EASTERN CONFERENCE POSTS 19-7 WIN IN 2011 AHL ALL-STAR SKILLS COMPETITION
HERSHEY, Pa. … The Eastern Conference AHL All-Stars opened the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross with a 19-7 victory over their Western Conference counterparts in the 2011 Reese’s AHL All-Star Skills Competition at the Giant Center on Sunday afternoon.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender John Curry claimed the Reebok Top Goaltender award by stopping 21 of 28 shots (.750) for the Eastern Conference. A fourth-year-pro and former AHL All-Rookie netminder, Curry entered the All-Star break tied for third in the AHL with 18 victories in 27 appearances (18-8-0, 2.46, .906) for the league-leading Penguins.
Eastern Conference defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov of the Manchester Monarchs claimed the top speed in the Reebok Fastest Skater event, completing his spin around the rink in 14.197 seconds. Voynov, a second-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Kings in 2008 and an AHL All-Star for the second time in as many seasons, hit the All-Star Classic leading all AHL defensemen in both goals (11) and points (36) through 46 contests.
Defenseman Brian Fahey from the host Hershey Bears captured the Reebok Hardest Shot competition in the final round with a blast clocked at 96.9 miles per hour, edging Worcester rookie defenseman Justin Braun’s opening-round standard of 95.6 percent. The East also took home the best mark in the Reese’s Accuracy Shooting contest when Connecticut Whale forward Jeremy Williams dented all four targets in eight attempts.
Western forward Linus Klasen provided a highlight reel moment in the Panasonic Breakaway Relay, as the Milwaukee Admirals’ top scorer (20-19-39) skated left inside the blue line, completed a 360-degree spin with the puck and then beat Manchester goaltender Martin Jones five-hole.
The Eastern Conference squad will go for the sweep when the 2011 AHL All-Stat Classic presented by Capital BlueCross continues on Monday night (7:00 p.m. ET) with the annual AHL All-Star Game. Check theahl.com for air times and channels along the AHL All-Star Classic television network.
