Leagues Top-Scoring Defenseman Named to PlanetUSA Team

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. The American Hockey League on Thursday announced that Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman Niklas Kronwall has been selected to start for the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star Team at the 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic, which will be held Feb. 13-14 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H.

Kronwall, whose starting nod was determined through fan balloting at theahl.com, will face Griffins teammate Joey MacDonald, who was named a reserve for the Canadian AHL All-Star Team on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Kronwall earns his second consecutive AHL all-star selection for a season in which hes been the leagues most prolific defenseman. He currently paces the Griffins in scoring and leads AHL blueliners with 10 goals and 32 points (tied), while his 22 assists (6th) and 0.114 shooting percentage (4th) also place among the top defensemen.

Halfway through the 2004-05 campaign, Kronwall is threatening Griffins records for offensive production by a defenseman. Already just the fourth blueliner in club history to reach 30 points in a single season, he is on pace to break Aris Brimanis standard for goals (16) and points (37), as well as Travis Richards record for assists (30).

The Detroit Red Wings first choice (29th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Kronwall made his North American debut with the Griffins last season, contributing 13 points (2-1113) in 25 games. Beginning with his NHL debut with the Red Wings on Dec. 10, 2003, the native of Stockholm, Sweden, appeared in 20 consecutive games for Detroit, totaling five points (1-45). However, he sustained a season-ending broken leg during warmup on Jan. 22, 2004 at Los Angeles, causing him to miss the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic in Grand Rapids.

Of local interest, three Michigan natives were named to the PlanetUSA squad today, including Rochester goaltender Ryan Miller (East Lansing, cousin of Griffins center Kip), Providence forward Andy Hilbert (Lansing, U. of Michigan) and Manitoba forward Ryan Kesler (Detroit).

The 2005 AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, Feb. 13 can be watched live throughout Michigan on Comcast Local at 7 p.m., while the All-Star Game on Monday, Feb. 14 will be televised live nationwide on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.