BOURQUE, AUCOIN NAMED TO AHL FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM

April 5, 2012

HERSHEY, Pa. – The HERSHEY BEARS, in conjunction with the American Hockey League, announced today that forwards Chris Bourque and Keith Aucoin have been named to the AHL First All-Star Team.  The announcement was made today by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.

Voting for the First and Second All-Star Teams was conducted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities.

Bourque and Aucoin, the BEARS’ top two scorers, will represent two-thirds of the forwards on the First All-Star Team.

Bourque, 26, earns his first postseason All-Star Team honor, adding it to his three Calder Cup Championships and the 2010 Calder Cup Playoff MVP.  In just 67 games, he has established single-season career highs in assists (64) and points (90) and is poised to become the third BEARS player in four years to win the AHL scoring title. 

Bourque currently ranks ninth all-time on the BEARS’ career assists list (260) and 15th all-time with 390 points in his HERSHEY tenure.

Aucoin, 33, sets an all-time record for an AHL center with his sixth career postseason All-Star Team selection (Second Team 2006, ’07, ’11; First Team ’09, ’10, ’12).  Aucoin was recalled on February 3 by the parent Washington Capitals, for whom he has nine points in 25 games this season, yet still ranks second in the AHL in assists (59) and fourth in points (70).  The native of Waltham, MA now ranks sixth with 554 career assists and 15th with 777 career points over his decorated AHL career.

Bourque (left wing) and Aucoin (center) join Syracuse Crunch right wing Kyle Palmieri, Norfolk Admirals defenseman Mark Barberio, St. John’s IceCaps defenseman Paul Postma, and Oklahoma City Barons goaltender Yann Danis in earning AHL First All-Star Team recognition.