THE list is out and commencing today fans of the National Hockey League can cast their votes to see who they would like to see play in the 2011 all-star game Jan. 30 in Raleigh, N.C.
Of the 100 NHL players on this year’s ballot five have Northwestern Ontario connotations.
Thunder Bay’s Eric Staal and Kenora’s Mike Richards are among the forwards named however Patrick Sharp, who ranks among the top 20 scorers in the league, was not one of six Chicago Blackhawks selected.
You can however cast a vote for Sharp, or any other player, via a write-in ballot at nhl.com/vote.
On defence perennial all-star Chris Pronger is among those blueliners chosen for the ballot honour as was Marc Staal and Duncan Keith.
EARNING HIS STRIPES: The World Jr. A Challenge that wrapped up Sunday in Penticton, B.C. had some additional local flavour to the international affair.
Thunder Bay native Jonathon Stephenson was one of the officials assigned to work the WJAC as he worked multiple games throughout the course of the week-long event.
Now based in Edmonton and working as a referee in the Western Hockey League, he also officiates in the Alberta Jr. Hockey League as well as does another Thunder Bay native in Kyle Klages who headed west a few years ago for job commitments.
SAINTLY SELECTION: Scoring the first-ever goal in team history has earned Jana Henry recognition from the College of St. Scholastica.
The Lakehead product was named the Saints athletic department female athlete of the week for the period ending Nov. 7.
Not only did she score the school’s inaugural women’s hockey program marker, which turned out to be the game-winner in a 3-0 victory over Augsburg, the freshman forward tallied again vs. Concordia-Moorhead in the team’s second contest as well.
FIRST AND GOAL: A couple of area players competing in the NCAA hockey ranks scored memorable goals for their respective teams this past Friday.
Fort Frances native Joe Basaraba notched his initial collegiate goal, which turned out to be the game-winner for the freshman in a home-ice triumph for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs over Michigan Tech.
Meanwhile on the same night on the other corner of Lake Superior Screiber’s Nick McParland notched his first marker of the season that too turned out to be the decider in a 1-0 shutout for Lake Superior State over Ferris St. in CCHA action.
BACK AND FORTH: Not too many players are traded twice in the same day, but that’s what happened to Thunder Bay’s Justin Minoletti last week.
The 20-year-old defenceman with the Portage Terriers in Manitoba saw his Hockey Canada playing rights dealt to the LaRonge Ice Wolves in Saskatchewan, who in turn immediately shipped him back to the MJHL and the Winnipeg Blues in what turned out to be a pre-arranged three-way deal that involved a total of four players and future considerations.