Shane Starrett and Tyler Benson named to AHL all-rookie team

The AHL all-rookie team has been chosen and two of the six players on the team are from the Bakersfield Condors!

If you didn’t know, the players, coaches, and media vote for the top three forwards, two defencemen, and one goaltender in the league to earn the honour of being on the all-star team. Each player chosen will receive a custom-designed crystal award in recognition of being chosen to the team. The rookie team was just named today, and the first and second all-star teams will be named on Thursday.

This is a pretty big deal if you ask me. The Bakersfield Condors have clinched the post-season already and are looking to put up an impressive playoff run. They’ve had a very successful regular season so far and currently sit at the top of the AHL Pacific Divison. It comes at no surprise that two of our rookies have been named to the all-star team, and I expect more Condors to be named on Thursday as well.

Shane Starrett has a 25-7-5 record this season and sits in fifth place out of all goaltenders in the league with a 2.29 GAA. He also has a .919 Save% and has four shutouts on the year. He’s got a lot of good things going for him and I’m pretty excited to see when his time to shine in the NHL will be. Tyler Benson is leading the team as a rookie in points with 63 in 64 games played. He’s got 14 goals on the year with 49 assists, putting him in ninth place for league scoring. He is also at an impressive +19 and has been a huge factor in the Condors clinching the playoffs this season.

It’s very exciting to see the Condors be so successful this year and makes me feel really good about our prospect pool moving forward. The Oilers farm teams haven’t been too successful over the years so it’s nice to see them winning.