Ducks’ Kariya Named a Reserve for Upcoming All-Star Game

Paul Kariya became the second All-Star in Duck history--and the first to reach the game on merit--when he was named a Western Conference reserve on Tuesday.

“It’s a nice honor,” said Kariya, who has 24 goals and 52 points and ranks in the league’s top tier in both categories. “But we’re on a very important road trip. I’m trying not to think about it right now.”

Defenseman Alexei Kasatonov was chosen as the Ducks’ mandatory All-Star representative in 1994--mostly in recognition of his international career, since no other Duck was deserving. The 1995 game was canceled by the NHL lockout.

Kariya, 21, was named to play in the Jan. 20 game in Boston after being selected by the NHL hockey operations department in consultation with a committee of general managers.

That same group, along with Western Conference Coach Marc Crawford of the Colorado Avalanche, must select a player to replace injured Vancouver winger Pavel Bure, who was voted to the starting lineup by fans. Candidates include Alexander Mogilny, who is Bure’s Vancouver teammate, as well as Winnipeg’s Teemu Selanne and Kariya, who was third in the fan voting for wingers behind Brett Hull and Bure.