Jump to content

NHL releases All Star Ballot


JesterDevil

Recommended Posts

NHL releases All Star Ballot

Canadian Press

10/30/2003

The Detroit Red Wings' goaltending tandem of Dominik Hasek and Curtis Joseph were both on the ballot released Thursday for fan voting ahead of the NHL all-star game.

Voting begins Saturday and runs through Dec. 31. Fans are to select the starting lineups for the Eastern and Western Conference teams for the all-star game to be played Feb. 8 at the Xcel Centre in St. Paul, Minn.

Hasek, 38, a two-time NHL most valuable player, is in the running for a seventh career all-star game appearance.

Joseph, who lost his starting job when Hasek came out of retirement to return to Detroit this season, is awaiting a trade to another team. He was to make his first start of the season Thursday night in Nashville.

Joseph is not the only player with zero games played this season to appear on the ballot.

Edmonton centre Mike Comrie and Minnesota winger Marian Gaborik, both awaiting new contracts, are listed, as is Montreal centre Saku Koivu, who has yet to play due to a sprained right knee.

Another on the ballot is Dany Heatley, who suffered multiple injuries when he crashed his Ferrari during the pre-season. Atlanta Thrashers teammate Dan Snyder, a passenger in the car, died Oct. 5 from head injuries suffered in the Sept. 29 accident. Heatley, 22, has been charged with vehicular homicide.

In his absence, winger Ilya Kovalchuk has scored a league-leading 10 goals in nine games, helping the Thrashers to a 5-1-2-1 start to the season. Kovalchuk is on the ballot.

Among players off to hot starts who are not on the ballot are Philadelphia winger Mark Recchi and New York Islanders forward Mariusz Czerkawski.

A space is left on ballots for write-in votes.

Ballots will be available at all 30 NHL arenas and fans can also vote via the Internet at: www.NHL.com. In the United States, fans can also vote at Best Buy stores or with Nextel phones.

It is the 18th year in which starting lineups are to be determined by fan voting. Each club has at least one player on the ballot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This just goes to show how fixed the All-Star game is. People that haven't even played a game yet (some probably won't ie Heatley) are on the ballott. I think they release this thing to early. They should wait atleast 25-30 games into the season before releasing it, and base it on this years performance so far as to who gets on there.

Either that or just make it a completely wide open ballot and let the fans decide.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Early or not...this is 2003 dammit, it's not like they can't change things to go along with current events in the league.

Also why is Hasek on there? Haven't we complained that they put players on their bases on the previous years accomplishments? What did Hasek do last year in the league!?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it is outragous that they place names on the ballot even if they are not playing or did nothing last year. Plenty of good players dont make the list even though they stay in the league to continue to play hard (rather that running to play roller hockey and assault people in other countries). I think it is a slap in the face of those players. And people who are not even playing be cause they want more money BAHHHHH!!!!... ESPN SUCKS... nuff said... Just who put them at the top of the sports world anyhow....

Every time that dolt screamed "boo ya" because a hockey player scored a goal I would cringe... They know nothing about hockey!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.