First-Time Stars Ready for Show

A couple of NHL veterans may not be too thrilled about playing in today’s NHL All-Star game, but that won’t be the case for the 11 players who are making their debuts in the event, which will start at noon at Staples Center.

“It’s almost mind-blowing,” said New York Islander forward Mark Parrish, a first-time All-Star. “I don’t think I will realize how much it is until the summer when I am sitting around with my buddies. That’s when I’ll get a chance to say, ‘Wow, that was fun, playing with all of those great players.’”

Toronto’s Pat Quinn and Detroit’s Scotty Bowman will coach against each other today, just as they did 21 years ago when the NHL last held an All-Star game in Los Angeles. Quinn will coach the North American team, while Bowman will be behind the bench for the World team.

Detroit defenseman Chris Chelios, a late replacement for New Jersey’s Brian Rafalski on the North American team, will be making his 11th All-Star game appearance, more than any other playing in today’s game.

Playing in their 10th All-Star game, for the North American team, are Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux and Colorado’s Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy.

San Jose winger Teemu Selanne heads the World team with his eighth All-Star appearance. Washington’s Jaromir Jagr has been voted to the starting lineup for the 10th consecutive year but missed the 1994, 1997 and 2001 games because of injury.

With the NHL scheduled to take a 12-day break later this month for the Salt Lake Olympic Games and the Super Bowl being played Sunday, today’s All-Star game could have easily been lost in the shuffle.

But that hasn’t been the case. Friday night’s Young Stars game and Super Skills competition was a sellout, and the same is expected for today’s event.

“I think there’s an obligation,” Lemieux said about playing in today’s game. “It’s not that hard of a game. ... Come here for a couple of days, enjoy yourself, play the game and try to put a show on for the fans.

“It doesn’t take a lot out of you. If the guys are healthy and are feeling good, they should be here and be a part of it.”

Boston forward Joe Thornton is one of seven first-time All-Stars playing on the North American team. You can tell by the smile he wore Friday that today’s game is something special.

“This is my first one, and there was no way I was going to stay back in Boston,” Thornton said.

Toronto’s Mats Sundin added that making the most out of an All-Star game is up to the individual. “This is my seventh time playing in the game, and I still enjoy it,” he said. “I think it’s an honor to be picked. The NHL is a big league with a lot of great players.”

Philadelphia forward Jeremy Roenick, who will be playing in his seventh All-Star game for the North American team, created his own fun Friday with a personal video camera. While Thornton talked to reporters, Roenick interrupted the session by teasing his North American All-Star teammate.

Said Parrish: “It’s great to see [veteran All-Stars] excited just as much as the young guys, but the only difference is that they know how to react to everything.”

With eight countries being represented in today’s game and the Olympics right around the corner, this year’s All-Star weekend has taken on a more international flair because of the World vs. North American format, which has been used since 1998.

“This is really a showcase for the Olympics because a lot of the questions we are getting are about the Olympics,” Colorado defenseman Rob Blake said. “I think it really just increases the hype.”

Or as St. Louis defenseman Chris Pronger, who will play on the North American team today and for Canada in the Olympics, said: “Being here is good because there’s a lot of trash talking going on. You know those Americans. They love trash talking.”