Joining coach Jeff Daniels on the Western Conference team in Providence on Jan. 27-28 will be defenseman Michal Jordan and goalie Justin Peters. Jordan, 22, will be making his first appearance at the event, while Peters, 26, represented the Canadian team while playing for Albany in 2009-10.
Update: The AHL announced Saturday that, thanks to fan voting, Jordan and Peters will start the All-Star Classic on Monday. Full lineups can be found here.
“It’s well deserved,” said Daniels of Jordan’s selection. “He very quietly goes out and does his job every day, and he’s a big part of our team.”
“He’s been solid for us all year, and over the last week he’s also stepped up pretty big and played some big minutes,” said Peters of Jordan, who scored two goals – the first multi-goal game of his career – just hours after learning of his selection. “It’s obviously a congratulations to him because he keeps improving, and it’s nice recognition for him for doing the right things.”
Peters, in his seventh professional season and second with the Checkers, ranks second in the AHL with five shutouts, four of which have come since Dec. 11. Now Charlotte’s all-time leader with seven shutouts over the last two seasons, Peters ranks 11th in the AHL with a 2.32 goals-against average and is tied for 13th with a .918 save percentage.
“It’s a great honor to represent our team there along with coach and MJ,” said Peters. “I’m looking forward to that and am excited to represent the Checkers organization there.”
“He’s a competitor and he wants to win so badly,” said Daniels, whose own All-Star selection was announced earlier this month. “Guys don’t want to let him down.”
The Checkers have just four games remaining before the All-Star break, three of which take place at home. Jordan, Peters and Daniels will leave after next Saturday’s noon game against Abbotsford to take part in the next day’s skills competition in Providence.
The game itself will take place Monday night. The trio will be looking to secure another victory for the Western Conference, which won last year’s event by an 8-7 score in the shootout, led by three points by the Checkers’ Chris Terry.
