Two Chiefs players earn honor for ECHL’s showcase event

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December 31, 2008

MIKE MASTOVICH The Tribune-Democrat Wed Dec 31, 2008, 09:13 PM EST

For only the second time in team all-star history, the Johnstown Chiefs will have two starters in the 17th annual ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 21 at the Reading Sovereign Center.

Goaltender Kris Mayotte and defenseman Jon Landry each were voted onto the American Conference team as starters by ECHL media and coaches.

In 16 previous ECHL All-Star events, the Chiefs have had only five starters. The only time Johnstown had two starters on the same all-star squad was nine years ago, when forward Joel Irving and future NHL defenseman Derrick Walser each were in the lineup for the 1999-2000 game played in Greenville, S.C.

“It’s exciting for the fans to see the quality of the players we have this year,” Chiefs coach Ian Herbers said. “Jon Landry came here through our affiliation with Columbus, which has been a good affiliation both ways. Kris Mayotte was a good free agent signing this summer that just kind of fell into our lap. Sometimes the best things aren’t the ones that are planned.”

Entering tonight’s game against Trenton, Mayotte’s 14 wins tied for the league lead and his three shootout victories tied for first.

The Pittsburgh native ranked fourth with 1,173 minutes played. He was 14-4-1, with a 2.56 goals against average to rank 10th in the league and has a .914 save percentage.

“Mayotte has been just a good, steady goaltender,” Herbers said. “He’s low maintenance. He wants to compete and play hard every night. He wants to win every night. It makes it easy for the guys to want to play well for him.”

Landry scored seven goals, gave out 11 assists and totalled 18 points in 31 games.

He was tied for 11th in scoring by league defensemen.

His seven goals tied for second among blue-liners, and Landry’s four power-play goals, three game-winning goals and one shootout-winning goal all ranked first or tied for first among defensemen.

“Landry provides a spark offensively for us back there,” Herbers said. “He’s got a big shot and he gets it through most of the time on net.”

There is a possibility that Herbers will be on the bench as an all-star coach. League officials said the two coaches for each conference are selected based upon winning percentage.

The Chiefs bring a 21-9-1-0 record into the New Year’s Eve game. Wheeling, led by coach Greg Puhalski, is 19-5-1-4 with a game tonight against visiting Cincinnati. Florida, coached by former Chiefs player Malcolm Cameron, is 19-7-1-1 with a game tonight against Charlotte.

The Chiefs also host games Friday and Saturday against Cincinnati prior to the all-star coaches being announced on Jan. 6. Wheeling hosts Elmira on Friday and Saturday. Florida hosts Charlotte Friday and Saturday.

Herbers took in stride the possibility of his coaching in an all-star game during his second season in Johnstown.

“If it doesn’t happen I get some time off and see my family,” said Herbers, whose wife and daughters reside in Saginaw, Mich. “If it does happen, it’s great. It’s a win-win situation either way. We want to keep playing well and worry about our game and what we need to do to keep getting better as a team.”

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Two Chiefs players earn honor for ECHL’s showcase event

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