The Central Hockey League has today announced the Captains for the 2004 Dodge CHL All-Star Game in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as selected by All-Star Coaches Scott Muscutt of the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs and Terry Ruskowski of the Laredo Bucks.
Captaining the Northern Conference All-Star squad is veteran defenseman Bernie John, joined by Alternate Captains Don Parsons (right winger) of the Memphis RiverKings and defenseman Hardy Sauter of the Oklahoma City Blazers. Wearing the C for the Southern Conference is right winger Brent Cullaton, while defensemen Mark DeSantis from Amarillo and Scott Hillman from Odessa will serve as Alternate Captains.
Indianapolis John is enjoying another outstanding season anchoring the Ice blueline, and will be making his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance. Johns 42 points and 34 assists currently lead all CHL defensemen. Like John, Parsons will also be appearing in his fourth straight All-Star Game. The reigning two-time regular season Most Valuable Player had recorded four goals and four assists in his three previous All-Star contests, and is the defending CHL scoring champion. Sauter meanwhile, also has an impressive All-Star resume, and will be wearing an All-Star sweater for the seventh time in a row, is the CHLs All-Time leading scorer among defenseman with 608 career points, and has twice received the CHLs Most Outstanding Defenseman award.
Cullaton is currently the CHLs scoring leader with 65 points, and has been a key cog in Laredos CHL-best 27-5-2 record. Cullaton makes his first CHL All-Star appearance, and second as a pro after appearing with Tallahassee in the 2001 ECHL All-Star Game. Cullaton was also name Kansas City's Rookie of the Year in 1996-1997 in the International Hockey League. Versatile veteran DeSantis appears in his fourth straight All-Star contest, and was named the Western Professional Hockey leagues Most Outstanding Defenseman in 2000-2001 as a member of the New Mexico Scorpions. Odessas skilled and savy Hillman will participate in his third All-Star Game, and was named the CHLs Man of the Year in the 2001-2002 season for outstanding community service.