SPRINGFIELD, MA – The American Hockey League and Houston Aeros announced today Aeros goaltender Derek Gustafson has been named to the AHL’s PlanetUSA All-Star Team. He will be joined by Aeros head coach Todd McLellan who is head coach of the PlanetUSA team. Gustafson will face three of his teammates who are playing for the Canadian All-Star Team: left wing Jean-Guy Trudel, defenseman Travis Roche and defenseman Curtis Murphy.



Gustafson, 23, leads the Aeros with a record of 16 wins, six losses and two ties. His 2.38 goals-against-average ranks ninth in the AHL. His 16 wins are tied for second. Gustafson has posted a record of 8-1-2 in his last 11 outings and allowed two goals or less in seven of those 11 games. He registered his first shutout of the season on January 24 at Hartford, turning away 19 shots as the Aeros won 6-0.



This will be the Gresham, Oregon-native’s first All-Star Game. Last season, he played in 38 games with Houston and had a record of 14-13-6 with a 2.74 GAA and four shutouts. He was a rookie in 2000-01 and started the season with Jackson (ECHL). He spent the majority of the year with Cleveland (IHL), but made his NHL debut with Minnesota late in the season. Gustafson appeared in four games with the Wild, registering one win and three losses and a 2.51 GAA.



With the addition of Gustafson, the Western Conference-leading Houston Aeros are sending four players to the AHL All-Star Game. The Aeros are tied with the Portland Pirates for the most players participating. Houston will have a total of five representatives at the All-Star Game, the four players and head coach Todd McLellan. Five participants is the most the Aeros have had since 1999. In 1999, Dave Tippett (then head coach) and five players participated in the International Hockey League All-Star Game.



The 2003 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic gets underway on Sunday, February 2, with the 2003 Pepsi AHL All-Star Skills Competition at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine. The annual All-Star Game follows at 7:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 3, and will be televised live in the United States and Canada.