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

PlanetUSA All-Star Team Starters

2002 PlanetUSA AHL All-Star Team

Forwards Tyler Arnason, Norfolk Jiri Bicek, Albany Eric Boguniecki, Worcester* Ted Donato, Manchester Matt Herr, Hershey Andy Hilbert, Providence Roman Lyashenko, Utah Ryan Kraft, Cleveland Kip Miller, Grand Rapids* Jeff Panzer, Worcester Petr Schastlivy, Grand Rapids Brian Swanson, Hamilton* Defensemen Bubba Berenzweig, Milwaukee Rich Brennan, Manchester* (captain) Sven Butenschon, Hamilton* John Gruden, Grand Rapids Ron Hainsey, Quebec Mike Mottau, Hartford Nick Naumenko, Portland Goaltenders Rick DiPietro, Bridgeport* Mika Noronen, Rochester Martin Prusek, Grand Rapids * - Starters Coach: TBA Assistant: TBA Coach: Jim Playfair, Saint John Assistant: Ron Wilson, Saint John

Rick DiPietro, Goaltender (Bridgeport Sound Tigers): The first overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft has helped Bridgeport stay at or near the top of the East Division all season. The 20-year-old, who played 20 NHL games with the New York Islanders last season, ranks fourth in the AHL in minutes played (1,390), and ran off an eight-game unbeaten streak earlier in the year. As a Boston University freshman in 1999-2000, DiPietro set an NCAA record with 77 saves in a quadruple-overtime loss to St. Lawrence in a national quarterfinal game.

Rich Brennan, Defense (Manchester Monarchs): Rich Brennan will make AHL history when he joins Fred Glover and Dunc Fisher as the only six-time participants in an AHL All-Star Game. A Calder Cup champion in 1997 with the Hershey Bears, the native of Schenectady, N.Y., set an All-Star Game record by scoring two goals in 17 seconds during last year’s event. In addition to his 373 career AHL matches, Brennan has skated in 43 NHL contests with Los Angeles, Nashville, the N.Y. Rangers, San Jose and Colorado.

Sven Butenschon, Defense (Hamilton Bulldogs): Born in Germany but raised in Winnipeg, Sven Butenschon makes his first AHL All-Star appearance in 2002. The sixth-year pro set career highs with 19 goals and 40 points with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 1999-2000, and served as the Penguins’ captain before being acquired by Edmonton last March. This year, Butenschon, 25, has anchored a defense that has helped Hamilton to the best record in the Eastern Conference. He is currently tied for fifth among AHL blueliners with 24 points.

Eric Boguniecki, Forward (Worcester IceCats): Eric Boguniecki makes his second consecutive appearance in the AHL All-Star Classic, starting for the PlanetUSA club for the first time. The leading scorer for last season’s regular-season points champion IceCats is back among the AHL’s elite, one goal off the league lead with 21 and three back of the pace with 48 points. The native of West Haven, Conn., owns a 1.50 points-per-game average that is second-highest in the league, and his seven power play tallies have helped Worcester to the AHL’s best man-advantage success rate.

Kip Miller, Forward (Grand Rapids Griffins): A five-time 30-goal scorer in his pro career, Kip Miller makes his first AHL All-Star appearance after a tremendous first half with Grand Rapids. The youngest of the three hockey-playing Millers (joining brothers Kelly and Kevin), the native of Lansing, Mich., is currently fourth in the AHL scoring race with 44 points and tied for second with 29 assists. The 1990 Hobey Baker Award winner from Michigan State has skated in 274 career NHL contests.

Brian Swanson, Forward (Hamilton Bulldogs): The AHL’s leading scorer with 51 points in 37 games, Brian Swanson has led Hamilton’s turnaround from postseason bystander a year ago to the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Alaska-born Swanson, 25, notched a point in 14 straight games from Nov. 2 to Dec. 1, recording 16 goals, 14 assists and a +25 rating during the streak. A former All-American at Colorado College, Swanson has skated in 16 career NHL games with Edmonton. He is making his first AHL All-Star appearance.