Hejduk Again a Star The National Hockey League announced Wednesday that Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk has earned his third career All-Star appearance. Hejduk leads the Avs in goals (13) and ranks second in points (29), while tying for the team lead in game-winning goals (2). Hejduk's Reaction Teammate Reaction: John-Michael Liles David Jones Hejduk Video Highlights Photo Gallery Full NHL Release

Colorado Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk has been named to the Western Conference roster for the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, the league announced today.  Hejduk will make his third career All-Star appearance when the 57th NHL All-Star Game is played on Sunday, January 25, at the Bell Centre in Montreal (4:00 p.m. MT, VERSUS).

Hejduk is the Avalanche’s leading goal-scorer this season with 13 and ranks second in points with 29 (13g/16a).  He is tied for first on the club in game-winning goals (2), ranks second in shots (102) and is third in power-play goals (5).  The right winger has appeared in all 40 games for the Avalanche this season and owns a streak of 111 consecutive games, the longest active streak on the team.

Hejduk, 32, appeared in the 2000 All-Star Game in Toronto, tallying one assist, and competed in the 2001 All-Star Game on his home ice at Pepsi Center, scoring one goal.

Quebec’s sixth choice (fourth round, 87th overall) in the 1994 Entry Draft, Hejduk is in his 10th season in the NHL, all with the Colorado Avalanche.  He enters Thursday’s game against the Blackhawks with 298 career goals, just two shy of becoming the fourth player in franchise history to reach 300.  Hejduk was a member of the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1998-99 and captured the franchise’s first-ever Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer in 2002-03.  He helped Colorado win the 2001 Stanley Cup after finishing second among all scorers with 23 points during that playoff run. 

A native of Usti-nad Labem, Czech Republic, Hejduk ranks among the franchise leaders in games (741 - 4th), goals (298 - 4th), assists (329 - 6th), points (627 - 6th) and PPG (109 - 4th).  He is the franchise’s all-time leader in regular season overtime goals with nine, and his 52 game-winning tallies rank second behind only Joe Sakic (86).  Hejduk is also the franchise’s fourth-leading playoff scorer with 75 points (33g/42a) in 109 career postseason games.

In other news, defenseman Kyle Cumiskey was named to the Canadian AHL All-Star team roster for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic. Cumiskey, who was recalled by the Avalanche for the third time this season on Monday, ranks second on the Lake Erie Monsters in scoring with 16 points (4g/12a) in 26 games.  He leads all Monsters defensemen in goals, assists and points. The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic will be held January 26 in Worcester, Mass.