The National Hockey League announced today that San Jose Sharks
center Joe Thornton and defenseman Dan Boyle have been named as
Western Conference All-Star reserves for the 2009 NHL All-Star
Game, which will be held in Montreal on Jan. 25. The game will take
place at 3:00 p.m. and be broadcast on Versus.
SAN JOSE – The National Hockey League announced today that San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton and defenseman Dan Boyle have been named as Western Conference All-Star reserves for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, which will be held in Montreal on Jan. 25. The game will take place at 3:00 p.m. and be broadcast on Versus.
This will be the sixth career and sixth consecutive NHL All-Star appearance for Thornton (2002-2004 with Boston, no ASG in 2005 or 2006, and 2007 and 2008 with San Jose). The 2005-06 Hart Memorial and Art Ross Trophy winner leads San Jose this season with 46 points (9-37=46) in 39 games, which is fifth overall in the NHL. His 37 assists are tied for second in the League and he is seventh in plus/minus (+19).
In three-plus seasons, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound native of London, Ontario has never missed a game for the Sharks, setting the franchise record with 261 consecutive games played (280 dating back to Boston days).
Boyle, 32, will make his first career All-Star Game appearance. He is currently tied for first among League defensemen in points (12-20=32) and goals (12). Also among NHL defensemen, he is eighth in shots (106), third in power play points (6-11=17) and fourth in power play goals (6).
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound native of Ottawa, Ontario was acquired by San Jose along with Brad Lukowich in a trade with Tampa Bay on July 4, 2008 in exchange for Matt Carle, Ty Wishart, a first-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and a fourth-round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
The Sharks next game is Friday at 6 p.m. against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place.
