2013 ECHL All Star Game Special Report
By Ryan Bayer
Official 2013 ECHL All Star Game Logo. Mandatory credit: Colorado Eagles media department.
Today is Loveland, CO the Colorado Eagles host the 2013 ECHL All Star Game. The Colorado Eagles have been members of the East Coast Hockey League for the past 2 seasons in the Mountain Division. Prior to their transfer into the ECHL, the Eagles were members of the Central Hockey League. While in the CHL, they’ve won the Roy Miron President’s Cup twice (2005, 2007).
The Eagles are affiliated with the St. John Ice Caps of the American Hockey League and the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL.
This is not first time that the Colorado Eagles have hosted and All Star Game. In fact the last time that the Eagles have played hosts for these festivities was back during their days with the CHL. The Eagles squared off against the best of the CHL on January 14, 2009 in which they defeated the CHL All Stars 8-4.
Tonight’s game will be broadcasted on the Altitude Network with a puck drop time of 7:05p MST at the Budweiser Events Center. The Altitude Network is the broadcasting partner of the Colorado Avalanche.
It will be rebroadcast on Time Warner Cable Sportsnet in Ohio (Jan. 23 at 11 p.m. ET), New England Sports Network (Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. ET) and NHL Network U.S. (Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. ET). Altitude will rebroadcast the game on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 4 a.m. ET and at 3 p.m. ET and on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m. ET.
2013 ECHL All Stars Roster:
Forwards:
8. C.J. STRETCH (starter)
• Team: Ontario Reign
• Measurables: 5-foot-11, 195 pounds
• Key stats: 41 GP, 21 G, 45 Pts
• Info: Played five seasons in the major juniors with the Kamploomps Blazers of the WHL…Is in his second full season with the Reign…Played 23 games during the 2011-12 season with the Houston Aeros of the AHL, recording six assists.
12. CHRIS FRANCIS
• Team: Las Vegas Wranglers
• Measurables: 5-foot-9, 189 pounds
• Key stats: 35 GP, 15 G, 26 Pts
• Info: Was born in Las Vegas…Played his major junior hockey with the Portland Winter Hawks…Playing in his third season with the Wranglers.
14. MITCH WAHL
• Team: Utah Grizzlies
• Measurables: 6-foot, 205 pounds
• Key stats: 31 GP, 29 A, 40 Pts
• Info: Wahl was selected 48th overall in the 2008 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames…Has played parts of five seasons in the AHL…He recorded 40 points in 38 games with the Grizzlies last season and has 40 in 31 games this season.
15. WILLIE COETZEE
• Team: Toledo Walleye
• Measurables: 5-foot-10, 188 pounds
• Key stats: 39 GP, 16 G, 35 Pts
• Info: Was born in Johannesburg, South Africa…Moved to Canada to play major junior hockey with the Red Deer Rebels and Cowichan Valley Capitals…Has played 88 career AHL games, recording 11 goals, all in 2011-12 with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
16. C.J. SEVERYN
• Team: Orlando Solar Bears
• Measurables: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
• Key stats: 38 GP, 11 G, 20 Pts
• Info: Was drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames…Played four seasons at Ohio State University…This season is the first time, including college, that Severyn has scored double-digit goals.
17. AUSTIN FYTEN
• Team: Idaho Steelheads
• Measurables: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
• Key Stats: 39 GP, 34 Pts, +18
• Info: Rookie played four seasons in the major juniors with the Lethbridge Hurricanes…From Sundre, Alberta…21-years-old.
18. CASEY PIERRO-ZABOTEL (starter)
• Team: Gwinnett Gladiators
• Measurables: 6-foot-2, 202 pounds
• Key stats: 43 GP, 32 A, 43 Pts
• Info: Was drafted 80th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2007 NHL Draft…Never played for the Penguins and is no longer in the organization after his entry-level contract expired after last season…Set a franchise record with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL in the 2008-09 season with 79 assists and 115 points.
21. DUSTIN GAZLEY (starter)
• Team: Elmira Jackals
• Measurables: 5-foot-8, 170 pounds
• Key stats: 35 GP, 33 A, 44 Pts
• Info: Played four seasons at Michigan State University…Was an academic All-Big Ten selection his senior season…Has played two games with Greenville, the rest of his pro career has been played with the Jackals.
23. FRANCIS VERREAULT
• Team: Bakersfield Condors
• Measurables: 5-foot-10, 188 pounds
• Key Stats: 40 GP, 11 G, 31 Pts
• Info: Played 32 games this season with the Greenville Road Warriors before going to Bakersfield…Scored seven goals for Greenville, already has four in eight games with Bakersfield.
34. NATHAN MOON
• Team: Evansville Icemen
• Measurables: 5-foot-11, 197 pounds
• Key stats: 33 GP, 12 G, 27 Pts
• Info: Was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins…Played 72 games in the AHL in 2011-12, recording 32 points.
45. DEAN OUELLET
• Team: San Francisco Bulls
• Measurables: 6-foot, 180 pounds
• Key stats: 39 GP, 18 G, 33 Pts
• Info: Is a rookie with San Francisco after playing four seasons at the University of Moncton, located in New Brunswick, Canada…Also played four major junior seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
47. JUSTIN MAYLAN
• Team: Stockton Thunder
• Measurables: 6-foot-1, 170 pounds
• Key stats: 40 GP, 15 G, 34 Pts
• Info: Played with the Prince George Cougars, Prince Albert Raiders and Moose Jaw Warriors, all of the WHL, during his major junior career…Recorded 89 points during the 2011-12 season with the Raiders.
Defensemans:
6. TAYLOR ELLINGTON
• Team: Cincinnati Cyclones
• Measurables: 6-foot-2, 207 pounds
• Key stats: 36 GP, 4 G, 22 Pts
• Info: Was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the 2007 NHL Draft…Canucks traded his rights to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012…Played 26 games this season with the Florida Everblades.
7. ANDREW HOTHAM
• Team: Wheeling Nailers
• Measurables: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds
• Key stats: 17 GP, 14 A, 18 Pts
• Info: Has split time this season between three teams, the Cincinnati Cyclones and Nailers of the ECHL as well as a handful of games in the AHL with the Oklahoma City Barons.
9. DANIEL MAGGIO
• Team: Fort Wayne Komets
• Measurables: 6-foot-3, 202 pounds
• Key stats: 39 GP, 16 Pts, 134 PIMs
• Info: Is in his first full season as a professional after playing five seasons in the OHL in the major juniors…Was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers.
19. CHRIS HUXLEY (starter)
• Team: Ontario Reign
• Measurables: 5-foot-11, 202 pounds
• Key stats: 40 GP, 20 A, 24 Pts
• Info: Attended and played collegiate hockey at Harvard University…In his second year as a pro, both with the Reign…Recorded 35 points last season and already has 24 this season.
22. MIKE MARCOU (starter)
• Team: Greenville Road Warriors
• Measurables: 5-foot-11, 180 pounds
• Key stats: 41 GP, 17 Pts, +16
• Info: In his first season as a professional after playing four seasons at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he played with his older brother…Has played two games this season with the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL.
49. WILLIAM WRENN
• Team: Alaska Aces
• Measurables: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds
• Key stats: 40 GP, 5 G, 18 Pts
• Info: The Anchorage native played parts of two seasons and the University of Denver before withdrawing during his sophomore season to go play with the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. Selected by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the 2009 NHL Draft.
The Goaltenders:
29. MIKE LEE
• Team: Gwinnett Gladiators
• Measurables: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
• Key stats: 12-11-1, .918 save percentage, 2.13 goals against average
• Info: The 22-year-old was taken in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes…Won a gold medal as part of team USA at the 2010 World Junior Championships…Played three seasons at St. Cloud State.
30. PHILIPP GRUBAUER (starter)
• Team: Reading Royals
• Measurables: 6-foot-1, 189 pounds
• Key stats: 19-5-1, .912 save percentage, 2.30 goals against average
• Info: Was born in Rosenheim, Germany…Taken in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals…The 21-year-old appeared briefly with the Hershey Bears of the AHL this season, but has spent most of his time with Reading…Played three seasons in the major juniors after moving from Germany.
31. RYAN ZAPOLSKI
• Team: South Carolina Stingrays
• Measurables: 6-foot, 185 pounds
• Key stats: 13-8, .929 save percentage, 1.91 goals against average
• Info: Began this season with the Gwinnett Gladiators…Has played for five different ECHL teams in only three seasons…Played collegiate at Mercyhurst College…Had five assists in one season while playing major junior hockey.
Coaching Staff:
ROB MURRAY
• Team: Alaska Aces
• Info: Murray was awarded the head coach position for the All-Star game by virtue of the Aces having the league’s best winning percentage as of Dec. 30. He is in his second season as the leader of Alaska. Last year he was co-recipient of the John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year. Murray had a 16-year playing career that included 107 games in the NHL.
LARRY COURVILLE
• Team: Reading Royals
• Info: Courville was named the assistant coach for the game because of Reading has the top winning percentage in the Eastern Conference as of Dec. 30. He is in his fourth season as the Royals boss. Before being named to that position he was the general manager, facility director and hockey operations supervisor for an ice rink in Pennsylvania.
• Equipment trainer: Mike Burkhead (Alaska)
• Athletic trainer: Brad Fredrick (Toledo)
****Official Roster courtesy of Kevin Lytle.****
Link to roster: http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20130121/SPORTS03/301210040/2013-ECHL-All-Star-roster
2013 Colorado Eagles All Star Roster:
Link to 2012-2013 Colorado Eagles Roster: http://www.coloradoeagles.com/rosternew.php
Follow me on Twitter @81Bayer