Carolina Hurricanes’ Justin Faulk named to fourth NHL All-Star Game

For the third year in a row, the Carolina Hurricanes will be represented by defenseman Justin Faulk at the NHL All-Star Weekend, again their lone contribution to the Metropolitan Division roster. This year’s game and skills competition will be held January 28 and 29 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Faulk has played 33 games this season, with two short stints on the injured list including one for a lower body injury that he just returned from last week against the Blues. He has been a part of the All-Star Weekend festivities four times, including in 2012 as a rookie participant, and for the past three seasons as a full honoree.

As in years past, the All-Star Game format will remain the same, with each conference matching their divisions in a short 3-on-3 game, and the winning divisions playing each other for the title. Last year, Pacific Division captain John Moore was memorably named the MVP of the game while being carried off on his team’s shoulders.

The release from the team is below.

FAULK TO REPRESENT CAROLINA AT ALL-STAR WEEKEND
Marks fourth All-Star appearance for Hurricanes defenseman

The National Hockey League today announced that Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk has been named to the Metropolitan Division roster for 2017 All-Star Weekend to be held Jan. 28-29 in Los Angeles. This marks Faulk’s fourth All-Star appearance, having represented the Hurricanes as a top rookie in 2012, and in the main All-Star competitions in 2015 and 2016.

Faulk, 24, leads Carolina defensemen this season in goals (7), ranks tied for first among club blueliners in points (16) and is second among team skaters in average ice time per game (23:05) in 33 games played. The South St. Paul, MN, native’s 103 shots on goal this season rank second among Carolina players, and eighth among NHL defensemen.

Selected by the Hurricanes in the second round, 37th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Faulk (6’0”, 215 lbs.) has totaled 56 goals and 115 assists (171 points) in 359 career NHL games with Carolina. In 2015-16, Faulk became the first player in NHL history to score his first 12 goals of the season on the power play, and finished the season ranked in the top 20 among NHL blueliners in points (t-20th, 37), goals (t-6th, 16) power-play goals (t-2nd, 12) and shots on goal (15th, 184). He serves as one of the Hurricanes’ alternate captains, and has represented the United States in a dozen international tournaments, including the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.