Submitted. The Abbotsford Heat are pleased to announce that goalie Barry Brust has been selected to play for the Western Conference at the 2013 All-Star Classic in Providence, RI. Brust joins Heat Captain Quintin Laing, who was named Captain of the Western Conference team on December 21st.
Brust currently leads the American Hockey League with a goals against average of 1.54. He also ranks second in save percentage at 0.944 and has three shutouts in 15 appearances this season. The 29-year-old Kelowna product set the new AHL record for longest shutout streak at 268 minutes and 17 seconds on November 24th, 2012, breaking Hall of Famer Johnny Bower’s 54-year-old record set in 1957. Brust will be making his second All-Star appearance of his career after representing the Canadian AHL All-Stars in 2009.
Over 13 seasons in the AHL, Quintin Laing has appeared in 650 career AHL contests with Norfolk, Hershey and Abbotsford, registering 95 goals and 167 assists for 262 points and winning a Calder Cup with the Bears in 2009. Drafted by Detroit in 1997, Laing is one of the AHL’s top defensive forwards and has worn the captain’s “C” in each of his three AHL stops – including the last two seasons with the Heat. Laing, who has played 79 NHL games with Chicago and Washington, will be making his AHL All-Star Classic debut as captain of the Western Conference All-Star team. This season with the Heat, Laing has four goals and six assists in 33 games played.
The 2013 All-Star Classic presented by Dunkin’ Donuts will take place at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The Skills Competition will be on January 27th followed by the game on January 28th. For more information on the annual AHL showcase head to theAHL.com.