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Blackhawks' Brian Campbell excited to play in NHL All-Star Game

To Hawks defenseman, it's still 'special' to skate with the league's best

By Chris Kuc | Tribune reporter

10:50 PM CST, January 23, 2009

MONTREAL - Playing in the NHL All-Star Game remains pretty special for Brian Campbell.

The Blackhawks defenseman will appear in his third consecutive game Sunday night when he starts for the Western Conference at the Bell Center in Montreal.

"I never thought I'd be going to one, let alone three," Campbell said. "I feel very honored. It's something I'm going to look back on later in life and feel pretty special about."

Campbell was voted a starter along with teammates Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer will be Campbell's defensive partner.

This year's All-Star festivities, which kick off Saturday night with the SuperSkills competition, are part of a celebration of 100 years for the Montreal Canadiens as a franchise, and that makes this event more special to Campbell.

"I've played in the last two in Atlanta last year and Dallas, and they're not the biggest hockey hotbeds," said Campbell, 29. "Playing in Montreal is something I'm really looking forward to."

Campbell, who has seven goals and 23 assists to lead Hawks defensemen, said the All-Star Game brings out the little kid in him. He said he collects autographs and memorabilia from his fellow All-Stars. He also brings in his family from his hometown of Strathroy, Ontario, including his father, Ed, and mother, Lorna.

"When your mom and dad sacrifice everything in the world for you … to see the smiles on their faces is great," said Campbell, who was the top vote-getter among Western defensemen.

"We can look back on the work they've done and how proud they are of me for my accomplishments. It's fun to be able to do that for your family."

Campbell represented the Buffalo Sabres twice and is pleased to share this year's event with Kane and Toews as well as Kris Versteeg and Dave Bolland, who were selected to play in the YoungStars game Saturday night.

"We're starting and we owe a lot of that to our fans, who have been great all year long," Campbell said. "It's fun to be able to enjoy that with four other teammates. It's a time to get to know guys and have some fun with it."

In Atlanta, Campbell had a goal and two assists for the Eastern Conference in its 8-7 victory. He was held off the score sheet in the '07 game that the Western Conference won 12-9.

Campbell has his sights set on not only a victory for his new conference but the prize for the game's most valuable player.

"I'm going to try to take home that car," he said of the prize that goes to the winner.

ckuc@tribune.com