University of Massachusets Athletics
Matt Irwin Named To AHL Eastern All-Star Team
January 16, 2012 | Hockey
Jan. 16, 2012
AMHERST, Mass. - Former UMass hockey standout and current Worcester Sharks defenseman Matt Irwin has been named to the American Hockey League All-Star Game as announced by the league. Irwin will be playing for the Eastern All-Stars in the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic which takes place Jan. 29-30 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. This marks the second straight year a former Minuteman has been named to the AHL All-Star Game after Matt Anderson earned the honor last season.
To date with the Sharks, Irwin has tallied 20 points off of seven goals and 13 assists in 30 games played. Of those seven goals, three have been game-winners and six have been on the power play. Last year, in his rookie season, he appeared in 72 games and earned 31 points off of 10 goals and 21 assists, which gave him the second most points from a defenseman on the Sharks and the eighth most points from a defenseman in the league. He also recorded six power play goals and two game-winning goals.
Irwin left UMass after his sophomore season (2009-10), where he totaled seven goals and 17 assists for the Minutemen and appeared in all 36 games. In his freshman season at UMass, Irwin scored seven goals, including a goal in all three of the Hockey East Quarterfinal games.
From Jan. 5-23, fans will have the opportunity to vote for the starting lineups for the 2012 AHL All-Star Game by visiting theahl.com or facebook.com/theahl and completing the official Reebok AHL All-Star Fan Ballot. Voters will also be entered to win a grand prize of a team-signed authentic 2012 AHL All-Star jersey, and five more winners will each receive a pair of tickets to the 2012 AHL All-Star Skills Competition and All-Star Game, courtesy of Insurance Office of America.
Tickets for the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic, which include admission to both the 2012 AHL All-Star Skills Competition at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, and the 2012 AHL All-Star Game at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 30, are on sale now at the Boardwalk Hall box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (800) 736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available for the Post-Skills Party (January 29, 5:30 p.m.) and the 2012 AHL Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Ceremony (January 30, 11 a.m.) at Caesars Atlantic City.
