Mavrik Bourque, Logan Stankoven and Matej Blümel Named AHL All-Stars

All-Stars Matej Blümel (left), Mavrik Bourque (right center) and Logan Stankoven (right) celebrate a goal in a preseason game with former AHL All-Star Thomas Harley (left center)
(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

The Texas Stars added more to their banner year with a massive three players being named to the Central Division All-Star squad. Forwards Mavrik Bourque, Logan Stankoven and Matej Blümel will represent the Stars in San Jose next month.

Bourque and Stankoven were foregone conclusions at this point. The two have battled back and forth for #1 and #2 in league scoring. As of this writing, Bourque leads by two points, 41 to Stankoven's 39. THe next closest player behind them is at 33. Stankoven is, at this point, the odds-on favorite for rookie of the year with a league-leading 15 rookie goals.

Finally, Matej Blumel is a surprise selection. He is 3rd on the team in scoring at 28 points and 21st in the league overall. His scoring totals would lead many teams across the league, but he just so happens to be on a roster with Bourque and Stankoven. It's a great reward for the second-year player, who has also been more defensively resposible this year with a plus-12 rating through 31 games, tied for second among forwards.

The trio will join their coach, Neil Graham, who was selected to lead the Central squad by virtue of his club's division-leading record on January 1st. The All-Star weekend begins on February 4th with the skills competition and concludes on Monday the 5th with the actual games.