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 Monday, January 31
Bourque named North American reserve
 
SportsTicker

 NEW YORK -- Four members of the Philadelphia Flyers and four-time Norris Trophy winner Ray Bourque of the Boston Bruins were among the reserves named Thursday for the NHL North America All-Star Team.

Ray Bourque
Bourque

Center Eric Lindros, left wing John LeClair and right wing Mark Recchi, all among the league's top 10 scorers, were the Flyers selected along with defenseman Eric Desjardins.

Bourque, 39, will be making his 18th consecutive All-Star Game appearance, tying Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky for the longest streak in NHL history. Bourque appeared in his first All-Star Game in 1981, his second year in the league, to start the streak. He also will tie Gretzky for second place on the all-time games played list, trailing Gordie Howe (23).

The North America squad will face the World All-Stars in the 50th annual All-Star game Feb. 6 in Toronto.

Three reserves to the North America Team were named from the New Jersey Devils, who are tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the league lead in points. The Devils will be represented by rookie center Scott Gomez, defenseman Scott Stevens and goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Gomez, 20, joins Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Petr Buzek, named to the World Team roster on Wednesday, as the only rookies selected. The last rookie to appear in an All-Star Game was Ottawa Senators right wing Daniel Alfredsson, who skated for the Eastern Conference in 1996.

The St. Louis Blues and Red Wings also have three representatives each on the 25-man North America Team roster.

Defenseman Al MacInnis and center Pierre Turgeon were selected as reserves, joining starting defenseman Chris Pronger for St. Louis. The Blues also have right wing Pavol Demitra on the World Team.

Defenseman Chris Chelios was named as a reserve for the Red Wings, who placed starting center Steve Yzerman and left wing Brendan Shanahan.

Center Mike Modano was the only member of the defending Stanley Cup champion Dallas Stars to be named to the North America Team. Defenseman Sergei Zubov of the Stars was named as a reserve to the World Team.

Centers Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche, Mark Messier of the Vancouver Canucks and Jeremy Roenick of the Phoenix Coyotes, right wings Tony Amonte of the Chicago Blackhawks and Owen Nolan of the San Jose Sharks, defenseman Phil Housley of the Calgary Flames and goaltender Mike Richter of the New York Rangers were also named as reserves to the North America squad.

The roster additions were selected by the NHL's operations department, after consultation with league general managers.

All of the starters are Canadian. Left wing Paul Kariya of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim will start on a line with Yzerman and Shanahan. Rob Blake of the Los Angeles Kings will start on defense with Pronger. Curtis Joseph of the Toronto Maple Leafs is the starting goaltender.

The North America All-Stars will be coached by Pat Quinn of the Maple Leafs. Roger Neilson of the Flyers will serve as an assistant.

 


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