Over the last two weekends, the top male and female hockey players on the planet gathered for the All Star Games of the CWHL, KHL and NHL, with International Hockey Lineal Champions abound showcasing their talents.
Starting with the CWHL All-Star Game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, it was Julie Chu’s (๐บ๐ธ) Team Black that defeated Natalie Spooner’sย (๐จ๐ฆ) Team White 5-1, using the “fantasy draft” format to determine teams. Marie-Philip Poulin (๐จ๐ฆ), who has a penchant for scoring big goals in pairs, struck with two, along with singles for IHLC winners Jillian Saulnier (๐จ๐ฆ) and Hayley Wickenheiser (๐จ๐ฆ). Half of the 38 players that dressed have held the IHLC at least once.
A more traditional “East vs. West” format was on hand in Moscow for the eighth KHL All-Star Game, being showcased in the new VTB Ice Palace. Crushing All-Star Game scoring records, it was the West prevailing by a stunning score of 28-23, with Sergei Mozyakin (๐ท๐บ) leading the way with 6 goals on the evening. Other prominent IHLC holders making an impact were Danis Zaripov (๐ท๐บ) and Stรฉphane Da Costa (๐ซ๐ท) with four goals each, as well as a hat trick for Vadim Shipachyov (๐ท๐บ), and a 6 assist night for Alexander Radulov (๐ท๐บ). When it was all said and done, 22 of the game’s 51 goals were scored by IHLC winners, who combined for a total of 48 points.
And lastly, at the 61st NHL All-Star Game in Nashville, it was new format on display at the Bridgestone Arena, with a 3-on-3 tournament between the league’s four divisions being held for the first time.ย First, the Atlantic Division defeated the Metropolitan Division 4-3 to represent the East in the final, with P.K. Subban (๐จ๐ฆ) netting the winner late in theย game. Then, the Pacific Division defeated the Central Division by a 9-6 final, with pairs of goals for Daniel Sedin (๐ธ๐ช), Taylor Hall (๐จ๐ฆ) and unlikely team captain John Scott (๐จ๐ฆ). And in the final, it was the game’s only goal, a Corey Perry (๐จ๐ฆ) tally, that stood as the winner, with the Pacific edging out the Atlantic 1-0 to win the tournament for the Western Conference, and the $1 million prize.
Regular season play will now resume on both sides of the globes, in the lead-up to the chase for the Clarkson, Gagarin and Stanley Cups, respectively, as well as the women’s and men’s World Championship tournaments in the spring.
Photo Credit: SKAย – NHLย – Habs Eye On The Prize – IIHF – HHOF – IOC