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Wilson, Connelly named AHL all-stars

The Abbotsford Heat have monopolized the two defence slots on the AHL's second all-star team.
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Heat workhorse defenceman Clay Wilson has been named a second team AHL all-star for the second time in three seasons.

The Abbotsford Heat have monopolized the two defence slots on the AHL's second all-star team.

Blueliners Clay Wilson and Brian Connelly were both named AHL second team all-stars on Thursday.

It's the second all-star honour for Wilson – he was a second-teamer in 2009-10 with the Rochester Americans. The Sturgeon Lake, Minn native's 15 goals this season are tied for tops among AHL defencemen with Rochester's T.J. Brennan, and he sits sixth in points with 41 points in 63 games.

Wilson has arguably been the Heat's team MVP this season – over the second half of the campaign, the workhorse defenceman has played in the neighbourhood of 30 minutes per game.

Connelly has split his season between the Heat and the Rockford IceHogs – he was acquired in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks organization on Jan. 27 in exchange for Brendan Morrison. The third-year pro is second in scoring among AHL blueliners with 49 points in 69 games.

The complete list of AHL all-stars are as follows:

First team

G Yann Danis, Oklahoma City Barons (40gp, 25-12-2, 2.11gaa, .924sv%, 5so)

D Mark Barberio, Norfolk Admirals (69gp, 12+47=59pts., +23, 37 PP pts.)

D Paul Postma, St. John’s IceCaps (55gp, 13+31=44pts., 24 PP pts., 3 GWG)

LW Chris Bourque, Hershey Bears (67gp, 26+64=90pts., 50 PP pts.)

C Keith Aucoin, Hershey Bears (43gp, 11+59=70pts., 38 PP pts.)

RW Kyle Palmieri, Syracuse Crunch (46gp, 32+23=55pts., +11, 7 GWG)

Second team

G Ben Bishop, Peoria Rivermen/Binghamton Senators (41gp, 26-15-0, 2.27gaa, .930sv%, 6so)

D Brian Connelly, Rockford IceHogs/Abbotsford Heat (69gp, 6+43=49pts., 20 PP pts.)

D Clay Wilson, Abbotsford Heat (63gp, 15+26=41pts., +4, 3 GWG)

LW Cory Conacher, Norfolk Admirals (70gp, 34+39=73pts., +11, 7 GWG)

C T.J. Hensick, Peoria Rivermen (61gp, 21+46=67pts., 26 PP pts., 4 GWG)

RW Jon DiSalvatore, Houston Aeros (70gp, 26+31=57pts., 27 PP pts., 3 GWG)

Brian Connelly, pictured above trying to jam the puck past Milwaukee goalie Jeremy Smith, earned an all-star nod after amassing the second-most points among AHL blueliners. (Milwaukee Admirals photo)