Officials named for 2015 ECHL All-Star Classic

Solar Bears battle the ECHL All-Stars on Wednesday, January 21, in Orlando

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL on Tuesday announced that Nic Leduc and Andrew Wilk have been selected as the referees and Craig Alles and James Johnstone have been chosen to be the linesmen for the 2015 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Visit Orlando. The Solar Bears will face a team of ECHL All-Stars on Wednesday, January 21, 2015. Click here to purchase tickets.

"It is an honor to be selected to work an All-Star game," said ECHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Ernst. "Each one of these officials has earned the right to work the All-Star Game and they are all very excited to be a part of the event in Orlando."

Leduc is in his fourth season as an ECHL referee and has worked the Kelly Cup Finals in each of the previous two seasons. Prior to joining the ECHL, he was a referee in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for three seasons in addition to also playing 189 career games in the league with Victoriaville, Acadie-Bathurt, Prince Edward Island and Baie-Comeau from 2003-06.

Wilk is in his third ECHL season, and has also worked games in the Western Hockey League over the last two seasons. Prior to joining the ECHL, he worked for the North American Hockey League from 2009-11, where he was selected for the 2011 Robertson Cup Finals. He also worked in the Southern Professional Hockey League from 2010-12, and was selected for the 2012 President's Cup Championship.

This is Alles' eighth season working in the ECHL. He has been selected to work the Kelly Cup Playoffs four times and has been the assistant state supervisor of officials in Florida for three years. Alles has been officiating since 2001, and attended USA Hockey Regional Camp in 2004.

Johnstone is in his eighth season as an ECHL linesman. He began his professional officiating career in 2005-06 in the Southern Professional Hockey League and has worked several USA Hockey District Championships. In addition to officiating, Johnstone also coaches youth and high school hockey teams.

Ian Walsh, Brian Pochmara and Justin St. Pierre, who worked the All-Star Game in 1997, 2002 and 2001, respectively, are working as referees in the National Hockey League while Brian Mach, who worked the All-Star Game in 1999, works as a linesman in the NHL.

There are 27 former ECHL officials scheduled to work as part of the NHL officiating team in 2014-15 with referees Darcy Burchell, Francis Charron, Tom Chmielewski, Ghislain Hebert, Jean Hebert, Marc Joannette, Trent Knorr, Mike Leggo, Dave Lewis, T.J. Luxmore, Wes McCauley, Jon McIsaac, Dean Morton, Dan O'Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Graham Skilliter, Justin St. Pierre and Ian Walsh, and linesmen Steve Barton, Matt MacPherson, Brian Mach, Tim Nowak, Bryan Pancich and Jay Sharrers.Thirty of the 46 referees working in the American Hockey League, including six of the nine referees contracted to the NHL, came from the ECHL, while 10 current ECHL referees and 31 current ECHL linesmen have worked AHL games this season.

On Wednesday, January 21,the eighth ECHL Hall of Fame class will be inducted during a luncheon ceremony presented by BFL CANADA at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Downtown, the official host hotel of the 2015 ECHL All-Star Classic.

Ten coaches from the ECHL All-Star Game have gone on to coach in the National Hockey League while 62 players from the contest have gone on to play in the NHL, including 46 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The ECHL All-Star Fan Fest, presented by Walgreen's, with player appearances, interactive game, prizes, giveaways, auctions, memorabilia, and a special Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit, will be held on Tuesday, January 20. On Wednesday, January 21, the day's events include the ECHL Hall of Fame Luncheon and the 2015 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Visit Orlando. Select ECHL Skills competitions will be held the same night and will be incorporated into the evening's events. Specific event details will be provided in the future.

To purchase tickets for the All-Star Classic please CLICK HERE. To purchase tickets for the Madeline Smith Concert please contact the Orlando Solar Bears at 407-951-8200.

Full and Half Season tickets are on sale now for the 2014-15 All-Star Season. Call the Solar Bears at 407-951-8200 or visit OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com for more information.

Orlando Solar Bears Single Game Tickets for the regular season are on sale now! Click here to purchase tickets.

The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL's Toronto Marlies, play all of their home games at the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year, the Amway Center.

Follow the Solar Bears at www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook, and Twitter(@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates. Stay in touch with Shades on Instagram by following ShadestheSolarBear.

Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on discounted group tickets and a list of group benefits, call 407-951-8200 or visit www.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/groups.

Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased online at:   http://store.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/

Since beginning operations in November of 2011, the Solar Bears and their fans have helped raise over $900,000 for the Central Florida community. To read the Solar Bears Report to the Community, click here.