ST. PIERRE TIES AHL ALL-STAR GAME RECORD

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. ... Manchester Monarchs rookie Teddy Purcell scored three times in regulation and netted the decisive shootout goal to give the Canadian AHL All-Stars a 9-8 come-from-behind win over the PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars at the 2008 AHL All-Star Game tonight in Binghamton, N.Y.

The game was witnessed by a capacity crowd at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena as well as national television audiences in Canada on Rogers Sportsnet and in the United States on a series of regional networks. The broadcast was also heard on XM Satellite Radio.

Purcell, the AHL's third-leading scorer with 54 points in 41 games, notched just the fourth hat trick in event history to earn Reebok All-Star Game MVP honors and lead the Canadians to a split of the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Reebok. PlanetUSA took a 15-9 decision in Sunday evening's 2008 CCM AHL All-Star Skills Competition.

Martin St. Pierre of the Rockford IceHogs recorded a goal and two assists for the Canadians, tying an AHL record with eight career All-Star Game points. Corey Locke of the Hamilton Bulldogs also had a goal and two assists, and the Manitoba Moose's Drew MacIntyre stopped 15 of 16 shots in the third period and four of five attempts in the shootout as the Canadians rallied from an 8-6 deficit to earn their seventh win in the last nine years.

Rookie T.J. Hensick of the Lake Erie Monsters led PlanetUSA with a four-point night (two goals, two assists). Toby Petersen of the Iowa Stars had three points for PlanetUSA, including a goal on the first penalty shot attempt in event history. Joey Tenute of the San Antonio Rampage answered Petersen's marker eight seconds later for the fastest two goals in All-Star Game history.

The road to the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs continues when the American Hockey League's 72nd season resumes on Thursday.