April 1, 2008

Erie, Pa - In the first ever ACHA Division I All-Star game, two former Mercyhurst players (Matt Warren & Jim Gehring) rose to the forefront and were selected as 2nd and 3rd stars of the game respectively. Brad Hoelzer (Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL), a University of Illinois product was named the first star of the game with his 1 goal and 1 assist. Hoelzer's and Gehring's White team, coached by Penn State's Scott Balboni, edged out Matt Warren and the Blue team by a score of 5 to 4 in front of a good sized crowd at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion in University Park, Pa.

It was the Blue team that scored first, providing the only goal in the first period, as Justin Thomas (University of Pittsburgh) sent the puck past Penn State's Nick Signet.

The White team would come back early in the second period as Iowa State's Brent Cornelius (Tri-City Storm, USHL) found a way to get the puck past Liberty's Mike Binnie (Mississauga, ON). The White team would extend their lead after Minot State's Wade Regier (Saskatoon, SK) re-directed a Brad Hoelzer shot from the perimeter. Just over fourteen minutes into the second period, the White team would pull ahead even more as Jim Gehring of West Chester University (former Mercyhurst player in 2003-2004 season) would fire a laser shot past Binnie. Less then 50 seconds later the Blue team would answer back, as Delaware's Mike Gardner (Boston Harbor Wolves, EJHL) would slip the puck past Gregory Feiden of Oswego State University. Central Oklahoma's AJ Alfrey (Chicago Force, CSHL) would give the White team their fourth goal of the period just 25 seconds before the intermission, giving them the 4-2 lead heading into the third period.

The Blue team would pull within one goal just a minute into the third period as Matt Warren of Mercyhurst would find the back of the net, giving some new life to his Blue team, but just six minutes later the games 1st star, Brad Hoelzer would grab the puck in the neutral zone, race into the Blue team's end and fire a shot that went top shelf on Binnie in what turned out to be the prettiest goal of the game. The Blue team would pull within one goal with just a few minutes left in the game off a breakaway goal from Slippery Rock's Tim Snyder (Toledo Icediggers, NAHL) but that would be as close as they would get, giving the win to the White team. After the game, the 3 stars of the game were announced as follows:

1st Star: Brad Hoelzer - University of Illinois

2nd Star: Matt Warren - Mercyhurst College

3rd Star: Jim Gehring - West Chester University