Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Jake Guentzel is happy to have two familiar faces joining him at the AHL All-Star Classic at the end January.

Guentzel and teammate Tristan Jarry were selected to the represent the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on the Atlantic Division squad, which will be coached by Clark Donatelli.

While Guentzel is glad to be joined by Jarry and Donatelli at the event, he’s also looking forward to meeting some of the other top players from around the AHL.

“That’s what you take in the most,” he said. “You meet new guys and the people you play against every day. It will be fun.”

Guentzel, who made the team as a rookie, wasn’t a surprise pick. He leads the AHL with 18 goals and is second with 34 points in 27 games.

Guentzel believes his all-star is a reflection of the team in general and his linemates. The last time he made an all-star team was in juniors.

“It’s a pretty cool honor,” he said. “Whenever you can be an all-star at this level it’s pretty special.”

Jarry, was selected for his first all-star team in just his second season in the AHL. He’s tied for the league lead with 14 wins and has a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage.

“You look forward to it every year and you hope you can crack the squad,” Jarry said. “There’s a lot of great goaltenders around the league. I’m fortunate to be chosen.”

Last season, three Penguins were selected to the all-star team: Matt Murray, Dominik Simon and Derrick Pouliot. None of them could make it due to either call-up or injury. Defenseman Will O’Neill was ultimately chosen to represent the Penguins in last year’s all-star game.

With Murray injured this year in Pittsburgh, there’s a chance Jarry could be recalled and miss this season’s all-star game. Still, Donatelli is looking forward to having his top goaltender and forward play in this season’s three-on-three format.

“We play three-on-three a lot here. They’re used to it,” Donatelli said. “They’re both off to a really good start and it’s great to see them rewarded for their hard work.”

While this season’s format will likely be more conducive to producing offense and not very goaltender-friendly, Jarry isn’t worried.

“(The format) is fun for the fans and the players,” he said. “It’s nice to get all the best players from around the league and play together.”

Tristan Jarry was one of three Penguins to make the AHL all-star team, along with Jake Guentzel and head coach Clark Donatelli.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Jarry1-1.jpg.optimal.jpgTristan Jarry was one of three Penguins to make the AHL all-star team, along with Jake Guentzel and head coach Clark Donatelli. Fred Adams|Times Leader

By Tom Venesky

[email protected]

PODCAST

To hear the latest on area sports, including the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Penn State football, high boys basketball and the outdoors, check our our weekly Times Leader Sports Report podcast on timesleader.com

Reach Tom Venesky at 570-991-6395 or on Twitter @TomVenesky

VideoID: E0YJx72_r0I
VideoType: YOUTUBE

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0YJx72_r0I

Video Embed String:
Video Caption: Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry talks about being selected to the AHL all-star team

Video Credit: Tom Venesky | For Times Leader

Video Position:

(use the “for files…” link above to associate attached files with this source)