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(Photo: nhl.com)

The NHL announced its team leaders for its All-Star weekend festivities. Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nick Foligno will wear the C for the home team while Blackhawks captain forward Jonathan Toews will lead the visitors.

Foligno’s alternate captains will be Los Angeles King Drew Doughty, and, in a surprise twist that breaks up a longtime duo–Blackhawk Patrick Kane. The team will be coached by Kings head coach Darryl Sutter.

Foligno, 27, of Buffalo, NY, is in his third season with Columbus, but his eighth in the NHL. This year, he is leading the Blue Jackets in goals, with 18 (tied at 12th in the league), and points, 40 (tied at 15th in the league). He’s tied at third in the league with power play points, 20, and power play goals, nine.

Team Toews’ alternate captains are Rick Nash, New York Rangers, and Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks. Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette will run the bench for the visitors.

Toews is making his fourth All-Star game appearance. At 26, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, native has two gold medals and two Stanley Cup wins under his belt, and is second in goals (13), assists (25), and points (38) on the Blackhawks this year. He’s also a plus-15 on the ice, 17th in the league.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s not something I expected,” Toews told local media. “It’s definitely an honor, so it’s going to be fun sitting across from Kaner. I’m sure the competition is starting already to see what’s going to happen.”

Much like on the pond, a Fantasy Draft format means the captains will be picking their teams from the All-Star roster, which includes the six players chosen through fan voting and now includes Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury as a replacement for injured Nashville Predators netminder Pekka Rinne as well as Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak in for Red Wings tender Jimmy Howard.

Kane delayed choosing Toews in the last All-Star game, but ultimately the two played on the same team.

Toews will have his pick of a few other Blackhawks–and only one has made any pleas so far, he said.

“Only Seabs. He said, ‘Just make sure I don’t get picked last,'” Toews told press. “I don’t think it’s really fun for the guy who gets picked last, and I don’t think anyone means that personally to that guy. But I mean, I’ll be 100 percent honest, I wouldn’t like to get picked last. I don’t think Kaner would, either. So, that’s the unfortunate thing. Other than that, I think it’s a fun thing. We’ll try to make the best of it and make sure whoever it is doesn’t feel slighted by any means.”

View more about the players as presented by the NHL here.

The home team will also wear the black sweater, while visitors wear the white–though neither team is really a winner there.

At least, that’s the consensus on Twitter.

 

 

Blue Jackets executive vice president of business operations, Larry Hoepfner, said festivities begin with an All-Star Winter Park across from Nationwide Arena Jan. 16-25.

 

Beyond the game and skills competition are public skating and private events at the Winter Park, a 34-foot high and 85-foot wide snow slide stretching 175 feet along Nationwide Boulevard for use Jan. 22-25, and a “Hockey House,” with family-friendly activities, food, drinks, and live music.

All-Star weekend will begin with the DraftKings Fantasy Draft  at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT Friday, Jan. 23 to complete the rosters. It will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. and on Sportsnet and TVASports.

On Saturday, Jan. 24, the All-Stars and rookies will participate in the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition at 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT on NBCSN, CBC, and TVA Sports.

Puck-drop for the All-Star game is set for 5:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. CT Sunday, Jan. 25 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, and will be broadcast on NBCSN, CBC, and TVA Sports.

 

Carly grew up needing to know more about icing than its deliciousness on cupcakes. She's the lone daughter of four children, with a father who was among the last cut from the Midwest tryouts for the 1980 Miracle on Ice Olympic team. And she knows very little matches the thrill that happens from puck-drop to handshakes. A rink didn’t return to her hometown until she was gone, but she’s been able to see two younger brothers on the ice. She's their feistiest fan. Her other hockey loyalty lies with the Blackhawks--whether it's meant seeing games for $8 with student IDs when the Madhouse didn’t have much of a temper at all, or dancing to Chelsea Dagger at standing room only--there’s something magical about a roaring anthem, the Indianhead sweater, and the Original Six. A former journalist and current editor, she carries a penchant for excitement (and maybe even fighting) with a resume that includes working for Chicago-area newspapers, and television, including The Jerry Springer Show, as well as NBCUniversal in New York. After East Coast living and a return to the Chicago area, the new Mrs. is giving Graceland a go with her Southern Gent, who now shares her adoration of the game, and their rescue dog, Doc Holliday. Other interests include Cubs, Bears, Illini, Crimson Tide, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, baking a mean pineapple upside-down cake, Kate Spade accessories, and a properly coordinated cardigan for every ensemble.

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