G. Walker, Zatkoff, Kraus named all-stars.

The Reign will send three players to next month’s ECHL all-star game and skills competition in Reading, Pa.: Forwards Tim Kraus and Geoff Walker, and goalie Jeff Zatkoff.

Zatkoff is in Manchester and there’s a good chance he won’t be back in a Reign uniform when the all-star game is played, but he is still among the league’s statistical leaders following his Dec. 12 promotion.

Kraus, 21, leads Reign rookies with 16 assists in 30 appearances with the Reign and is tied for third amongst his teammates in scoring with 22 points (6g, 16a). Kraus recorded an 8-game point streak, tallying two goals, seven assists (9 points) and a plus-4 rating, from December 5 through 21, and ranks 13th amongst league rookies in scoring.

Walker, 21, has been amongst the ECHL leading rookies throughout the course of the 2008-09 season and is currently ranked 10th in rookie scoring with 24 points (10g, 14a). He is tied for the lead amongst league rookies with 14 power play points and is tied for second place with nine power play assists. The Charlottetown, PEI, native most recently recorded a 4-game point streak (2g, 3a, 5 points) from December 15 -21.

What all three have in common is that they’re rookies, which is no coincidence. Turns out the ECHL has promoted its rookies in this game the last several years rather than journeymen minor-leaguers with better stats (like Jon Francisco and Max Boisclair).

More details in tomorrow’s editions.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.