BARRACUDA ROOKIE BALCERS ADDED TO THE 2018 AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC

Jan 25, 2018

San Jose, Calif. - San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) General Manager Joe Will, in conjunction with the American Hockey League (@TheAHL), has announced that rookie Forward Rudolfs Balcers (@rudolfsbalcers) has been added to the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino, which will take place at Utica's Adirondack Bank Center on January 28-29, 2018.

Balcers joins fellow Barracuda All-Star Antoine Bibeau who ranks sixth in the AHL in goal-against average (2.21) and T-eighth in save percentage (.921).
 
In his first professional season, Balcers, 20, leads the Barracuda in points (26), goals (8), and assists (18). The native of Liepaja, Latvia is T-11th among all AHL freshman in points, and T-eighth in assists.

A season ago, Balcers, in his lone campaign in the WHL, led all rookies with 40 goals.
 
The five-foot-11, 178 pound winger was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round (#142 overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Balcers is part of a young group of developing prospects within the Sharks organization that includes Adam Helewka, Rourke Chartier, Manny Wiederer, Alex True, Filip Sandberg, Jon Martin, Tim Clifton, Cavan Fitzgerald, Jacob Middleton, Nick DeSimone, Michael Brodzinski, and Julius Bergman.

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