Roster for the Canadian All-Star Team, which will compete in the 2002 AHL All-Star Classic, Feb. 14 at Mile One Stadium in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Canadian All-Star Team Starters

2002 Canadian AHL All-Star Team

Forwards Jonathan Cheechoo, Cleveland* Jason Chimera, Hamilton* Mike Craig, Cleveland Shane Endicott, W-B/Scranton Mark Greig, Philadelphia* Steve Kariya, Manitoba Donald MacLean, St. John’s Andy McDonald, Cincinnati Justin Papineau, Worcester Byron Ritchie, Lowell Jean-Guy Trudel, Springfield J.P Vigier, Chicago Defensemen Nathan Dempsey, St. John’s* Micki DuPont, Saint John Ray Giroux, Bridgeport Greg Hawgood, Utah Curtis Murphy, Houston John Slaney, Philadelphia (C)* Derrick Walser, Syracuse Goaltenders Michael Leighton, Norfolk Neil Little, Philadelphia* Travis Scott, Manchester * - Starters Coach: Jim Playfair, Saint John Assistant: Ron Wilson, Saint John

Neil Little, Goaltender (Philadelphia Phantoms): In his seventh AHL season, Neil Little has earned his first trip to an AHL All-Star Classic in 2002. The native of Medicine Hat, Alberta, has been in the Philadelphia Flyers’ organization since turning pro in 1994, and backstopped the Phantoms to the Calder Cup championship in 1998. This season, Little has been the AHL’s stingiest goaltender, posting a 1.66 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in helping Philadelphia to the best record in the league. Little ranks third among active AHL goaltenders with 143 career wins.

Nathan Dempsey, Defense (St. John’s Maple Leafs): Long-time St. John’s Maple Leaf Nathan Dempsey gets the nod to start for the Canadian All-Stars in front of the home crowd at Mile One Stadium. Dempsey made his pro debut with St. John’s during the 1993 Calder Cup Playoffs, and has skated in 500 regular-season and playoff games in the AHL, all with the Maple Leafs. The native of Spruce Grove, Alta., has already established a career high with 31 assists this season, a total that leads the entire league. The club’s all-time leader in assists and games played, Dempsey is currently in his fifth season as the Leafs’ captain.

John Slaney, Defense (Philadelphia Phantoms): St. John’s-born defenseman John Slaney has been selected to start the AHL All-Star Game for the second straight year. A first-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals in 1990, Slaney was the MVP of last year’s game on an emotional evening in Wilkes-Barre, 24 hours after he was traded from the Penguins to Philadelphia. He won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s top defenseman last season, and has totaled 100 goals and 281 points in 278 career AHL contests. The league’s leader among defensemen with 38 points this season, Slaney is making his third All-Star appearance.

Jonathan Cheechoo, Forward (Cleveland Barons): Coming off a successful campaign that included a berth on the AHL All-Rookie Team and a spot in the 2001 All-Star Game, Jonathan Cheechoo has recorded 36 points in 31 games for the first-year, first-place Cleveland Barons. The 21-year-old San Jose Sharks prospect earned a Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week honor during a torrid December, during which he tallied 15 points in his first seven games back from an injury. A native of Moose Factory, Ontario, Cheechoo had his jersey presented to the Hockey Hall of Fame as the first member of the Moose Cree First Nations to sign an NHL contract.

Jason Chimera, Forward (Hamilton Bulldogs): Edmonton-born Jason Chimera has 15 goals and 43 points in 35 games for the Canadian Division-leading Bulldogs, and scored his first career NHL goal for his hometown Oilers on Dec. 18. Chimera put together an impressive 12-game scoring streak from Nov. 7 to Dec. 1, totaling 10 goals and 13 assists on the strength of 10 multi-point efforts. After tying for the AHL lead with eight game-winning goals last season, Chimera has potted four more this year, and he is tied for fourth in the league with a plus-18 rating.

Mark Greig, Forward (Philadelphia Phantoms): As he closes in on the eighth 20-goal season of his AHL career, Mark Greig will appear in his first AHL All-Star Classic. The former first-round draft pick (1990) ranks eighth in the AHL with 39 points, and has been the catalyst for the Phantoms’ offense for the past four seasons. A Calder Cup champion with Springfield in 1991, Greig was named a First Team AHL All-Star in 2001, and has played 503 career AHL contests with Springfield, St. John’s, Saint John and Philadelphia.