The respective conference Coaches for the Central Hockey League’s 2002 All-Star Game have been finalized. By posting the top winning percentages through play on Christmas Day, Memphis RiverKings Coach Doug Shedden (Northern Conference) and Austin Ice Bats’ Coach Brent Hughes (Southern Conference) have earned coaching honors for the February 1st All-Star Game in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Shedden, in just his second year as Coach of the RiverKings, has assembled a top-notch squad which has rolled to a CHL-high 21 wins thus far in the season while losing consecutive games only once. The balanced RiverKings sit second in the CHL in both scoring and defense. Offensively, Memphis’ averages an even 4.00 goals per contest (trailing just San Antonio’s 4.03), while allowing just 2.59 goals against per game, behind only Odessa’s 2.32. Under Shedden’s guidance, veteran Don Parsons leads a deep and talented group of forwards and has excelled, leading all CHL scorers with 24 goals. In net, the RiverKings have arguably the CHL’s top duo in Sebastien Centomo and Mark Richards. Centomo shares the top CHL win (15) and save percentage (.934) totals with Odessa’s Mike Gorman, and trails just Gorman with a goals against average of 2.09. Following balloting to determine the Northern Conference starting line-up, Shedden (in conjunction with the CHL’s Hockey Operations Department) will select the remainder of the Northern Conference All-Stars.

Leading the Southern All-Stars is Brent Hughes of the Austin Ice Bats, making his second straight appearance in an All-Star Game after leading the Eastern All-Star team at the 2001 Western Professional Hockey League’s All-Star Game. With a record of 20-7-1 through Christmas, the Ice Bats sit atop the Southern Conference standings with an exceptional line-up. The Ice Bats sit among the top five in the CHL both offensively (3.89 goals for per game) and defensively (2.71 goals allowed per game) and boast four of the CHL’s top 15 scorers, including center Brett Seguin, whose 43 points leads the League. This season, the Ice Bats have put together three separate winning streaks of four games, as well as a five game winning stretch. As Coach of the Southern Conference All-Stars, Hughes will play a major role in determining the non-starting roster for the Southern All-Stars.

CHL All-Star player balloting begins December 28th, with voting taking place on four different fronts. Each CHL team provided six (three forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender) nominations to appear on the All-Star Ballot, which will be issued to CHL Coaches, Communications Departments and selected CHL Media members. Fans can also participate in selecting the starting line-ups for each Conference by visiting the CHL website at www.centralhockeyleague.com beginning on the 28th.