Chirps from Center Ice

The AHL announced its AHL All-Star team today. The format is a bit different in years past. Instead of West vs. East, it’s a 20-man team comprised of All-Stars playing against Färjestad BK, one of the top professional teams in the Swedish Hockey League.

So, 20 players selected in a league with 30 teams, there were going to be some teams with no representation.

Not on Coal Street.

Brian Gibbons, currently on recall and playing on the top line with the Pittsburgh Penguins, was named to represent the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins in the game.

A high honor for Gibbons and the other 19 guys named, because of instead of 48 players selected and every team represented, you have a more exclusive group of players spotlighted and nominated to go and play against a team from overseas, something that has never been done at this level of professional hockey.

No one from Adirondack, Albany, Hartford, Hershey, Norfolk, Portland or Worcester was elected on the East’s side. Manchester and Springfield will send two each, Binghamton, Bridgeport, Providence, St. John’s and Syracuse will each have a player from their team sent.

On the West side, Abbotsford and Texas will send two each, Chicago, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, Rochester, Rockford and Toronto each send one with Charlotte, Hamilton, Iowa, Lake Erie, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Utica shutout.

Players with Wilkes-Barre connections include Ben Street for Abbotsford and Jason Jaffray for St. John’s. Jaffray will serve as Team Captain representing St. John’s.

Two other minor things to mention, the Penguins and Albany Devils announced today that the time for March 1 game vs. the Devils at Atlantic City has been changed from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. Adjust your schedules accordingly…..Also, the Pens released CJ Severyn from his PTO. I’m guessing he goes back to ECHL Orlando since that’s where we got him from.