2012 CHL All-Star Team Starters Announced
Squad highlighted by Five First-Time CHL All-Stars
GLENDALE, AZ (December 28, 2011) – The Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced the six players voted to start for the CHL team in the 2012 CHL All-Star Game scheduled for Wednesday, January 11, 2012 in Prescott Valley, Arizona at Tim’s Toyota Center. For the fourth straight season, the game will have a format that will feature the home team (Arizona Sundogs) taking on a team of CHL All-Stars.
The starters were selected via voting done by CHL head coaches, CHL Communication’s Departments and select media members from CHL cities. In all, 53 ballots were cast during the voting process.
The top vote getter in the balloting process was Wichita defenseman
Andrew Martens who appeared on 35 ballots, earning one of the two starting defensemen spots. He will be joined on the blue line by Tulsa rookie
Jeff Terminesi. The starting forwards are Rapid City’s
Jesse Schultz (the top vote-getting forward appearing on 31 ballots), Allen’s
Bruce Graham and Quad City’s
Brandon Marino. The starting goaltender is Fort Wayne’s
Nick Boucher.
2012 CHL All-Star Team Starters
Position- Player (Team, Appearance)
Forward-Jesse Schultz (Rapid City, 1st)
Forward- Bruce Graham (Allen, 3rd)
Forward- Brandon Marino (Quad City, 1st)
Defenseman- Jeff Terminesi (Tulsa, 1st)
Defenseman- Andrew Martens (Wichita, 1st)
Goaltender- Nick Boucher (Fort Wayne, 1st)
Jesse Schultz (F), Rapid City Rush
The second-year Rush forward leads the league in points with 43 and is tied for fourth with 14 goals. When the 29-year-old has it going, the Rush win games as he is averaging more than two points a game in his team’s 14 wins (10 goals, 19 assists).
Bruce Graham (F), Allen Americans
Graham is the only voted-in starter who has played in a CHL All-Star Game before registering an assist in the 2010 game in Laredo. He was selected as a reserve last season but had to skip the game. This season, the 26-year-old is third in the league in scoring with 36 points (14-22=36) and tied for second in the league with six power play goals.
Brandon Marino (F), Quad City Mallards
The 25-year-old Marino is having a breakout season for the Mallards tied for the league lead with 16 goals and sitting tied for fourth with 35 points. The Riverside, California native has already set a career-high with his 16 goals and is just nine points shy of his high point mark.
Andrew Martens (D), Wichita Thunder
The reigning CHL Defenseman of the Year is back at the top leading all defensemen in scoring with 23 points (8-15=23) and sitting first among all skaters with an incredible +20 plus/minus rating. Martens has a huge November with 13 points (5-8=13) in 11 games and a +10 rating.
Jeff Terminesi (D), Tulsa Oilers
The rookie is second among all defensemen in scoring with 22 points (5-17=22) and is leading all blue liners with 11 power play assists. The 24-year-old defenseman also had a huge month of November with 15 points (4-11=15) in 12 games.
Nick Boucher (G), Fort Wayne Komets
The veteran goalie has been on his game all season leading the league with 15 wins, a 2.30 goals against average, a .921 save percentage and three shutouts. Boucher is 13-2-1 since early November allowing just 21 total goals in those 13 victories.
About the CHL
The CHL is currently playing its 20th season with 14 member teams across nine states. The CHL saw close to 2.5 million fans attend games during the 2010-11 season and has regularly led all ‘AA’ hockey leagues in average attendance over the past decade. Last season saw the league celebrate a record 97 sellouts during the regular season and playoffs. For more information about the CHL visit the league’s website at www.centralhockeyleague.com.
