Tiger Paw Instructor Selected to AHL ALL STAR Game

The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the American Hockey League has selected defenseman Mark Barberio (Tiger Paw Elite Summer Hockey School Guest Instructor) and forwards Tyler Johnson and Richard Panik to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team for the 2013 Dunkin Donuts AHL All-Star Classic, to take place January 27 and 28 at Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. This marks just the second time in Crunch franchise history for three players have be named to the AHL All-Star Game in one season. Barberio currently ranks 6th on the Crunch in scoring with 6 goals and 16 assists and tied for 11th in AHL scoring by defensemen. This past week he participated in NHL training camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning, being reassigned to Syracuse on Thursday. He also participated in the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic in Atlantic City where he recorded 2 assists. Johnson leads the Crunch in scoring this season recording 35 points in 36 games, including a team high 20 goals. Johnson was reassigned to Syracuse by Tampa Bay on Thursday after participating in NHL training camp. Johnson signed with the Lightning as an undrafted free agent and is in the second year of a three year entry level contract. Panik is second on the Crunch this season with 18 goals scored. His 28 points ranks him 4th in team scoring. He recorded points in 12 straight games (17 pts) this season between November 2 and December 1, 2012, five of which were multiple point games. Barberio, Johnson and Panik will join Crunch Head Coach Jon Cooper in Providence, along with the Crunch's training staff of JW Aiken (Equipment Manager) and Brad Chavis (Head Athletic Trainer). In 19 seasons, Syracuse has now had 30 players selected to participate in the AHL All-Star Classic. Previous selections include Lonny Bohonos and Scott Walker (1994-95), Brian Loney (1995-96), Larry Courville and John Namestnikov (1996-97), Mark Wotton and Robert Dome (1997-98), Boris Protsenko and Valentin Morozov (1998-99), Harold Druken and Chris O'Sullivan (1999-00), Mike Gaul (2000-01), Derrick Walser and Duvie Westcott (2001-02), Karl Goehring (2002-03), Aaron Johnson (2003-04), Alexander Svitov (2004-05), Andy Delmore and Mark Hartigan (2005-06), Filip Novak (2006-07), Derick Brassard, Joakim Lindstrom and Clay Wilson (2007-08), Nikita Filatov and Derek MacKenzie (2008-09), Dan Fritsche (2009-10) and Kyle Palmieri (2010-11 & 2011-12). Beginning Friday and until Jan. 24, fans will have the opportunity to vote for the starting lineups for the 2013 AHL All-Star Game by visiting facebook.com/theahl and completing the official CCM AHL All-Star Fan Ballot. Voters will also be entered to win prizes of a team-signed 2013 AHL All-Star stick (two) and team-signed 2013 AHL All- Star commemorative programs (10). Tickets for the 2013 Dunkin' Donuts AHL All-Star Classic are on sale now by calling the Providence Bruins at (401) 273-5000 or visiting www.providencebruins.com. All-Star 2-Packs are $55 and $75 and include admission to both the 2013 Pepsi AHL All-Star Skills Competition at 7 p.m. on Sunday, January 27, and the 2013 AHL All-Star Game at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 28, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. All-Star 4-Packs are $75 and $100 and include admission to the Skills Competition and the All-Star Game, as well as the Post-Skills Party (January 27, 9:30 p.m.) at the Rhode Island Convention Center and the 2013 AHL Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Ceremony (January 28, 11 a.m.) at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The 2013 Dunkin' Donuts AHL All-Star Classic in Providence will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing a two-day event to be televised nationally in the United States and Canada. Of the 597 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since the event was reinstated in 1995, more than 92 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Daniel Briere, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Mike Cammalleri, Zdeno Chara, Miikka Kiprusoff, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, Cory Schneider, Jason Spezza and Eric Staal