NHL changes All-Star game
According to the Canadian Press, the National Hockey League has elected to change the format of their All-Star game.
The League has been working on developing a new format for the All-Star game for some time, as the event has lost its mystique in recent years. The League tried to a North America vs. The World theme for a couple years, but it failed to grasp the attention
of the fans. They are hoping that their new concept will garner more praise.
The League is now turning to a new format, which sees captains select their teams, choosing from a pool of players that will either be voted in by the fans or decided upon by NHL hockey operations. The concept was developed by NHL vice president Brendan
Shanahan and was discussed at the general manager’s meetings on Tuesday, 9 November in Toronto.
"We’ve worked for a little while now on the idea, this concept, closely with the NHLPA," said Shanahan.
"They like the idea. Some of the players that they’ve talked to, potential All-Stars, they seem sort of excited and energized by it."
This will mark the first change to the All-Star game since the League reverted back to the Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format in 2003.
The League is hoping to generate more interest in what has become a stale event by introducing a selection show on the Friday of All-Star weekend.
"We know what it is and we know what it’s not," stated Shanahan. "It’s an entertaining, fun game. Fans like to be entertained by the players showing their competitive spirit with a big smile on their face. It’s not a Stanley Cup final, it’s not an Olympic
Games. It’s never going to be that."
The League has also announced that it will drop the young-stars game and the weekend will now include the selection show, the skills competition and the actual All-Star game itself.
The NHL All-Star game is set to take place on 30 January, 2011.
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