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MESSIER NAMED TO ALL STAR GAME Mark Messier has been named as the starting right winger for the Wales Conference at the 1996 All-Star Game in LA. He received 119 votes compared to Denis Savard, who had 54 to win the vote. He set out with making this a personal goal after rival GM Simon Hoggett left him off the 1995 team in Tampa last year. In fact, he hasn't made an All-Star appearance since 1991 in Quebec City. Messier has been going all year, and while the Panthers struggled early, he was still leading them and has helped push them to the 2nd best record in the past 10 games, slowly, and finally starting to catch teams ahead of them. He is currently 4th in the league in scoring. He leads all right wingers in scoring with 57 points in 40 games. His 34 assists sits second to Mario Tremblay (COL) and his 23 goals are tied for 3rd by a right winger behind Denis Savard (HAR) and Steve Thomas (VAN) 28 goals. He also is currently on a 7 game point streak. And to show how much better he has made his teammates, his center, Esa Tikkanen, is on a 9 game point streak and, in 10 games playing with Messier, he has 7 goals, 20 points and a +7. He only had 15 points in 28 games before. Mark Messier also leads his Panthers with a +21 this season. He also sits 7th in the NFHL with 122 shots and 5th with 126 hits, the leading forward in the league. Not too bad for a 35 year old. It could be a very explosive game for Wales as a top line of Messier, Mario Lemiuex and Laurie Boschman looks to be very exciting indeed. GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW GT HT S PCTG GS PS
40 23 34 57 21 22 2 2 4 0 126 122 18.9 0 7
Well deserved Captain Messier. Now the club waits to see if any other Panthers might join him.
There are some others that deserve a look. Ken Hodge has been very solid on the left wing and finished 4th in voting. Dirk Tenzer has been sensational in his role with the team this year. He has played on the top line all season to protect the guys, and has not only done that, winning 3 fights and 3 draws, but he's also produced. In 40 games, he has 6 goals, 17 points, +10 and 86 hits. Perhaps he will garner a look to keep any of those Campbell Conference boys at bay.
Bubba Smith Sr. |