Steelheads defenseman Travis Walsh named to ECHL All-Star Roster

Boise, ID (1/3/17) – The ECHL announced the ECHL All-Stars roster on Tuesday for the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, presented by I LOVE NY. Rookie defenseman Travis Walsh has been selected to represent the Steelheads at the All-Star festivities in Glens Falls on January 18th.

Walsh, 23, ranks second among Steelheads defensemen in points through his first 30 games in Idaho. The former Michigan State Spartan has scored five goals and collected 13 points this year with the Steelheads, along with a plus-4 rating.

Walsh was particularly strong in December, scoring three goals and earning a plus-3 rating.

“Travis has had a strong first half,” said Steelheads Head Coach Neil Graham. “He has been a big part of our success and has played in key situations for us, including both on the power play and the penalty kill.”

This is Walsh’s first full professional season. He played six games last year, three with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves and three with the Missouri Mavericks, following his senior year at Michigan State.

The starting lineup is determined in a vote of coaches, team captains, media relations directors, broadcasters and members of the media. Coaches also submit the players who they feel are the top prospects from their team and other teams in their conference which helps determine the final roster. Each of the ECHL teams has either a starter, reserve or alternate named for the ECHL All-Star Classic. The ECHL All-Star roster is as follows:

ECHL All-Star StartersG – Jamie Phillips, Tulsa Oilers

D – Justin Agosta, Manchester Monarchs; Jacob MacDonald, Toledo Walleye

F – Chad Costello, Allen Americans; Peter Sivak, Alaska Aces; Shawn Szydlowski, Fort Wayne Komets

ECHL All-Star Reserves

G – C.J. Motte, Quad City

D – Eric Knodel, Cincinnati; Sprio Goulakos, Greenville; Travis Walsh, Idaho; Kevin Tansey, Missouri; Michael Young, Rapid City; Kevin Schulze, Wheeling

F – Justin Buzzeo, Atlanta; Matt Garbowsky, Colorado; John McCarron, Florida; Alex Wideman, Indy; Tony Cameranesi, Orlando, Justin Crandall, Reading; Steven McParland, South Carolina; Erik Bradford, Utah; Alexis Loiseau, Wichita

The 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by I LOVE NY will feature the host Adirondack Thunder taking on the ECHL All-Stars in a non-traditional format featuring 5-on-5, 4-on-4, and 3-on-3 play, as well as a Skills Competition (Puck Relay, Hardest Shot, Fastest Skater) to highlight the talents of both teams.

More than 60 players from the ECHL All-Star Game have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 48  players since 2002.

The game will air LIVE exclusively on NHL Network on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET from the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, N.Y.

The 10th class will be inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Jan. 18, during a luncheon ceremony presented by BFL CANADA and Sutton Special Risk at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George, N.Y., the official host hotel of the 2017 ECHL All-Star Classic. The hotel will also host the ECHL All-Star Fan Fest, with player appearances, interactive game, prizes, giveaways, auctions, memorabilia, and a special Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit on Tuesday, Jan. 17 starting at 6 p.m.