2002 NHL YoungStars Game

The 2002 NHL YoungStars Game occurred at the 52nd NHL All-Star Game on February 2, 2002 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Game Format
Four skaters (and one goaltender) per side. The duration of the first and second periods will be 12 minutes, running time. The third period will be 11 minutes, running time, plus a final minute of stop time. There will be a four-minute break between periods.

If the score is tied after three periods, a sudden-death shootout will determine the winner.

The players will be divided into two teams and led behind the bench by former Los Angeles Kings player and current broadcaster Jim Fox and former NHL player, Kings head coach, and current ESPN analyst Barry Melrose.

Game Background
Atlanta's rookie phenom Ilya Kovalchuk scored a half-dozen goals to pace Team Melrose to a 13–7 victory over Team Fox in the four-on-four exhibition between the league's up-and-coming stars.

Kovalchuk scored four times at even strength, once short-handed, and once on a penalty shot.

His sixth goal came against an empty net at the end of the game. Kovalchuk was named as the first-ever YoungStars MVP.

The Edmonton Oilers' forward Mike Comrie scored three goals and added an assist to lead Team Fox in scoring.

Roster Notes

 * Krystofer Kolanos (Phoenix Coyotes) and Rostislav Klesla (Columbus Blue Jackets) were selected to play for Team Melrose, but were unable to play due to injury.
 * Martin Havlat (Ottawa Senators) and Alex Tanguay (Colorado Avalanche) were selected to play for Team Fox, but were unable to play due to injury.