Cannone scores 3, Central wins AHL All-Star Challenge

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Chicago Wolves forward Pat Cannone scored three goals and Rockford IceHogs goalie Michael Leighton posted a shutout in the championship game as the Central Division beat the Atlantic Division 4-0 to win the AHL All-Star Challenge on Monday night at the Syracuse War Memorial.

Cannone, who also netted a shootout winner in the round-robin portion of the Challenge, was named the most valuable player. It was the culmination of an impressive weekend for Cannone, who won the accuracy shooting event in the skills competition on Sunday.

Both teams went 2-1-0 in the round-robin played among All-Stars from the league's four divisions; round-robin games were nine minutes in length split into halves of 4-on-4 and 3-on-3. The North Division and Pacific Division both finished 1-2-0.

Cannone and Rockford's Jake Dowell each had three goals and an assist. Grand Rapids Griffins defenceman Xavier Ouellet collected two goals and two assists, and T.J. Tynan of the Lake Erie Monsters finished with five assists for the Central Division.

Leighton led all goaltenders with a .929 save percentage, turning aside 13 of 14 shots in his two appearances.

Chris Bourque of the Hershey Bears and Rob Schremp of the Portland Pirates finished with two goals and two assists each for the Atlantic Division.

Derek Grant of the Stockton Heat and Nick Ritchie of the San Diego Gulls notched two goals and an assist each for the Pacific Division, while Josh Leivo of the Toronto Marlies had two goals and an assist for the North Division.

In place of a traditional 60-minute game, the league's All-Stars were divided into four teams, each representing one of the league's four divisions. The championship was a six-minute, 3-on-3 game.