Athletic Trainer, Equipment Manager named for 2017 ECHL All-Star Classic

The ECHL on Thursday announced that Jaime Garcia of the Allen Americans has been named the athletic trainer and Ryan Tall of the Utah Grizzlies has been named the equipment manager for the 2017 CCM / ECHL All-Star Classic presented by I LOVE NY following voting by each of the league’s trainers and equipment managers.

The 2017 CCM / ECHL All-Star Classic presented by I LOVE NY will feature the host Adirondack Thunder taking on the ECHL All-Stars in a non-traditional format featuring 5-on-5, 4-on-4, and 3-on-3 play, as well as a Skills Competition (Puck Relay, Hardest Shot, Fastest Skater) to highlight the talents of both teams. The All-Star Team will be comprised of the League’s top talent and prospects, showcasing the future stars of hockey as they develop in the ECHL. The game will air LIVE exclusively on NHL Network on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.

A native of Houston, Texas, Garcia is in his third season with Allen, and his fourth in minor league hockey. He began his career in the Texas high school system and spent three years at the University of Houston, working with the football, baseball and track and field teams. Prior to joining the Americans, he spent one season as the athletic trainer for the Central Hockey League’s Fort Worth Brahmas.

Tall is in his third year with the Grizzlies and took over as the team's Interim Equipment Manager in March of 2016. He assumed the role permanently prior to the 2016-2017 season. Tall joined the team in 2014-2015 as an equipment assistant and quickly became an integral member of the team's hockey operations staff. He is currently pursuing a business marketing degree at Weber State University.

The 10th class will be inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Jan. 18, during a luncheon ceremony presented by BFL CANADA and Sutton Special Risk at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George, N.Y., the official host hotel of the 2017 ECHL All-Star Classic.

Twelve coaches from the ECHL All-Star Game have gone on to coach in the National Hockey League while 64 players from the contest have gone on to play in the NHL, including 48 since 2002 when the lineups began having players who coaches felt were prospects to move up to a higher level.

The ECHL All-Star Fan Fest, with player appearances, interactive game, prizes, giveaways, auctions, memorabilia, and a special Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit, will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 17 starting at 6 p.m. at the Fort William Henry Resort in Lake George, N.Y. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, the day's events include the ECHL Hall of Fame Luncheon and the 2017 CCM / ECHL All-Star Classic presented by I LOVE NY. Select ECHL Skills competitions will be held the same night and will be incorporated into the evening's events.

About the ECHL Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 27 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province for its 29th season in 2016-17. There have been who have started their career in the ECHL who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 12 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2016-17 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 30 NHL teams in 2016-17, marking the 20th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.