2024 CHL All-Star Rosters

The day after the SHL’s All-Star Game, their minor league will be holding its seventh annual All-Star contest.  The game will take place at Cincinnati Gardens, home of the Cincinnati Bluebirds. The rosters for the game, along with each player’s current stats, are below.

EAST ALL-STARS

Coach: Roland Tedesco (Halifax)

First Line

LW: Dragomir Mrvac, Oshawa (14 G, 15 A, 29 Pts, 9 Blk, 9 PIM, +9, 49.8 iCF%)

D: Ross Hruschka, Cincinnati (0 G, 13 A, 13 Pts, 59 Blk, 19 PIM, +4, 51.2 iCF%)

C: David Austin Rose, Virginia (11 G, 17 A, 28 Pts, 12 Blk, 23 PIM, +15, 53.7 iCF%)

D: Brent Michelis, Oshawa (3 G, 27 A, 30 Pts, 60 Blk, 27 PIM, +5, 49.8 iCF%)

RW: Horton Behring, Portland (13 G, 13 A, 26 Pts, 7 Blk, 23 PIM, -1, 50.1 iCF%)

Second Line

LW: Maxime Leblanc, Albany (6 G, 14 A, 20 Pts, 14 Blk, 35 PIM, -3, 49.8 iCF%)

D: Dalton Weagle, Scranton (12 G, 13 A, 25 Pts, 42 Blk, 43 PIM, +3, 49.0 iCF%)

C: Corby Remner, Oshawa (14 G, 13 A, 27 Pts, 7 Blk, 4 PIM, +6, 52.3 iCF%)

D: Everett Martin, Virginia (10 G, 12 A, 22 Pts, 53 Blk, 37 PIM, +12, 52.6 iCF%)

RW: Felix Delorme, Hartford (8 G, 14 A, 22 Pts, 17 Blk, 13 PIM, -1, 49.1 iCF%)

Third Line

LW: Maurice Coutard, Virginia (12 G, 6 A, 18 Pts, 5 Blk, 6 PIM, +15, 53.6 iCF%)

D: Harold Braintree, Oshawa (2 G, 6 A, 8 Pts, 70 Blk, 12 PIM, +9, 50.5 iCF%)

C: Archie Cutshall, Oshawa (6 G, 19 A, 25 Pts, 17 Blk, 10 PIM, +8, 48.5 iCF%)

D: Conrad van Rijn, Scranton (5 G, 15 A, 20 Pts, 50 Blk, 34 PIM, +3, 49.6 iCF%)

RW: Henri Verdon, Halifax (1 G, 15 A, 16 Pts, 13 Blk, 19 PIM, +4, 49.1 iCF%)

Fourth Line

LW: Taylor Camp, Scranton (12 G, 3 A, 15 Pts, 28 Blk, 6 PIM, -6, 50.0 iCF%)

C: Grigoriy Demianovich, Scranton (9 G, 11 A, 20 Pts, 27 Blk, 10 PIM, -6, 50.0 iCF%)

RW: Moritz Schwegler, Cincinnati (9 G, 6 A, 15 Pts, 27 Blk, 21 PIM, +2, 54.7 iCF%)

Goalies

Versan Dusic, Virginia (14-8-3, 1.72 GAA, .920 SV%)

Morgan Moore, Halifax (11-5-1, 1.81 GAA, .925 SV%)

WEST ALL-STARS

Coach: Harvey Williams (Fargo)

First Line

LW: Shelton McCann, Spokane (5 G, 19 A, 24 Pts, 12 Blk, 20 PIM, +3, 51.3 iCF%)

D: Bruce Minnik, Spokane (10 G, 13 A, 23 Pts, 75 Blk, 20 PIM, +9, 49.0 iCF%)

C: Rasmus Rasmussen, Spokane (9 G, 13 A, 22 Pts, 7 Blk, 19 PIM, ‘+5, 50.1 iCF%)

D: Morris Starling, Colorado Springs (16 G, 14 A, 30 Pts, 62 Blk, 2 PIM, +16, 53.5 iCF%)

RW: Quinn Courtney, Thunder Bay (14 G, 9 A, 23 Pts, 7 Blk, 2 PIM, +7, 49.0 iCF%)

Second Line

LW: R.T. Rosenthal, Indianapolis (9 G, 12 A, 21 Pts, 16 Blk, 12 PIM, +12, 53.8 iCF%)

D: Pasha Stepanchikov, Fargo (9 G, 15 A, 24 Pts, 36 Blk, 8 PIM, +1, 48.5 iCF%)

C: Flip Gunderson, Fargo (4 G, 17 A, 21 Pts, 14 Blk, 18 PIM, ‘+3, 50.3 iCF%)

D: Rune Soharski, Thunder Bay (3 G, 17 A, 20 Pts, 63 Blk, 34 PIM, -1, 48.3 iCF%)

RW: Dayne Waldron, Thunder Bay (8 G, 14 A, 22 Pts, 7 Blk, 20 PIM, Even, 48.8 iCF%)

Third Line

LW: Keegan “Rowdy” Rooney, Fargo (13 G,  8 A, 21 Pts, 7 Blk, 24 PIM, +3, 50.1 iCF%)

D: Valeri Nistrumov, Fargo (2 G, 11 A, 13 Pts, 66 Blk, 43 PIM, -12, 47.9 iCF%)

C: Kai Anselm, Indianapolis (3 G, 16 A, 19 Pts, 21 Blk, 8 PIM, +12, 54.4 iCF%)

D: Hugues Bruneau, Omaha (1 G, 10 A, 11 Pts, 69 Blk, 25 PIM, -12, 48.0 iCF%)

RW: Soren Vilkstad, Fargo (11 G, 11 A, 22 Pts, 16 Blk, 30 PIM, +2, 49.8 iCF%)

Fourth Line

LW: Clement Zaharko, Idaho (9 G, 8 A, 17 Pts, 12 Blk, 13 PIM, -8, 47.4 iCF%)

C: Yvon Levette, Fargo (12 G, 7 A, 19 Pts, 7 Blk, 14 PIM, -1, 48.3 iCF%)

RW: Ritchie Fields, Indianapolis (8 G, 10 A, 18 Pts, 23 Blk, 44 PIM, -3, 51.5 iCF%)

Goalies

Davis Kingston, Thunder Bay (13-10-1, 2.07 GAA, .932 SV%

Cecil Healy, Spokane (11-9-3, 2.28 GAA, .916 SV%)

CHL Update: Rhinos Charge Up Standings Thanks to Great Goaltending

At the All-Star break, the Virginia Rhinos were struggling.  They were below .500, mired in fifth place, below average both offensively and defensively.  After having finished first or second every year of the CHL’s existence, the Rhinos appeared to be in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time.

Since the break, though, it’s been a different – and more familiar – story in Hampton Roads.  The Rhinos have gone 16-7-1, highlighted by a seven-game undefeated stretch over the last two weeks that has allowed them to all but lock up second place.

Artie Gambisch

“This is a city that’s used to seeing playoffs,” said coach Artie Gambisch.  “And I’m proud to say that we’re ready to give them what they want.”

The secret to the Rhinos’ recent success has been their goaltending.  The Rhinos have been allowing just 1.7 goals per game in the second half, reducing their season GAA to a league-low 2.15 mark.  Virginia’s goalies are posting a collective .918 save percentage, good for second in the league.  23-year-old starter Versan Dusic has picked things up after a slow start, going 17-16-4 (including a 10-5-1 record in the second half) with a 2.37 GAA and a .913 save percentage.  But lightly-regarded 24-year-old backup Gennady Kulbakin has been a revelation, posting a 13-5-2 mark to go with a 1.73 GAA and a .930 save percentage.

“I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Duse since the break,” said Gambisch.  “I think he’s on track to be a quality goalie in the SHL in a couple years.”  As for Kulbakin: “I think GK has really put himself on the organization’s radar with this season.  If he can build on this – and I think he can – he has a chance to earn himself a look at the major-league level.”

Kulbakin is in his sixth CHL season, all in the Washington Galaxy organization.  In his prior seasons, he has never posted a save percentage higher than .903 or a GAA lower than 2.77.  He graded out as minor-league organizational filler, the kind of player who could be a competent minor-league backup, but probably nothing more than that.  This season, he has redefined his reputation.

The goalie attributed a part of his success to the laser eye surgery he underwent during the offseason.  “I see the puck much better now,” said Kulbakin.  “I never knew how much it could be different.”

Goaltending, however, isn’t the only reason for Virginia’s success.  Their offense is paced by LW Maurice Coutard (22 goals) and C Lake Pelfinger (20), both of them in the CHL’s top ten in scoring, and assisted by D Mikl Hedlund, whose 31 assists are good for seventh in the league.  Defensively, Ingolf Gudmundsen’s 110 blocks place him fifth league-wide.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys here who are going to be major contributors in DC, as soon as next season,” said Gambisch.  “This is a special bunch of guys.”

First, though, the playoffs await.  Rhinos fans are eager to see their team make a deep run.  After making the CHL Finals in the first four seasons of the league’s existence, Virginia hasn’t made it back since 2020.

“The fans here take it really seriously,” said Dusic.  “They let us know that they miss going to the Finals, and they want us to get back there.”

To do so, though, they’ll need to get past the Halifax Atlantics, who have been in first place for months and have been on a second-half run of their own, going 16-6-2.

“Getting past Halifax is going to be a real battle,” said Gambisch.  “But I’m confident that our boys are geared up for that battle.”

2023 CHL All-Star Rosters

The day after the SHL’s All-Star Game, their minor league will be holding its sixth annual All-Star contest.  The game will take place at Fairgrounds Coliseum, home of the Indianapolis Redline. The rosters for the game, along with each player’s current stats, are below.

 

WEST ALL-STARS

Coach: Craig Werner (Spokane)

First Line

LW: Keegan “Rowdy” Rooney, Fargo (7 G, 13 A, 20 Pts, 5 Blk, 19 PIM, -2, 48.2 iCF%)

D: Marshall Kreitzer, Colorado Springs (5 G, 18 A, 23 Pts, 56 Blk, 28 PIM, -4, 53.0 iCF%)

C: Chayce Yonge, Indianapolis (7 G, 20 A, 27 Pts, 13 Blk, 2 PIM, ‘+8, 53.4 iCF%)

D: Melchior Okonseniak, Omaha (12 G, 9 A, 21 Pts, 58 Blk, 42 PIM, -4, 45.7 iCF%)

RW: Ritchie Fields, Indianapolis (23 G, 11 A, 24 Pts, 23 Blk, 30 PIM, +13, 50.4 iCF%)

Second Line

LW: Patrice Chereau, Idaho (10 G, 9 A, 19 Pts, 14 Blk, 20 PIM, -4, 44.6 iCF%)

D: Kermit Kaufman, Colorado Springs (1 G, 20 A, 21 Pts, 54 Blk, 2 PIM, +12, 53.3 iCF%)

C: Butch Barber, Fargo (16 G, 7 A, 23 Pts, 10 Blk, 21 PIM, ‘-2, 48.2 iCF%)

D: Lou Puszkarchuk, Idaho (1 G, 15 A, 16 Pts, 64 Blk, 27 PIM, -3, 44.9 iCF%)

RW: Baejarin Snorrisson, Idaho (7 G, 16 A, 23 Pts, 7 Blk, 16 PIM, +10, 50.6 iCF%)

Third Line

LW: Terry Cresson, Indianapolis (8 G, 10 A, 18 Pts, 5 Blk, 10 PIM, +13, 50.4 iCF%)

D: Bobby Hitchcock, Spokane (11 G, 6 A, 17 Pts, 24 Blk, 14 PIM, +10, 51.3 iCF%)

C: Rasmus Rasmussen, Spokane (7 G, 16 A, 23 Pts, 7 Blk, 16 PIM, ‘+10, 50.6 iCF%)

D: Roscoe “Ruckus” Corbetta, Thunder Bay (7 G, 18 A, 25 Pts, 34 Blk, 29 PIM, -2, 50.7 iCF%)

RW: Damon McQuatters, Spokane (7 G, 8 A, 15 Pts, 5 Blk, 7 PIM, +1, 49.3 iCF%)

Fourth Line

LW: Shelton McCann, Spokane (3 G, 16 A, 19 Pts, 14 Blk, 10 PIM, +10, 50.5 iCF%)

C: Milan Archambault, Colorado Springs (9 G, 14 A, 23 Pts, 19 Blk, 8 PIM, ‘+4, 55.4 iCF%)

RW: Mark Winters, Idaho (11 G, 9 A, 20 Pts, 10 Blk, 17 PIM, -5, 44.7 iCF%)

Goalies

Cecil Healy, Spokane (15-4-2, 1.84 GAA, .931 SV%

Corey Franklin-Lee, Colorado Springs (12-6-0, 2.05 GAA, .919 SV%)

 

EAST ALL-STARS

Coach: Glenn Reichler (Cincinnati)

First Line

LW: Yann Eberlein, Halifax (13 G, 16 A, 29 Pts, 21 Blk, 6 PIM, +17, 52.4 iCF%)

D: Axel Borgstrom, Halifax (14 G, 11 A, 25 Pts, 37 Blk, 40 PIM, +3, 54.3 iCF%)

C: JP Cornett, Halifax (4 G, 25 A, 29 Pts, 18 Blk, 18 PIM, +17, 52.5 iCF%)

D: Brent Michelis, Oshawa (2 G, 25 A, 27 Pts, 52 Blk, 18 PIM, -4, 47.8 iCF%)

RW: Alois Rodney, Halifax (17 G, 13 A, 30 Pts, 11 Blk, 10 PIM, +17, 52.4 iCF%)

Second Line

LW: Maxime Leblanc, Albany (10 G, 17 A, 27 Pts, 7 Blk, 31 PIM, +7, 49.2 iCF%)

D: Chase Greyskill, Hartford (7 G, 15 A, 22 Pts, 42 Blk, 12 PIM, -1, 47.8 iCF%)

C: Greg Enrath, Scranton (10 G, 14 A, 24 Pts, 28 Blk, 28 PIM, ‘+1, 49.5 iCF%)

D: Mikl Hedlund, Virginia (5 G, 16 A, 21 Pts, 54 Blk, 22 PIM, -5, 51.3 iCF%)

RW: Horton Behring, Albany (13 G, 16 A, 29 Pts, 8 Blk, 13 PIM, +2, 49.1 iCF%)

Third Line

LW: Anatoly Istomin, Oshawa (7 G, 11 A, 18 Pts, 7 Blk, 0 PIM, -5, 48.8 iCF%)

D: Alan Manton, Albany (0 G, 3 A, 3 Pts, 80 Blk, 4 PIM, -2, 46.5 iCF%)

C: Michel Gauthier, Scranton (5 G, 17 A, 22 Pts, 3 Blk, 24 PIM, ‘+2, 51.5 iCF%)

D: Alvar Sjoberg, Scranton (0 G, 10 A, 10 Pts, 90 Blk, 27 PIM, -3, 49.7 iCF%)

RW: Devin Merchant, Virginia (3 G, 17 A, 20 Pts, 19 Blk, 25 PIM, +3, 53.4 iCF%)

Fourth Line

LW: Maurice Coutard, Virginia (13 G, 4 A, 17 Pts, 4 Blk, 12 PIM, +3, 53.4 iCF%)

C: Mason Alpine, Hartford (2 G, 18 A, 20 Pts, 12 Blk, 6 PIM, ‘-11, 48.5 iCF%)

RW: Moritz Schwegler, Cincinnati (8 G, 8 A, 16 Pts, 20 Blk, 21 PIM, -4, 53.6 iCF%)

Goalies

Shawn Stickel, Scranton (14-8-3, 2.16 GAA, .926 SV%)

Yorke Baxter, Albany (10-9-3, 2.25 GAA, .928 SV%)

2022 SHL All-Star Break Transactions

The following transactions occurred during the All-Star break:

• The Anchorage Igloos promoted LW Ethan Charland from their CHL affiliate in Minnesota, and sent F Tadeusz Adamczyk down to Minnesota. The Igloos face at least a week after the break without two of their top players, C Jake Frost and RW Nicklas Ericsson, and they are using the opportunity to give the 22-year-old Charland a look.  With Minnesota this season, Charland recorded 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) and 22 blocks in 32 games. Adamczyk appeared in 7 games for Anchroage, recording 2 assists.
• The Boston Badgers promoted RW Elmer Sigurdson Jr. from their affiliate in Hartford, and sent F Michael Jennings down to Hartford.  Sigurdson, fresh off of an appearance in the CHL All-Star game, recorded 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) and 27 blocks in 32 games.  Jennings recorded 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) at a 54.3 CF% in 12 games.
• The Hamilton Pistols called up D Reggie Armour from their farm club in Oshawa and sent D Russ Klemmer down to Oshawa.  Klemmer appeared in 9 games with Hamilton, recording no goals, 5 assists, 11 blocks, and a +6 rating. The 26-year-old Armour was called up late last season by Kansas City, but did not get into any games.  With Oshawa this year, he put up 16 points (6 goals, 10 assists) and 41 blocks in 27 games.
• The Michigan Gray Wolves called up LW Valdemar Sorensen from their affiliate in Cincinnati and returned LW Carl Bleyer to Cincinnati.  Left wing has been a trouble spot for the Wolves all season, and now the 22-year-old Sorensen will get a shot to fill the slot.  Sorensen scored 13 goals and 7 assists in 31 games with Cincinnati this season.  Bleyer, whom the Wolves called up from Cincinnati a few weeks back, appeared in 11 games for Michigan, with no goals and 2 assists.
• The Milwaukee Growlers called up RW Alberto Fedregotti and D Jon Rogers from their affiliate in Indianapolis, and sent RW Dylan Alizarin and D Duncan DeShantz to Indianapolis.  Fedregotti led the CHL in goals (18) and points (36) in the first half, earning an All-Star spot for his trouble.  Rogers was also no slouch, with 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) and 65 blocks in 32 games.  Alizarin appeared in 23 games for Milwaukee, recording 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists), while DeShantz notched 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) and 19 blocks in 11 game.
• The New York Night promoted D Bobby Hitchcock and RW Simon Robek from their farm team in Albany, and demoted D Andy Ruger and F Cary Estabrook to Albany.  Hitchcock, who was a CHL All-Star, put up 22 points (7 goals , 15 assists) and 52 blocks in 32 games, while Robek recorded 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) and 23 blocks in 32 games.  Estabrook appeared in just 6 games, recording 1 assist and a 40.7 CF%. Ruger recorded 3 assists and 23 blocks in 10 games.
• The Portland Bluebacks called up RW Holden Cadorette, D Jackson Creed, and G Cecil Healy from their affiliate in Spokane, while sending F Zeljko Brankovic, D Burton Cullidge, and G Darrell Bondurant to Spokane.  The Bluebacks arrived at the break in a tailspin, having lost 4 in a row, 7 of their last 8 and 13 of their last 16, and decided to shake things up.  Cadorette (13 goals, 16 assists in 32 games) and Creed (11 goals, 12 assists, 63 blocks in 32 games) were both CHL All-Stars, while Healy (9-7-3, 2.53 GAA, .911 save percentage) narrowly missed the honor.  Brankovic returns to Spokane after appearing in 4 games for Portland without recording a point. Cullidge appeared in 11 games, with 5 assists and 17 blocks. Bondurant went 1-9-1 with a 3.87 GAA and an .878 save %.
• The Quebec Tigres called up RW Alois Rodney from their affiliate in Halifax and sent F Jacques Bacon down to Halifax.  The offense-hungry Tigres hope that the 24-year-old All-Star Rodney (11 goals, 12 assists in 32 games) can provide a spark. He last appeared in the SHL with Hamilton in 2018.  Bacon appeared in 6 games for Quebec, recording 3 assists.
• The Saskatchewan Shockers promoted D Zikmund Bruzek from their affiliate in Idaho, and returned D Pierre Chappelle to Idaho. Chappelle, who was called up from Idaho after Cal Bonville‘s season-ending injury, appeared in 6 games and notched 2 assists and 8 blocks. Bruzek appeared in 32 games for Idaho and put up 22 points (8 goals, 14 assists), 62 blocks, and a 51.4 CF%.
• The Utah Blizzard recalled F Scot Davenport and D Jerome LaPoubelle from their farm team in Colorado Springs, and sent RW Andrew Fortuno and D Hampus Olsson down to Colorado Springs.  LaPoubelle was another CHL All-Star, recording 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists) and 53 points in 32 games; he returns to the SHL for the first time since 2018. Davenport, who started the season with Utah before being demoted in the third week, returns after recording 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists) in 22 games for Colorado Springs. Fortuno appeared in 11 games for Utah, recording an assist. Olsson appeared in 14 games, putting up 3 assists and 37 blocks.
• The Washington Galaxy promoted RW Andre Pressler and D Mikl Hedlund from their affiliate in Virginia and demoted F Minton “Quickie” Pearson and D Ross Hruschka to Virginia.  Pressler (8 goals, 14 assists in 32 games) returns to the Galaxy after appearing in 24 games for them last season.  Hedlund (4 goals, 14 assists, 49 blocks in 32 games), who was drafted by Washington in 2020, makes his SHL debut.  Pearson, a 2021 draft pick who made his debut this season, had 3 assists in 13 games, while the 22-year-old Hruschka had 3 assists and 16 blocks in 11 games.