Former RPI standout an AHL All-Star
Former RPI standout to represent Rockford at league’s All-Star Classic in February
For the second straight year, Brandon Pirri will be playing hockey during the AHL all-star break.
The former RPI standout forward was chosen to the 20-man roster for the 2014 AHL All- Star Classic to be held Feb. 11 and 12 at Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Pirri has three goals seven assists and is minus- 4 with six penalty minutes in 13 games this season for Rockford, which is third behind Grand Rapids and Chicago in the Midwest Division.
No players from the Albany Devils or Adirondack Phantoms were named to the team.
For the first time since the all- star game was revived in 1995, the contest will feature a collection of AHL players facing off against an international opponent, Farjestads BK, one of the top clubs in the Swedish Elite League.
Sixteen of the AHL’s 30 teams are represented on the all- star team, including two apiece from Texas and division leaders Abbotsford, Manchester and Springfield. St. John’s IceCaps forward Jason Jaffray was chosen team captain.
“More than 850 players have appeared in American Hockey League games this season,” said AHL president- CEO David Andrews. “It is a tremendous achievement for these 20 to have been selected to represent the AHL in this unique showcase event.”
Jeff Blashill of defending Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids will serve as all-star coach, assisted by Rob Zettler of 2013 Calder Cup finalist Syracuse.
Pirri became Rockford’s alltime franchise scoring leader on Jan. 13, 2013, represented the IceHogs at the 2012 All-Star Classic and won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL’s leading scorer in 2012-13 with 75 points (22-53). His 124 assists and 184 points are both club records.
Drafted 59th overall by Chicago in 2009, Pirri played one season for RPI, leading the Engineers with 32 assists and finishing second with 43 points as a freshman in 2009-10. He has spent the first half of this season with the Blackhawks, scoring six goals and five assists in and going plus-6 in 24 games.
Pirri was recalled to Chicago on Oct. 11 and returned to Rockford on Dec. 3. He played 10 straight games upon his return, and was on a two-game goal streak but has not played since Dec. 30 with a lower-body injury.
The roster, which will also battle Farjestads BK in a skills competition on all-star game eve, also includes forwards Brett Connolly, Syracuse; Brian Gibbons, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton; Mike Hoffman, Binghamton; Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour, Texas; Colton Sissons, Milwaukee; Ryan Spooner, Providence; Ben Street, Abbotsford; Ryan Strome, Bridgeport; Linden Vey, Manchester; and Jaffray; defensemen Chad Billins, Abbotsford; T.J. Brennan, Toronto; Cody Goloubef and Frederic St. Denis, Springfield; and Alexey Marchenko, Grand Rapids; and goaltenders Jake Allen, Chicago, and Martin Jones, Manchester. FOND MEMORIES: Springfield defenseman Patrick McNeill got a warm reception from Hershey fans when he returned to the Giant Center for the first time as an opponent on Jan. 11.
McNeill won Calder Cups with the Bears in 2009 and 2010, but left following last season to sign as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hershey beat the Northeast Division-leading Falcons, 5-3.
“That was pretty special,” McNeilltoldthePatriot-News.“I tried not to feel overcome with emotion there. When you think back at all the time spent here and the wins we had, I feel grateful for the ovation.”
Along with former Calder Cup-winning Bears teammate Andrew Joudrey, McNeill was in the starting lineup for Springfield, which is coached by former Hershey