The Cincinnati forward leads the league’s rookie scoring race.
CINCINNATI, OHIO- The Cincinnati Cyclones, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Buffalo Sabres and American Hockey League’s (AHL) Rochester Americans, and in conjunction with the ECHL, have announced that rookie forward Justin Danforth will be the Cyclones representative at the upcoming 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, competing for Team Central. The game is scheduled to take place on Monday, January 15, at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, IN; home of the ECHL’s Indy Fuel.
“I’m honored to be chosen for the ECHL All-Star game and represent the Cyclones,” remarked Danforth. “It’s always nice to be recognized for something like this, and I am looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
A native of Oshawa, ON, Danforth currently leads all rookies and is third in overall ECHL scoring with 37 points (18g, 19a) along with a plus-18 on-ice rating in 31 games played. He enjoyed an 11-game point streak from November 18-December 13, accounting for seven goals and 10 assists in that span, including five multi-point outings.
“We are extremely happy to see Justin receive this honor of being named to the All-Star team this season,” said Cyclones Head Coach Matt Macdonald. “Although this is only his first year, he has worked very hard and has shown he is an elite player in this league. It’s great to see him get this opportunity to represent Cincinnati.”
Danforth is in his full pro season, after skating in nine games between the ECHL’s Reading Royals, and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL), late during the 2016-17 campaign. He accounted for three goals and two assists between the two teams in that time.
Prior to turning pro, Danforth had an outstanding career at Sacred Heart University where he amassed 124 points (42g, 82a) in 147 games. He also served as assistant captain during his senior season.
For the first time in ECHL history, the All-Star Classic will feature four teams representing each of the League’s divisions. In a format similar to those adapted by the NHL and AHL All-Star Games, the four teams will compete in a 3-on-3 tournament in order to crown a winner. The two semifinal matches will be played within the Eastern and Western Conferences; with the East Division taking on the South Division and the Central Division facing the Mountain Division. The 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place after the second semifinal game, with the championship round immediately following the Skills Competition.
The 2018 rosters feature 27 first-time ECHL All-Star selections, including 12 rookies, and nine players who have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft. Overall, more than 65 players from the ECHL All-Star Game have gone on to play in the NHL, including 51 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.
The rosters were determined in a vote of coaches, team captains, media relations directors, broadcasters and members of the media. Each of the ECHL teams is represented by a player in the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic.