Kowalski, Milam named to ECHL All-Star team

DULUTH - The selections and starting lineups for the 2008 ECHL All-Star game were announced today and for the second straight year, two Gladiators are in the starting lineup. Goalie Craig Kowalski and defenseman Jamie Milam were both selected to their first All-Star game. Kowalski is off to the best season start of his career. The 5-foot-8 and 185-pound netminder had a record of 11-3-1 on the season with a 2.25 goals against average and a .926 save percentage before being called up to the AHL's Syracuse Crunch.

Milam's selection marks the third straight season that a Gladiator blueliner has been in the All-Star starting lineup. Milam's older brother Troy started the trend in 2006 and Jon Awe upheld the tradition last season.

So far this year, Milam has collected 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 24 games. The Lake Orion, MI native leads the Gladiators in scoring by a defenseman and is third in the ECHL in that category.

Hosted by the Stockton Thunder and the City of Stockton at Stockton Arena, the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game presented by Jackson Rancheria and Bud Light will be played on Jan. 23 with the 11th edition of the Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game Skills Competition being held on Jan. 22.

The starting lineups are determined in voting by American Conference coaches, team captains, media directors, broadcasters and media members. Coaches also submitted the top prospects from within their conference to determine the final roster with each of the 16 teams having a representative.

There are 13 rookies on the American Conference squad and only two of the 21 players have played in an ECHL All-Star Game.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that has 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fifth season as a meberer of the ECHL - season ticket packages are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.