Curtis McKenzie Named to AHL All-Star Team

(Credit: Texas Stars)

Curtis McKenzie has been selected as the Texas Stars representative for the AHL All-Star Classic in Utica this year. McKenzie leads the team in goals and is second in points. It is the first selection for McKenzie, who previously won the Rookie of the Year award in 2013-14. McKenzie would have been selected for the All-Star game in 2014 but the format was one team against the Swedish club Färjestad BK. Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour were selected for that game.

Morin would be the other likely candidate for this honor this year, and it's curious that he wasn't selected. He is still a dominant force in the league. However, he doesn't usually attend the All-Star game when selected, due to injury. Perhaps the league sought to have fewer replacement players this year.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars, American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, and the American Hockey League announced Thursday that forward Curtis McKenzie has been selected to participate in the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino, in Utica, N.Y. January 28th and 29th.

McKenzie, 26, currently leads the Stars and is tied for seventh in the league overall with 15 goals this season. His 28 points are second on the team. This season, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound forward has scored eight of his goals on the power play, which is tied for third-best in the AHL, and has also recorded two hat tricks for Texas this season – first on Nov. 8 at San Diego and again on Dec. 27 against San Antonio.

The Golden, British Columbia native was originally a sixth-round selection of the Dallas Stars in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He was a recipient of the AHL’s Dudley “Red” Garrett Award in 2013-14 as the Rookie of the Year after tallying 65 points in 75 games (27-38=65).

On Nov. 13 of this season, McKenzie was named the fifth captain in franchise history. This is his first career AHL All-Star selection.