Hasek Wins All-Star Spot in Fan Vote

Buffalo Sabre goaltender Dominik Hasek was selected Saturday as a starter for the 50th NHL All-Star game despite sitting out most of the first half because of a groin injury.

The Czech star doubts he’ll be ready to return to action until February. The All-Star game is scheduled for Feb. 6 at Toronto.

Hasek, who suffered his injury Oct. 29 against the Florida Panthers, has been skating on his own for about 20 minutes each day during the last two weeks and thinks he has made considerable progress. Still, he said, his right leg is still considerably weaker than his left.

“Next week, I hope I can start to skate with the goalie equipment,” Hasek said last week.

“Maybe by the middle of the month, I can practice with my teammates. I hope it’s by the end of this month--if not, February. I don’t even think about March.”

The world team lost 8-6 last year and 8-7 in 1998, the first two years the international format was used for the All-Star game.

Starters were selected in fan balloting from Nov. 1 to Jan. 3.

Pittsburgh Penguin right wing Jaromir Jagr became the first player to receive more than 1 million votes.

“I’m pretty lucky,” Jagr said. “My second year in the league I was voted to the All-Star game, and I’ve been voted in ever since. I’m thankful for that.”

Fan balloting began in 1985-86. Jagr’s total eclipsed the former high of 620,788 set by Paul Coffey of the Detroit Red Wings in 1995-96.

Joining Hasek and Jagr as starters on the world team are winger Teemu Selanne of the Ducks, center Mats Sundin of the Toronto Maple Leafs and defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom of the Red Wings and Sandis Ozolinsh of the Colorado Avalanche.

The six starters for the North American team are all Canadian-born: defenseman Rob Blake of the Kings, defenseman Chris Pronger of the St. Louis Blues, winger Paul Kariya of the Kings, winger Brendan Shanahan of the Red Wings, center Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings and goaltender Curtis Joseph of the Maple Leafs.

Toronto’s Pat Quinn will coach the North Americans and Detroit’s Scottie Bowman, in what might be his final season, will coach the world team.