12 OHL grads in 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend

Wednesday January 14, 2015

It’s that time of year again. The NHL All-Star Game is back after a two year hiatus as the best players in the world hit the ice on January 24-25 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The star-studded affair features 12 former OHLers on the roster that will be broken down into teams on January 23 when captains Nick Foligno (Columbus Blue Jackets/Sudbury Wolves) and Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks) make their selections at the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the former OHL stars suiting up in the big game in The Discovery City.

 

BRENT BURNS (SAN JOSE SHARKS/BRAMPTON BATTALION)

Brent Burns, beard and all, will be competing in his second career NHL All-Star Game after a strong first half, leading the San Jose Sharks offensively from the blueline. The winding career of the one-year veteran of the Brampton Battalion has seen him jump into the NHL at 18 years-old and transition from defence to forward and back again in the last few seasons. After eight years in the Minnesota Wild organization, Burns is now in his fourth year with the San Jose Sharks and has 11 goals and 24 assists in 44 games this season. The 29 year-old has 333 career NHL points (108-215–333) over 677 games.

DREW DOUGHTY (LOS ANGELES KINGS/GUELPH STORM)

Two-time Stanley Cup Champion and Olympic gold medalist Drew Doughty continues to log an average of 29 minutes a game this season and remains a workhorse on the Los Angeles blueline. The London, ON, native and 2008 OHL Most Outstanding Defenceman will appear in his first NHL All-Star Game after participating in the 2009 NHL Young Stars Game. Doughty spent three years with the Guelph Storm and was a 2006 OHL All-Rookie and OHL First Team All-Star in 2007 and 2008. He won gold at the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championship and is considered among the best two-way defenders in the NHL today. 

NICK FOLIGNO (COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS/SUDBURY WOLVES) – named captain of home team

Nick Foligno hasn’t lost a step from his fleet-footed OHL days and is on pace for his best pro season to date, leading the Jackets in points with 18 goals and 22 assists in 39 games. Foligno recently signed a six-year contract extension with Columbus through the 2020-21 season after playing in his 500th career NHL game on December 31. Foligno, along with father Mike and brother Marcus of the Buffalo Sabres, enjoyed a successful tenure with the Sudbury Wolves that included an appearance in the 2007 OHL Finals. One of three Blue Jackets along with Ryan Johansen and Sergei Bobrovsky to compete in the game, Foligno has been selected as the captain of the home team and will select his teammates on January 23 in the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft.

MARK GIORDANO (CALGARY FLAMES/OWEN SOUND ATTACK)

Mark Giordano is working hard to stay focused on his game despite the swirling talks of Norris Trophy honours swirling about Calgary. Giordano is justifiably at the centre of the discussion as the NHL season approaches its midway point. The Toronto native is neck-and-neck with St. Louis Blues defender Kevin Shattenkirk for the NHL points lead by defencemen with 10 goals and 26 assists for 36 points in 43 games to go with a plus-minus rating of plus-16. Giordano has worked hard for every inch of progress in his hockey career, starting out from the time he made the Owen Sound Attack as an 18 year-old free agent invitee to Training Camp in 2002. The swift-skating blueliner made a strong impression in his time in Owen Sound, registering 32 goals and 65 assists in 133 OHL games. The Calgary Flames captain has his club in a mid-season battle for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

PATRICK KANE (CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS/LONDON KNIGHTS) – selected by fan vote

Sporting some of the slickest hands in the business, Patrick Kane continues to do what he does best; rack up points. The former London Knights standout who led the Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 145 points (62-83–145) in 2007 continues to do much of the same as evidenced by his 20 goals and 27 assists in 43 contests this year. Now in his eighth NHL season, Kane will suit up in his fourth All-Star Game as the two-time Stanley Cup Champion looks to weave a little magic with some of his Chicago teammates in Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.

RICK NASH (NEW YORK RANGERS/LONDON KNIGHTS)

Rick Nash is still scoring plenty of goals at age 30, and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. The big 6’4″, 220Ib winger has a league-high 26 goals to his credit in his third season with the New York Rangers after spending nine years in Columbus. The 2001 OHL Rookie of the Year has amassed 362 career NHL goals through 823 contests and has compiled an impressive international resume. Nash has won two Olympic Gold Medals in 2010 and 2014 along with a World Championship gold medal (2007) and a pair of silvers (2005, 2008). Nash also won the Spengler Cup during the 2005 lockout with HC Davos. He is appearing in his sixth NHL All-Star Game.

BOBBY RYAN (OTTAWA SENATORS/OWEN SOUND ATTACK)

Though it’s been a season of ups and downs in the nation’s capital, Bobby Ryan continues to patrol the wing with success, leading the Senators in scoring with 30 points (12-18–30) in 39 games. Ryan is in his second season with the Senators after spending six years with the Anaheim Ducks organization. The former OHL First Team All-Star and member of the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2009 is making his first appearance in the NHL All-Star Game. The Cherry Hill, New Jersey native played four seasons in Owen Sound (2003-2007) and is the Attack franchise all-time leading scorer with 325 points (133-192–325) in 249 games.

TYLER SEGUIN (DALLAS STARS/PLYMOUTH WHALERS)

Former Plymouth Whaler Tyler Seguin is an NHL All-Star after recording 48 points (26-22–48) in 42 games to lead the Dallas Stars in scoring. The 2011 Stanley Cup Champion was the NHL’s second overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, selected after fellow OHL graduate Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers. Seguin played two years with the Whalers from 2008-2010 and was the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player, receiving the Red Tilson Award in 2010 when he recorded 106 points (48-58–106) to lead the league in scoring.

STEVEN STAMKOS (TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING/SARNIA STING)

The captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes his third appearance as an NHL All-Star. Stamkos currently leads his club with 25 goals along with 17 powerplay points this season. The two-time scoring leader is in his seventh NHL season after a two-year junior tenure with the Sarnia Sting where he was the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year in 2007 and a CHL First Team All-Star in 2008, putting up 105 points (58-47–105) in 61 games. Stamkos registered 197 points (100-97–197) in 124 career OHL games.

JOHN TAVARES (NEW YORK ISLANDERS/OSHAWA GENERALS, LONDON KNIGHTS)

‘JT’ and the Eastern Conference leading Islanders are turning heads this season and the captain is being recognized for his individual and team success. The 2009 NHL Draft first overall pick and 2014 Canadian Olympic gold medalist has led the way for the Islanders this season in all three zones, scoring 19 goals and 20 assists in 43 games with four game winners. The second all-time leading scorer in the illustrious OHL history of the Oshawa Generals, Tavares is a former CHL Rookie of the Year and CHL Player of the Year to go along with two World Junior Championship gold medals with Canada in 2008 and 2009. This will be Tavares’ second NHL All-Star Game appearance.

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In addition, two former OHLers have been chosen to compete in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition that is limited to rookies only.

 

AARON EKBLAD (FLORIDA PANTHERS/BARRIE COLTS)

The big blueliner from Belle River is fitting right in with the Florida Panthers during his first NHL season. Ekblad is second in team scoring and third among NHL rookies in scoring with five goals and 19 assists in 41 games with a plus-minus rating of plus-10. The 2014 NHL Entry Draft first overall pick is living up to the title after a successful OHL career in Barrie that included an Eastern Conference Championship in 2013. He is a former OHL Rookie of the Year (2012) and OHL Most Outstanding Defenceman (2014).

TANNER PEARSON (LOS ANGELES KINGS/BARRIE COLTS)

A 14th round OHL draft pick that turned in a great junior career in Barrie, Tanner Pearson has been selected to join former Colts teammate Aaron Ekblad in the All-Star Skills Competition. Unfortunately for Pearson, a fractured left fibula that required surgery on Tuesday will prevent him from participating after he put together an excellent first half of the season. Pearson’s 12 goals and four assists in 42 games are accompanied by a plus-minus rating of plus-14 as he has proven to be a valuable piece of the puzzle for the Kings so far in his NHL career. The Kitchener, ON, native played an active role in the Kings’ playoff run last spring and was a 2014 Stanley Cup Champion.

 

The 12 OHL graduates are among a total of 48 players to be selected to attend the All-Star Weekend. The All-Star Game will be played on Sunday January 25 at 5:00pm ET.