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KONTIOLA NAMED TO AHL PLANETUSA ALL-STAR TEAM
Rockford’s leading scorer named all-star for first time
Rockford, Ill.- The American Hockey League announced Wednesday that Rockford IceHogs center Petri Kontiola was named to the 2009 PlanetUSA All-Star team.
The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications will be held Jan. 25-26 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.
This is the first time in Kontiola’s six-season professional career that he is named to an all-star team. In his second season in North America, the Seinajoki, Finland native leads the IceHogs in points with 33 and assists with 24. He also leads the AHL IceHogs in career points (101), career assists (82) and career multi-point games (29).
The #196 overall (round 7) pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut on Nov. 25, 2007 with the Chicago Blackhawks against the Vancouver Canucks. He tallied his first career NHL point on Dec. 19, 2007 against Nashville and appeared in 12 games with the Blackhawks last season. He set career highs in goals, assists and points during his first season in North America in 2007-08.
Kontiola becomes the third AHL IceHogs skater to be named an All-Star. Center Martin St. Pierre and Defenseman Cam Barker were both elected started for the 2008 event.
Kontiola becomes the third AHL IceHogs skater to be named an All-Star. Center Martin St. Pierre and Defenseman Cam Barker were both elected started for the 2008 event.
Next Home Game: Friday, Jan. 9 vs. Chicago Wolves. The rivalry resumes at 7:30 p.m. Another meeting between the IceHogs and Wolves at the MetroCentre. The game is the fourth of five on the season in Rockford eighth of 10 between the rivals. The first 2,000 fans to the game will pick up a set of 2008-09 Rockford IceHogs player cards courtesy of ComEd.
