ST. JOHN’S, N.L. … Hometown captain Jason Jaffray played the role of hero as the American Hockey League All-Star team took a thrilling 18-17 victory over Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League in the 2014 AHL All-Star Skills Competition at Mile One Centre on Tuesday evening.
Jaffray, the AHL’s All-Star captain who also wears the "C" for the St. John’s IceCaps, scored in the final attempt of the AHL Live Breakaway Relay event to tie the score, then converted in the third sudden-death shootout round to give the AHL the win over their Swedish guests in the first part of the two-day 2014 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Assante Wealth Management.
Färjestad defenseman Magnus Nygren, a Montreal Canadiens prospect who began the 2013-14 season with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, shattered the event record in the CCM Hardest Shot competition with a blast of 104.6 miles per hour. Nygren also shared the Pepsi Accuracy Shooting title with Jaffray and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers’ Ryan Strome; all three players hit four targets in six attempts.
Mike Hoffman of the Binghamton Senators won the CCM Fastest Skater event with a lap of 13.990 seconds, and Dustin Tokarski of the Hamilton Bulldogs was the CCM Top Goaltender with 16 saves on 24 attempts on the night.
The teams split the Sher-Wood Puck Control Relay, highlighted by 16-year-old FBK rookie Oliver Kylington outracing AHL scoring leader Travis Morin in their one-on-one heat.
The AHL All-Stars host Färjestad BK in the 2014 AHL All-Star Game on Wednesday night (6:30 p.m. ET). Check theahl.com for air times and channels along the AHL All-Star Classic television network.
