JONATHAN AUDY-MARCHESSAULT

AND

MATS ZUCCARELLO 

HEADED TO AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC

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Whale Forwards will Suit up for Eastern Conference Team January 29 and 30 in Atlantic City

The American Hockey League announced today that Connecticut Whale forwards Jonathan Audy-Marchessault and Mats Zuccarello have been named to the Eastern Conference team for the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic January 29 and 30 in Atlantic City, NJ.

The Eastern and Western Conference All-Star Classic rosters were selected by committees of AHL coaches.

Audy-Marchessault ranks second on the Whale club in points and goals, and tied for second among AHL rookies in points, with 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points in 34 games.  A 21-year-old native of Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Audy-Marchessault signed an AHL contract with the Whale June 23, 2011, after a four-year career with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, in which the 5-9, 175-pounder totaled 98 goals and 141 assists for 239 points in 254 games.

Zuccarello, a native of Oslo, Norway who is in his second North American pro season, is tied for third among Whale skaters in points, with eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points, despite having played in only 18 of Connecticut’s 34 games.  The 24-year-old, 5-7, 174-pound Zuccarello has also skated in three games with the parent New York Rangers this season, going scoreless with two penalty minutes.

Signed as a free agent by the Rangers May 26, 2010, Zuccarello spent 42 games with New York last season, amassing six goals and 17 assists for 23 points.  In 36 AHL games with the Whale/Hartford Wolf Pack in 2010-11, Zuccarello contributed 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points.

The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing in an internationally televised showcase from historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.  The 2012 AHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place Sunday, January 29, starting at 3:00 PM, and the 2012 AHL All-Star Game will face off at 7:00 PM on Monday, January 30.  AHL All-Star Classic tickets, which include both the Skills Competition and the All-Star Game, are on sale now at the Boardwalk Hall box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available for the Post-Skills Party (January 29, 5:30 p.m.) and the 2012 AHL Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Ceremony (January 30, 11 a.m.) at Caesars Atlantic City.

The Whale’s next action is this Friday, January 6, a road game in Binghamton against the defending Calder Cup-champion Senators.  Faceoff is 7:05 PM, and all the CT Whale Rockin’ Hockey action can be heard live on “The Rock”, 106.9 FM, WCCC, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com.  The Whale’s next home game is this Saturday night, January 7, as they battle the Springfield Falcons at 7:00 at the XL Center.