High-scoring forward Toni Rajala has been selected to join defenseman Nathan Deck in representing the Stockton Thunder on the roster of players invited to participate in the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game.
The addition of Rajala to the All-Star roster was announced on Thursday (Jan. 3), one day after it was announced that Deck had been named to the starting lineup for the All-Star team, which will play against the host Colorado Eagles in the game scheduled for Jan. 23 in Loveland, CO.
Heading into a Friday night game against the Alaska Aces at Stockton Arena, Rajala leads the Thunder in scoring with 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 27 games. His 18 goals rank him tied for fourth in the ECHL, and he is tied for ninth in the league in points. His numbers likely would be even better, but he was called up to the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League on Nov. 20 and appeared in five AHL games before being returned to the Thunder on Dec. 3.
The same day Rajala returned to Stockton, Deck was loaned to Oklahoma City, where he has remained. Before being loaned to the Barons, Deck had produced 17 points in 19 games with the Thunder. At the time of his promotion, Deck was tied for fourth among all ECHL defensemen in scoring.
The complete ECHL All-Star team roster can be viewed here:
http://cdn.rapidmanager.com/echl/files/2013ECHLAllStarRoster_01.03.13.pdf
