From: Ryan Stanzel
Direct Line: 713.361.7930
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004

WANVIG SELECTED TO AHL ALL-STAR GAME

Aeros winger to play for Canada at February 9 game in Grand Rapids

Houston, TX – Houston Aeros winger Kyle Wanvig will participate for the Canadian AHL All-Star Team in the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic, to be held Monday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. (et) at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. The third-year right wing, who leads the Aeros with a career-best 15 goals, including six game-winners, and 23 points in 37 games, will appear in his first pro All-Star Game. Wanvig will be joined at the festivities, which begin Sunday, Feb. 8, with the Skills Competition, by Aeros head coach Todd McLellan, who will lead the Canadian AHL All-Star Team against PlanetUSA by virtue of the Aeros’ Calder Cup title in June.

Wanvig, who will turn 23 January 29, has nine goals and two assists in his last 11 games, and he had a career-best five-game goal streak in late December. He ranks second in the AHL with six game-winning goals, including four straight for the Aeros December 16-26. The Calgary, Alberta, native is just one game-winning goal away from the team record of seven, set by Jeff Christian in 1998-99. The Aeros are 8-1-2-0 this season when Wanvig scores a goal and 9-3-3-1 when he notches a point.

McLellan recently picked up his 100th coaching victory with the Aeros, just the second coach in team history to accomplish that feat. McLellan is 100-64-24-10 in 2 ½ seasons with the Aeros, and he sports a 143-96-31-10 overall pro record, counting one season with IHL Cleveland. Prior to joining the professional ranks, McLellan served as head coach of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos for six seasons, and he claimed the league’s Coach of the Year award in 1997 and the Executive of the Year Award in 2000. The Melville, Saskatchewan native played his junior hockey with Saskatoon (WHL), and was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1986. He spent two seasons in the AHL with Springfield, and played five games for the Islanders in 1987-88, recording one goal and one assist.

Last season, left wing Jean-Guy Trudel, defenseman Curtis Murphy and goaltender Derek Gustafson all participated in the AHL All-Star Game. Murphy will also compete at this season’s All-Star Game as a member of the Milwaukee Admirals.

The complete Canadian AHL All-Star Team roster is below:

Canadian AHL All-Star Team

Forwards
Eric Beaudoin, San Antonio
x-Benoit Gratton, Hamilton
Steve Kelly, Manchester
Kirby Law, Philadelphia
x-Eric Perrin, Hershey
x-Jason Pominville, Rochester
Brandon Reid, Manitoba
Nathan Robinson, Grand Rapids
Derek Roy, Rochester
Scottie Upshall, Milwaukee
Kyle Wanvig, Houston
Kyle Wellwood, St. John's
Chad Wiseman, Hartford

Defensemen
Carlo Colaiacovo, St. John's
x-Dan Jancevski, Utah
Aaron Johnson, Syracuse
Doug Lynch, Toronto
x-Bryan Muir, Manchester
Curtis Murphy, Milwaukee
Brandon Smith, Bridgeport
Terry Virtue, Worcester ("C")

Goaltenders
x-Wade Dubielewicz, Bridgeport
Ray Emery, Binghamton
David LeNeveu, Springfield

x-starters