Jarome Iginla has withdrawn from the NHL all-star weekend for family reasons.
The St. Albert Olympian and Calgary Flames’ captain has been excused by the NHL from participation due to the health challenges his grandmother, Fran Schuchard, faces.
“It is always an honour to be a part of the NHL All Star Game but unfortunately I have to decline this year,” Iginla said in a Flames’ press release. “I just lost my grandfather [Rick Schuchard] in the spring and I have learned that my grandmother is not doing very well. With the way the season goes, I don’t get too many opportunities to see her and as much as I was looking forward to being in North Carolina [next weekend] for the all-star game, I just know that my mind will be elsewhere.
“My grandparents were second parents during my childhood and have been major influences on my life. I have been blessed to have them. And so after talking it over with my family I thought it best that I use the break to spend some time with her while I am still able to do so.”
Iginla has participated in five all-star games, one short of equalling the team record for appearances, and has one goal and two assists, along with 18 shots. He was named team captain for the western conference at the 2008 all-star game.
Liam Liston put on a show at the Canadian Hockey League’s Top Prospects Game.
The St. Albert product and Brandon Wheat Kings goalie stopped all 18 shots directed his way, as the Doug Gilmour-coached Team Orr blasted Team Cherry 7-1 Wednesday at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Liston robbed Mark McNeill of the Prince Albert Raiders on a wraparound and denied Tomas Jurco of the St. John Sea Dogs with a highlight-reel save.
The former bantam Sabre, midget 15 Flyer and midget AAA Raider was replaced by Jordan Binnington of the Owen Sound Attack midway through the second period. Shots overall were 29-26 for Team Cherry.
The 16th annual event showcased the top-40 NHL draft eligible players from Canada’s three major junior leagues.
Liston, 17, is ranked as the number-one WHL goalie by NHL Central Scouting and is listed fourth over among North American goalies. John Gibson (U18 USA) is ranked first, followed by Christopher Gibson (Chicoutimi Sagueneens) and Matej Machovsky (Brampton Battalions).
Liston’s record is 11-13-0-1 with a 3.72 GAA, one shutout and .884 save percentage in 29 games in his rookie season.
St. Albert Slash forward Karly Heffernan padded her league-leading point totals in Wednesday’s 5-1 win against the Sherwood Park Fury at Servus Credit Union Place.
Heffernan scored her 16th goal and added one assist for 42 points in 27 games in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League. Her shorthanded marker in period two was the game winner.
The Morin sisters, Ashley and Deanna, netted goals. Also scoring were Eliza Snider and Sabrina Flemming. Captain Melissa Kueber collected two assists. She is second in the points race with 39 in 20 games and is tied with teammate Jessica Kampjes for the lead in goals at 23. Emily Mitchell (11-3-1, 1.98 GAA and league-high five shutouts), the first team all-star goalie at the Mac’s tournament, stopped 14 shots. Fury netminder Krysten Pattison faced 46 shots.
In the north standings, the Slash (19-5-3) and Fury (7-19-1) are ranked second and third, respectively.
The Slash are 3-2 in January after going 3-1 at the Mac’s tournament. The team’s league record in December was 3-1.
Today at 2 p.m. the Slash visits the Lloydminster Steelers (6-20-2). On Sunday they host the Highwood Raiders (15-7-5) at 4:30 p.m. at Mark Messier Arena.
Next week the Slash wrap up their regular season schedule against the Edmonton Thunder (22-0-5) Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., Medicine Hat Hounds (15-8-5) Saturday at 2:15 p.m. and the Grande Prairie Storm (3-22-3) Sunday at 11 a.m. at Performance Arena.
The Slash are the host team for the Esso Cup national championship, April 17 to 23 at Servus Place.
The top two north conference teams in the Alberta Minor Midget AAA Hockey League face off tonight in Sherwood Park.
Game time is 8:30 p.m. between the second-place St. Albert Flyers (19-5) and the conference-leading Sherwood Park Squires (21-1-4).
The Flyers are coming off a 4-3 loss Wednesday against the Leduc Oil Kings (14-8-3) at Akinsdale Arena. Luc Lalor sniped a pair and Shane Bowzaylo also scored. Tyler Dea had two assists. The Flyers outshot Leduc 29-24. In net was Tanner McCorriston (8-3, 2.64 GAA).
In conference scoring, Jake Mykitiuk is the leader in goals with 30 in 24 games and is second in points with 49. Taylor Cooper of the Squires is the top scorer with 59 points in 26 games.
