Two Falcons headed to Utica for All-Star Classic

Date: 1/8/2015

SPRINGFIELD – Springfield Falcons defenseman Austin Madaisky and goaltender Anton Forsberg have been named to the roster for the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino taking place on Jan. 25 and 26 in Utica, NY.

Madaisky, 22, has appeared in 36 games with the Falcons during the 2014-15 season. Since Nov. 5, he has lead the team in points, registering 29 (9 goals, 20 assists), which also ranks him second among defensemen in the AHL. This is the first time the Surrey, British Columbia native has been selected for the AHL All-Star Classic. Madaisky was selected in the fifth round, 124th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Forsberg, 22, has 21 starts with the Falcons this season, earning a 16-4-0 record. His 1.93 goals-against average and .931 save percentage leads rookies and ranks him fourth among all goaltenders in the league. His performance this season has earned the Harnosand, Sweden native CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month honors for the month of November. This will mark the goaltender’s first AHL All-Star Classic appearance. Forsberg was selected in the seventh round, 188th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Madaisky and Forsberg will represent the Eastern Conference all-stars, coached by Manchester Monarchs Head Coach Mike Stothers and Worcester Sharks Head Coach Roy Sommer.

Fans will have the opportunity to vote for the starting lineups for the 2015 AHL All-Star Game via official CCM AHL All-Star Fan Balloting. Details will be announced soon.

A very limited number of tickets remain available for the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino. They can be purchased in person at the Utica Memorial Auditorium box office (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), by phone at 800-693-8000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets for the two-day event are priced as low as $69 and include admission to both the All-Star Skills Competition at 8 p.m. on Jan. 25 and the All-Star Game at 7 p.m. on Jan. 26.

The 2015 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League. Of the 644 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 94 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Ben Bishop, Ryan Callahan, Zdeno Chara, Logan Couture, Jimmy Howard, Chris Kunitz, Ryan Miller, Gustav Nyquist, Zach Parise, Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, Cory Schneider, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal and P.K. Subban.


The Falcons needed extra time, but captured two victories on Jan. 3 and 4 after falling to the Portland Pirates on Jan. 2.

In the second win, the Falcons edged the Manchester Monarchs, 3-2, in overtime at the MassMutual Center when Trent Vogelhuber redirected a Jaime Sifer’s shot 3:59 into the extra frame, giving the Falcons sole possession of the Northeast Division with 50 points.

The win gives the Falcons a 24-10-2-0 record and a 2-1-0-0 lead in the four-game season series against the Monarchs and put them one point behind Manchester in the Eastern Conference.

The Falcons rate undefeated in the five overtime games they’ve played at home this season. The Falcons have gone to overtime in six of their last seven games.

That includes Jan. 3, when Falcons slipped past the Worcester Sharks 4-3 in a shootout at the MassMutual Center.

Kerby Rychel netted the game winning goal in the second round to keep the Falcons undefeated in three shootouts they’ve seen this season.