CHL changes All-Star format

Tom Wright
February 24, 2008

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LOVELAND -- Ryan Tobler hadn't even returned from his 18-week layoff when he heard the news Thursday at the Budweiser Events Center.

Tobler is going to be a 2009 Central Hockey League All-Star.

"I haven't played for four months and I'm an all-star for next year," Tobler said. "Awesome."

Tobler isn't alone.

In a twist that caught some around the league by surprise, the Eagles announced Saturday night that not only will they host the 2009 CHL All-Star Game, the entire team will play against the best the CHL has to offer.

"We don't want to come across like we are being arrogant or cocky or anything like that," Eagles head coach Chris Stewart said. "This is a business decision. This is something that is going to cut costs. It is going to provide a bigger bang for the buck.

"It's going to be a far more entertaining game."

Improving the entertainment value is important to Stewart. Not many who attended the 2008 CHL All-Star Game in Broomfield were impressed by the extravaganza, citing lackluster play in a contest that was penalty-free and had only one check. Eagles captain Greg Pankewicz was even criticized by players from the Southern Conference for trying too hard.

Stewart hopes the new format will change how the game is played and perceived.

"If there aren't a couple of scraps, I would be disappointed," Stewart said. "I really think this will heighten the level of this game. ... I think you are going to have all aspects and facets of a game that you would see if it was Game 6 of the playoffs."

Not everyone around the league agrees with Stewart.

Youngstown coach Kevin Kaminski was "lost for words" when he learned about the new format and said he doesn't like how it takes several spots away from potential all-stars since the Eagles will take up half the roster.

"Why wouldn't you want to have all the best players in the league?" Kaminski said after the Steelhounds' 7-3 loss Friday night to the Eagles at the Budweiser Events Center. "It's going to be a sellout anyway. It doesn't matter who's in the building. It's going to be a sellout."

Kaminski also doesn't like the idea of making the all-star game more physical.

"Do you want some physical play in the all-star game?" Kaminski said. "I mean, I know when I made my one all-star game in juniors, I mean, I knocked someone out comin' around the net. Is that what they want? I don't know. I don't know. We're a pretty physical team, so why don't we host it and see what happens?"

The Steelhounds will have their chance. If the 2009 game is a success, the CHL will accept bids from any team in the league to host the event.

Eagles founder Ralph Backstrom, who will come out of semi-retirement to head up the committee to plan the all-star game, doesn't have any doubts the game will be a hit.

"I think it's going to be very successful," Backstrom said. "We want to bring some fun to it and have a country western-type theme. Forget the shirts and ties, let's have a real good Colorado theme attached to it."