Sometime in the next week or so, the ECHL will unveil its rosters for the All-Star Classic, which will be played Jan. 15 in Savannah, Georgia. 

It may seem a little early for all-star hoopla, since some teams have only played 24 games, or one-third of the ECHL’s regular season, but consider this – ballots for the All-Star Classic were due way back on Dec. 1.

The format for this year’s All-Star Classic will be a team of ECHL all-stars taking on the host Savannah Ghost Pirates, who are off to a 9-15-3 start. Their .393 winning percentage is worse than every team except the Utah Grizzlies (8-17-0, .320) and Allen Americans (10-16-1, .389). 

There also will be skills competitions, and the winners will earn a goal for their respective teams at Enmarket Arena.

I’m no particular fan of the All-Star Classic format, pitting all-stars against a home team, but I understand the value of doing it that way to excite the fan base of the home team, which shoulders the cost of an expensive event. 

The truth is, no one has found a good way to structure all-star games at the Double-A level of hockey, though I’ve got some ideas on that (as far-fetched as they may be) below.

First, let’s talk about what the lineup should be. 

The roster of ECHL all-stars is chosen by coaches, team captains, media-relations directors, broadcasters and reporters, though the ballot reminds voters to vote only for six players in their own conference. 

As I cover the whole league, I voted for players from the whole league, probably to the peril of my ballot, and my votes were: Iowa Heartlanders goaltender Peyton Jones, South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Connor Moore, Cincinnati Cyclones defenseman Jalen Smereck, Idaho Steelheads forward Mark Rassell, Atlanta Gladiators forward Mitchell Fossier and Kansas City forward Max Andreev. 

Admittedly, a couple of those players I wouldn’t pick today, given another month to think about it.

A lot of fans gripe annually, with sometimes legitimate reasons, about the all-stars who are chosen. 

There’s a clear desire in the ECHL to highlight players who could ascend to the NHL or American Hockey League – especially with the game airing on NHL Network. Sometimes, ECHL mainstays don’t fit those criteria. 

A great example came in 2018, when the Fort Wayne Komets’ Shawn Szydlowski, then 27, led the league in scoring but was left off the roster in favor of 20-year-old Artur Tyanulin, who had nine fewer goals and 17 fewer points.

Injuries and AHL call-ups also greatly impact the pool of available players, as does the ECHL annually holding the All-Star Classic on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when some teams play regular-season games. (The Allen Americans will host the Tulsa Oilers, and the Reading Royals will welcome the Maine Mariners on Jan. 15.) 

Ultimately, I wouldn’t expect the ECHL all-stars to actually have 27 players when they take on the Ghost Pirates.

Here’s a look at who I think should be selected for the All-Star Classic, and remember, I’m not constrained by picking just NHL/AHL prospects, though I tried to stick to a generally younger lineup. For kicks, I also picked a Savannah player among my 15 forwards, nine defensemen and four goaltenders – one player from each ECHL team.

Adirondack Thunder: Jeremy Brodeur, G

The skinny: The 27-year-old goalie is third in ECHL save percentage at .926, and he’s 8-4-0 with a shutout and a 2.36 goals-against average, fifth-best in the ECHL. 

Adirondack leads the North Division with a 16-7-3 record, and Brodeur has been a big part of it.

Allen Americans: Kris Myllari, D

The skinny: Defense hasn’t been the Americans’ forte – they rank last with 4.48 goals against per game – but Myllari, 26, impacts things at both ends of the ice. 

He leads the league in power-play points (three goals, 14 assists) and is third among ECHL blue-liners with 25 points, including six goals.

Atlanta Gladiators: Mitchell Fossier, F

The skinny: The 27-year-old forward leads the Gladiators in scoring with nine goals and 26 points. 

He’s been big on the power play with two goals and 11 points, and he’s plus-6. 

Atlanta won its first eight games and is 2-15-0 since, but Fossier’s play has remained steady.

GOAL!!! 🚨🚨🚨

Fossier ties it up as he jams the dish through the five-hole! 🖐️🕳️

🍎: Fossier
🍏: Vander Esch#DrawYourSword⚔️ pic.twitter.com/1bxw1YYkxF

— Atlanta Gladiators (@atlgladiators) December 3, 2023

Cincinnati Cyclones: Jalen Smereck, D

The skinny: The early leader for ECHL Defenseman of the Year, Smereck, 26, leads all ECHL blue-liners, and the entire Cyclones roster, in scoring with six goals and 31 points. 

He’s big on special teams and gets involved in the physical play. 

If anything, he needs to hold his physicality in check.

Florida Everblades: Cam Johnson, G

The skinny: The playoff MVP the last two seasons when the Everblades won the Kelly Cup, the 29-year-old Johnson is off to a familiar, dependable start with an 8-5-3 record, 2.53 GAA, .913 SP and a shutout. 

Offense has been an issue for Florida – it ranks 24th with 2.83 goals per game – but having Johnson helps take the pressure off the goal scoring.

Fort Wayne Komets: Jack Dugan, F

The skinny: A 25-year-old forward, Dugan scores plenty – he’s got six goals and a Fort Wayne-leading 30 points in 25 games – and also plays with a physical edge that allows him to impact games in a variety of ways. 

He’s plus-5 and has two goals and 10 points on power plays, with a short-handed goal, too.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Carter Souch, F

The skinny: He’s not big at 5-foot-10, but the 22-year-old Souch dazzles with his offensive skills and has nine goals and a team-leading 22 goals in 28 games. 

Four of his goals have been game-winners, and Greenville leads the South Division at 20-8-0.

Idaho Steelheads: Mark Rassell, F

The skinny: He’s racked up a league-leading 20 goals for the Steelheads, who lead the Mountain Division at 21-5-1, and the 26-year-old forward isn’t afraid to go to the difficult areas around the net or in the corners. 

He has five game-winning goals and 12 assists in 27 games. (Tough call here, since teammate Wade Murphy leads the league in points with 39, including 16 goals.)

Indy Fuel: Cameron Hillis, F

The skinny: Only 23 years old and with one NHL game under his belt with the Montral Canadiens, Hillis has been a big part of the Fuel’s improved play after a poor start. 

He’s got three goals and a team-best 25 points in 24 games. On power plays, he’s assisted on 12 goals.

Iowa Heartlanders: Davis Koch, F

The skinny: After playing overseas for the first four seasons of his pro career, Koch, 25, has been a revelation for the Heartlanders in their best season yet. 

Koch has 15 goals, including three game-winners, and 25 points in 28 games.

Jacksonville Icemen: Christopher Brown, F

The skinny: The 27-year-old Brown has been a reliable scorer for the Icemen for years, and this season has been no exception, as he has 11 goals and 25 points in 21 games. 

He’s been particularly good on the power play, totaling seven goals and seven assists.

Kalamazoo Wings: Jonathan Lemieux, G

The skinny: A 22-year-old rookie out of Concordia University, Lemieux has been tremendous for the Wings, playing 1,106 minutes, second only to Trois-Rivières’ Joe Vrbetic’s 1,161. 

Lemieux is second to Greenville’s Jacob Ingham in wins and is 10-9-0 with a 2.93 GAA, .910 SP and one shutout in the offensively charged Central Division.

Kansas City Mavericks: Max Andreev, F

The skinny: The 25-year-old forward out of Cornell leads all ECHL rookies in scoring with nine goals and 33 points in 27 games. 

He’s plus-10 and has one goal and nine points on power plays.

🎩🎩🎩 https://t.co/WLWnbFZSdU

— ECHL (@ECHL) December 7, 2023

Maine Mariners: Gabriel Chicoine, D

The skinny: The 26-year-old defenseman put up four goals and 34 points in 63 games last season for the Mariners, and he’s been even better so far this season with six goals and 17 points in 23 games. 

He’s been a good power-play setup man, accruing eight assists.

Newfoundland Growlers: Jonny Tychonick, D

The skinny: A second-round NHL draft pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2018, the 23-year-old Tychonick has next-level skills and has shown it with three goals and 24 points – fourth among ECHL defensemen – in 26 games. 

He leads the Growlers with 12 power-play points and is minus-4.

Norfolk Admirals: Carson Golder, F

The skinny: Only 21, the 6-foot Golder has been one of the league’s most exciting rookies. 

He has a team-leading 12 goals and 21 points in 26 games, has four game-winning goals, is a team-best plus-11 and has been a big part of the Admirals’ ascension to league power so far this season.

Orlando Solar Bears: Ben Carroll, D

The skinny: After a season playing in Denmark, the 28-year-old defenseman has been exceeding expectations with his offensive production; he’s got three goals and 15 points in 25 games, after totaling two goals and 19 points in 57 games for the Allen Americans in 2021-22. 

Carroll also is plus-6.

Rapid City Rush: Charles Martin, D

The skinny: Martin, 25, impressed in his first pro action last season out of Wisconsin Superior – he had one goal and nine points in 19 games – and he’s elevated his play so far this season. 

He’s a team-best plus-11 and has one goal and 16 points in 24 games.

Reading Royals: Matt Brown, F

The skinny: A rookie out of Boston University, Brown, 24, is only 5-foot-9, but he’s elusive. 

He has eight goals, 22 points and a team-best plus-5 rating in only 18 games for the Royals.

Savannah Ghost Pirates: Simon Pinard, F

The skinny: The 22-year-old Pinard was outstanding last season at the University of New Brunswick with 19 goals and 29 points in 29 games, and he’s acclimated to pro hockey well. 

He has 12 goals and 23 points in 28 games for the Ghost Pirates. He’s also been defensively sound and stayed out of the penalty box.

South Carolina Stingrays: Austin Magera, F

The skinny: Everyone knew Magera would be good after what he did in his first pro games last season out of Sacred Heart University; he had eight goals and 14 points in 18 games for the Stingrays, though he was scoreless in four playoff games. 

This season, though, he has been a force with 13 goals, 25 points and a plus-16 rating – all team-best numbers – in 25 games.

Toledo Walleye: Sam Craggs, F

The skinny: Apologies to Toledo’s Brandon Hawkins, the ECHL’s most feared goal scorer, but Craggs’ game has taken a quantum leap this season and deserves an all-star spot. 

Craggs, 25, has 15 goals, including four game-winners, 28 points and a plus-14 rating in 24 games for the Central Division-leading Walleye (17-4-3).

First career pro hat trick for @s_craggs7 earned him Play of the Week honors 🧢 pic.twitter.com/gmWjb699Iq

— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) December 18, 2023

Trois-Rivières Lions: Noah Laaouan, D

The skinny: Not all all-stars need be flashy. Some can just be steady, everyday influencers for their team. 

Laaouan, 22, is that for the Lions. He’s got one goal, seven points, a plus-12 rating in 28 games.

Tulsa Oilers: Andy Carroll, D

The skinny: A rookie out of Minnesota State-Mankato, the 26-year-old Carroll isn’t big – only 5-foot-10 – but finds ways to impact games in myriad ways. 

He has four goals and 13 points in 24 games, seeing time on special teams and netting a game-winning goal.

Utah Grizzlies: Brett Stapley, F

The skinny: The Grizzlies haven’t been pretty to watch this season, but Stapley has been an exception. 

The 5-foot-10, 24-year-old forward has three goals, 18 points and a plus-1 rating in 20 games.

Wheeling Nailers: Taylor Gauthier, G

The skinny: The 22-year-old netminder could be playing his way back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. 

His .930 save percentage is second in the ECHL to Fort Wayne’s Brett Brochu’s .930, and they’re tied for the top GAA at 2.13. Gauthier is 9-5-1 with two shutouts.   

Wichita Thunder: Peter Bates, F

The skinny: To say the 27-year-old forward has improved this season would be an understatement. 

In 27 games, he’s got 16 goals and 37 points – second to Idaho’s Murphy’s 39 points – after Bates totaled 25 goals and 45 points in his first 81 ECHL games for Atlanta and Wichita.

Worcester Railers: Trevor Cosgrove, D

The skinny: A 6-foot, 26-year-old blue-liner, Cosgrove has three goals, 17 points and a team-best plus-7 rating. 

Cosgrove sees power-play time and has been a boost to the Railers’ offense from the back end.

Fixing The All-Star Classic

In 25 years of covering Double-A hockey, I’ve seen a lot of different all-star formats – conference vs. conference, four divisions in 3-on-3 rally-scoring tournaments (whatever that is), the reigning Cup champions vs. league all-stars and league all-stars vs. the host team – and those are just the formats I can remember. 

Really, none of them have generated much excitement in the hockey world. 

Some cities never want to host all-star games because there’s so much work involved to draw a crowd that may only equal a regular-season game, while others salivate at the chance.

I have an idea I think might generate some excitement, since it would put a spotlight on a mix of the ECHL’s best players and its prospects, while capitalizing on the current excitement over in-season tournaments that we’ve seen in professional basketball. 

It may be an unrealistic idea, since it would take multiple leagues working together and probably require the involvement of the players’ association, but why don’t we figure out a way to get the ECHL and AHL all-star galas at the same venue?

What I’d really like to see is a 5-on-5 tournament between four squads – one from each conference in the ECHL and one from each conference in the AHL – and we can alternate between AHL and ECHL cities hosting the events. 

We’ll find a way to seed the teams, surely the AHL teams being the top two seeds, and play four 20-minute games with halftimes. And we’ll declare a winner. 

Ideally, the NHL puts up a cash prize for the players to get them invested in actually playing. 

The worst case is the ECHL teams get pummeled in the first round, then square off against one another in a third-place game. But could you imagine the excitement if one pulled an upset? 

Regardless, I’m sure we could come up with some exciting things to do with all these players under one roof – make it a real event for NHL brass and media.

Coming to an #AHLAllStar near you.

Details: https://t.co/GiUme7nhaR pic.twitter.com/RmP2R6atov

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) December 20, 2023

For what it’s worth, the AHL All-Star Classic is Feb. 4-5 in San Jose, California, and will utilize a four-division 3-on-3 tournament. 

The AHL may not see any need to involve the ECHL in its festivities, but maybe it should consider it to find a way to boost the growing relationship between the NHL’s two minor leagues.