STEELHOUNDS Weekend preview

Back in front: By sweeping the Mississippi RiverKings last weekend, the SteelHounds are back in first place in the Northeast Division.

Hounds vs. Oilers: The SteelHounds and Oilers have played twice this season in Tulsa. They split those games.

Three All-Stars: Three SteelHounds have been selected to the Central Hockey League All-Star Game that will be played on Jan. 16 at the Broomfield Entertainment Center in Broomfield, Colo. Goaltender Andy Franck was named the starting netminder for the Northern Conference. In 14 games with Youngstown, the Lakewood native compiled an 11-2-1 record with a 2.40 goals against average and a .911 save percentage with 10 of his wins coming on the road. Franck has been with the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins since November and has a 7-1-0 record with a 2.70 goals against average and a .885 save percentage. Captain Chris Richards is making his fifth CHL All Star appearance. The Austintown resident has 11 goals and a team-leading 22 assists. Forward Petr Pohl will be making his first career All Star appearance. The second-year man from the Czech Republic has a team leading 34 points coming from 13 goals and 21 assists.

Improvement: Forward Kirill Starkov and goaltender Brad Roberts had strong games against the RiverKings. Starkov, 20, was the sixth-round draft pick (No. 189) for Columbus in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Starkov scored his first goal in last Friday’s game. He added two more in Saturday’s win. Roberts was in goal for both wins.