Teams in Place for AHL's Annual Classic



SPRINGFIELD, MA ... The American Hockey League announced today the Canadian AHL All-Star team roster for the 2003 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine.



The team, comprising players born in Canada, includes 21 skaters and three goaltenders. AHL fans determined the starting lineup via on-line balloting at theahl.com, while a committee of AHL coaches selected the remainder of the roster.



Eighteen members of the Canadian team have earned their first career AHL All-Star selections, including rookies Jason Spezza and Ray Emery of Binghamton, Jared Aulin of Manchester and Charlie Stephens of Hershey. All told, 35 of the 48 players chosen to head to Portland will be making their AHL All-Star debuts.



The league-leading Hamilton Bulldogs boast three starters on the Canadian AHL All-Star team: forwards Benoit Gratton and Jason Ward and goaltender Mathieu Garon. Hamilton will have a league-high five representatives at the event, as defenseman Mike Komisarek and goaltender Ty Conklin were named to the PlanetUSA team on Thursday.



Manitoba Moose defenseman Brian Chapman was last month named captain of the Canadian AHL All-Star team. Portland Pirates forwards Peter and Chris Ferraro were given the same honor for PlanetUSA.



By virtue of leading the Chicago Wolves to the Calder Cup championship in 2002, John Anderson will serve as the head coach for the Canadian AHL All-Star team.



Of the 262 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 92 percent have competed in the NHL, including Tyler Arnason, Eric Boguniecki, Valeri Bure, Anson Carter, Pavol Demitra, J.P. Dumont, Mike Dunham, Patrik Elias, Martin Lapointe, John Madden, Mattias Norstrom, Steve Sullivan and Jason Williams. Coaches who have worked behind the bench at an AHL All-Star Classic include Peter Laviolette, Robbie Ftorek, Barry Trotz, John Tortorella and Bruce Cassidy.



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. The annual All-Star Game follows at 7:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 3, and will be televised live on Rogers Sportsnet throughout Canada and on AHL regional television partners across the United States.