Stefan Ruzicka (left) and Brad Richardson try on their 2005 Bell OHL Classic All-Star jerseys.
- photo courtesy of Ryan Manley

The 2005 Bell OHL All-Star Classic will take place Tuesday, Februray 1, 2005 (skills competition) and Wednesday, February 2, 2005 (All-Star game) in Owen Sound. 40 of the top players in the Ontario Hockey League will compete.

Ticket packages are $25 per seat and on sale at the Owen Sound Attack Box Office. The package includes a reserved seat for the Skills Competiton on February 1, a reserved seat for the Bell All-Star Classic on February 2, a souvenir program, and a donation to the MRI Campaign of the Grey Bruce Regional Health Centre.

Another excellent autograph opportunity will be the All-Star Luncheon on Wednesday, February 2 at noon at the Bayshore. Tickets are just $20 and include a chicken buffet lunch with at least one member of an All-Star Team at your table. Special guests include former Owen Sound Plater Captain and Detroit Red Wing Kirk Maltby, Hockey Hall of Fame member Dale Hawerchuk, and NHL veteran Paul MacDermid. Tickets are available for the Luncheon at the Owen Sound Attack Box Office.

Each player had to take part in one of four competitions. The breakaway, the fastest skater, hardest shot and a puck control relay.

Andre Benoit of the Kitchener Rangers, Dylan Hunter of the London Knights and Ryan Callahan of the Guelph Storm won the breakaway competition.

Danny Syvret of the London Knights was our fastest skater. Danny did a lap of the rink in 15.08 seconds. Our Owen Sound Attack center Brad Richardson skated against Patrick O'Sullivan. Brad did a lap in 15.80 seconds.

Marc Methot of the London Knights won the hardest shot with a 95 mph blast. Mark and his former teammate Kyle Quincey, now of the Mississauga Ice Dogs had tied, but Mark won the shoot-off. Our Stefan Ruzicka registered 88 mph.

The Western All-Stars won the relay contest where four skaters had to skate the length of the ice to get their puck before working their way through pilons back down the ice. David Bolland from London, Cal O'Reilly of Windsor, Robbie Schremp of London and Evan McGrath of the Kitchener Rangers made up the Western team. The Eastern team complained that Robbie had left early for his turn. Interviewed after the event, Robbie said "sorry". Ha Ha

The evening closed with a highly entertaining 3-on-3 contest of two nine minute periods. The center red line was not used and there was no stoppage in play. Line changes were forced every 45 seconds and changes were made on the fly. The Western All-Stars won 8-6. Our Stefan Ruzicka scored the first goal of each period. Other scorers for the West were Geoff Platt (2), Jordan Smith, Andre Benoit, Corey Perry and David Bolland. The Eastern squad responded with goals from the sticks of Jamie Tardiff, Evan Brophy (2), Rob Hisey, Wojtek Wolski and Adam Berti.

Terry Koshan - The Toronto Sun on how the possiblility of no NHL draft this spring effects some of these All-Stars.

Terry Koshan with a story about Attack General Manager Mike Futa.

Bill Walker - The Owen Sound Sun Times with his report from the Skills Contest.

Bill Walker "East out to prove West isn't always best".