Springfield Falcons wing Cam Atkinson recorded one assist for the Eastern Conference.
The Western Conference's T.J. Hensick, of the Peoria Rivermen, scores past Eastern Conference goalie Tyson Sexsmith of the Worcester Sharks during a shootout at the AHL All-Star game Monday in Atlantic City, N.J.ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Down by four goals early, the Western Conference rallied for an 8-7 shootout victory over the Eastern Conference in the American Hockey League All-Star game at historic Boardwalk Hall on Monday.
Chris Terry of the Charlotte Checkers led the West offense with two goals and an assist and Ben Bishop of the Peoria Rivermen stopped 10 of 11 shots in the third period before denying all four East shootout attempts. Bishop, who is 18-12-0 with a league-leading six shutouts for Peoria this season, was named the MVP.
The Eastern Conference raced out to a 6-2 lead after one period and held a 7-5 advantage before Peoria’s T.J. Hensick and Chicago’s Kevin Connauton scored late in the third to tie the game. Hensick and Texas rookie Matt Fraser scored in the shootout to lift the West to victory.
Rookie Cory Conacher of the Norfolk Admirals recorded two goals and an assist for the East, and Connecticut Whale teammates Mats Zuccarello and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault each notched a goal and an assist.
Corey Locke of the Binghamton Senators and Keith Aucoin of the Hershey Bears both tied an AHL record by appearing in their sixth All-Star game.
Springfield Falcons wing Cam Atkinson recorded one assist for the Eastern Conference.
Earlier Monday, the AHL formally inducted four new members into its Hall of Fame.
Honored for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the American Hockey League were Joe Crozier, a standout coach in several AHL stops who helped lay the foundation for the Rochester Americans franchise; Jack Gordon, a mainstay in the AHL as a player, coach and manager who won four Calder Cups with the Cleveland Barons; John Stevens, a steady defenseman and team leader who has also achieved success as a coach; and Zellio Toppazzini, considered the greatest player in the long history of the Providence Reds.
Stevens, who captained the Springfield Falcons from 1994 to 1996, was also captain of the 1991 Springfield Indians when they won the Calder Cup. Altogether, he played six seasons in Springfield. He later coached in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers and is now an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings.
The road to the Calder Cup Playoffs continues when the AHL’s 76th season resumes Thursday.