiprusoff, Martin Lapointe, John Madden, and Steve Sullivan. Coaches who have worked behind the bench at an AHL All-Star Classic include Bill Barber, Bob Hartley, Peter Laviolette, Greg Gilbert and Robbie Ftorek.
The 2002 Assante & Baker Hughes AHL All-Star Classic gets underway on Wed., Feb. 13, with the AHL Skills Competition at 7:00 p.m. EST. The All-Star Game follows at 7:00 p.m. EST on Thurs., Feb. 14. The AHL All-Star Game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 in the United States and on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada.
