HEY NOW YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR… 

Congratulations to rookie Matt Schepke of the ECHL Charlotte Checkers on his being named to the 2010 ECHL All-Star game coming up on January 19-20th in the city of Ontario.

Here’s the official release:

ROOKIE SCHEPKE NAMED TO 2010 ECHL ALL-STAR GAME 

Forward Is Sixth Current Checker To Appear In Yearly Showcase

The ECHL announced today that Charlotte Checkers rookie forward Matt Schepke has been named to the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game.

Schepke, 24, leads all Checkers rookies with 17 points (10g, 7a) and ranks third on the team with a +10 rating. On Nov. 20, the native of Warren, Mich. recorded a hat-trick, including the game-winner in a 7-4 victory over Johnstown.

Prior to turning pro, Schepke spent three seasons with Michigan State University where he compiled 28 goals and 26 assists in 98 games. He joined the Checkers upon graduation and tallied six goals and three assists in 12 games.

The 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario will be hosted by the Ontario Reign at Citizens Business Bank Arena and played on Jan. 20, 2010 while the 2010 ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will be held on Jan. 19, 2010.

There are 11 rookies on the American Conference and 19 of the 21 players are making their first appearance in an ECHL All-Star Game.

There have been 58 players from the All-Star Game who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 33 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The starting lineups are determined in voting by American Conference coaches, team captains, media directors, broadcasters and media members. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference to determine the final roster with each of the 12 teams having a representative.

The third class will be inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame on Jan. 20, 2010 during a luncheon ceremony at the Hilton Ontario Airport, the official host hotel of the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario. The featured speaker at the ECHL Hall of Fame luncheon will be Hockey Hall of Fame member and Los Angeles Kings President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille.

Tickets for the luncheon are $40 each or a table with seven tickets can be purchased for $250. The Ontario Reign is offering a special ticket package that includes a tickets to the ECHL Hall of Fame luncheon, the All-Star Skills Competition, the Fan Fest at Dave & Busters and the ECHL All-Star Game for only $75. To purchase tickets visit OntarioReign.com/team/allstar/ or telephone the Ontario Reign at (909) 941-7825.

The Checkers (16-10-4-0) will host the Gwinnett Gladiators this Sunday at Time Warner Cable Arena. Game time is 2 p.m. and ticket information can be obtained by calling 704-342-4-ICE or visiting www.gocheckers.com.

(Photo courtesy of gocheckers.com)