Former X-Man Roberts to play in ECHL All-Star Game

Roberts, Paris Selected to All-Star Game
Courtesy Gwinnett Gladiators Communications

The Gwinnett Gladiators announced today that rookie defensemen Drew Paris and Sam Roberts have been named 2009-10 ECHL All-Stars and will represent the Gladiators at the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario and hosted by the Ontario Reign at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California on January 20th.

Roberts, a 25-year-old rookie out of St. Francis Xavier University, has 20 points on seven goals and 13 assists this season, including a three-point night at home against Charlotte on November 28th, in which he had a goal and two assists. Roberts’ 20 points leads all Gwinnett defensemen.

Drew Paris, the second youngest skater for the Gladiators, is a 21-year-old rookie who played five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before making his pro debut with the Rochester Americans last season following his final season with Chicoutimi of the QMJHL. Paris played 11 pro games, including two playoff games with Gwinnett last season, recording two assists and four penalty minutes. This seaon, Paris is the second leading scorer among Gwinnett defensemen and is tied for fourth overall with 18 points on seven goals and 11 assists. He also leads the Gladiators with five power play goals.

The 21-man roster for the National Conference was announced yesterday at 4:00 p.m. ET, and the 21-man roster for the American Conference was announced today, also at 4:00 p.m.

The annual midseason showcase is attended by representatives from the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League and it has produced more than 50 players who have gone on to play in the NHL including 33 since 2002 when the format was changed to feature younger prospects.

The All-Star festivities will also include the official induction ceremony for the third class of the ECHL Hall of Fame. The class, which includes former Gladiators captain and player/coach, Cam Brown, will be inducted on Jan. 20, 2010 during a luncheon ceremony at the Hilton Ontario Airport, the official host hotel of the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game. The featured speaker at the ECHL Hall of Fame luncheon will be Hockey Hall of Fame member and Los Angeles Kings President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille.

The 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario will be hosted by the Ontario Reign at Citizens Business Bank Arena and played on Jan. 20, 2010 while the 2010 ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will be held on Jan. 19, 2010.

There are 11 rookies on the American Conference and 19 of the 21 players are making their first appearance in an ECHL All-Star Game.

There have been 58 players from the All-Star Game who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 33 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The starting lineups are determined in voting by American Conference coaches, team captains, media directors, broadcasters and media members. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference to determine the final roster with each of the 12 teams having a representative.

The third class will be inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame on Jan. 20, 2010 during a luncheon ceremony at the Hilton Ontario Airport, the official host hotel of the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario. The featured speaker at the ECHL Hall of Fame luncheon will be Hockey Hall of Fame member and Los Angeles Kings President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille.

Tickets for the luncheon are $40 each or a table with seven tickets can be purchased for $250. The Ontario Reign is offering a special ticket package that includes a tickets to the ECHL Hall of Fame luncheon, the All-Star Skills Competition, the Fan Fest at Dave & Busters and the ECHL All-Star Game for only $75. To purchase tickets visit OntarioReign.com/team/allstar/ or telephone the Ontario Reign at (909) 941-7825.

The Gladiators continue their 7th season in the ECHL on Saturday, January 2nd vs. Florida at 7:05 p.m. The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets and play all home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.