January 7, 2009

Lovejoy an AHL All Star

WILKES-BARRE, PA -- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy, a former Dartmouth standout, has been named to the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star Team at the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications, which takes place January 25 and 26 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.

Lovejoy, 24, is tied for the AHL lead with a plus-20 rating this season, and ranks tied for 11th in defenseman scoring with 20 points (6+14) in 34 games.  The second-year pro has already set a new career high for goals in a season (6) and tied his mark of 20 points from last season.

The native of Canaan, NH has appeared in two games with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, going scoreless and even.  He made his NHL debut on December against the New Jersey Devils. 

Lovejoy was signed by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to an AHL contract on June 14, 2007, and posted 20 points (2+18) in 72 games during his rookie season.  He also led the Penguins with a plus-16 rating.  He was signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on July 14, 2008.

The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing in the 2009 AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, January 25 (4:00 p.m. ET), and the 2009 AHL All-Star Game on Monday, January 26 (7:00 p.m. ET). The event will be televised nationally in the United States and Canada.