Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League in association with the Kingston Frontenacs Hockey Club today announced that former NHL stars and OHL grads Adam Graves and Steve Thomas will serve as Honourary Captains for the 2010 OHL All-Star Classic next Wednesday February 3 in Kingston, ON.
Representing the OHL’s Western Conference for this event, Graves played three years of junior hockey in Windsor with the Spitfires from 1985-88 winning an OHL Championship in his final season. His number nine jersey has since been retired by the Spitfires. Thomas, who played two OHL seasons with the Toronto Marlboros from 1982-84 highlighted by a 105 point season his final year, will serve as Honourary Captain for the Eastern Conference.
“These are two heart and soul guys who had outstanding junior and NHL careers” said Frontenacs Head Coach Doug Gilmour. “They also bring different perspectives to the table and are great choices for the Honorary Captains of the All-Star Classic.”
In addition to their participation in the pregame ceremonies at the K-Rock Centre next Wednesday, Graves and Thomas will join Gilmour in a round-table discussion at the “Fire & Ice” All-Star Luncheon at noon on Wednesday February 3.
Graves was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft in the first round, 22nd overall. He played 15 seasons in the NHL making his mark as a power forward. He won his first Stanley Cup Championship in 1990 with the Edmonton Oilers in just his second NHL season. He is best remembered as a member of the New York Rangers where he played for 10 seasons. It was with the Rangers where he would capture his second Stanley Cup during his most productive season with 52 goals and 27 assists for 79 points in 1993-94 as a second-team all-star and recipient of the King Clancy Trophy for charitable work in the community. February 3rd will mark the one-year anniversary of his jersey retirement ceremony with the Rangers organization.
Thomas was born in Stockport, England, but was raised in Markham, ON, where he began his hockey. In his first professional season he split time with the Maple Leafs and the AHL’s St. Catharines Saints and won the coveted Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s Rookie of the Year scoring 42 goals in 64 games. Playing in 20 NHL seasons and 1,235 career games he compiled 933 points between six different clubs, enjoying his most successful campaigns with the New York Islanders scoring 37 goals and 87 points in 1992-93 and a career-high 42 goals and 75 points in 1993-94. Although he did not win the Stanley Cup, he reached the Conference Finals three times with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Islanders, and most recently in 2002-03 as a member of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
The 2010 OHL All-Star Classic features 40 of the top OHL players representing all 20 member clubs with three players representing the host Frontenacs including Ethan Werek, Brian Lashoff, and Tyler Beskorowany. The Eastern Conference All-Stars have won four straight games most recently at the 2009 event in Windsor by a score of 11-6. The Battalion’s Cody Hodgson and Justin DiBenedetto of the Sarnia Sting received player of the game honours. Over the years the game has featured many players that have moved on to be NHL stars including the last three players to be selected first overall in the NHL Entry Draft including Patrick Kane, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares.
Proud sponsors of the event include All Weather Windows, Boston Pizza, Jack Link’s, and Subway. The game will be broadcast live to a national television audience on Rogers Sportsnet and RDS.
Beginning Friday January 29 at noon, tickets to the 2010 OHL All-Star Classic events can be purchased separately at $25 for the Skills Competition on Tuesday February 2 and $30 for the Game on Wednesday February 3. Both events begin at 7:00 pm with tickets available by going on-line at www.k-rockcentre.com or by calling 1-877-KLIVE-99. They may also be purchased at the K-Rock Centre box office at 1 Barrack Street in Kingston.
For more information please visit the official event website www.ohlallstarclassic.com
