Hofer, drafted by the Blues in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft and recently signed to a
two-year contract extension
, has 11 wins in 23 games played for the Thunderbirds this season. Among qualified AHL goalies, Hofer ranks in the Top-7 in both goals-against average (2.41) and save percentage (.921), and has won seven of his last 10 starts in net.
Hofer got two NHL starts under his belt last season, recording his first career NHL win and scoring a point in the process. He also made headlines last spring by scoring a goal in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs - the first goalie goal in Thunderbirds history. That postseason, he logged 10 starts as the Thunderbirds advanced all the way to the Calder Cup Finals, recording an impressive .934 save-percentage in the first playoff action of his professional career.
Highmore leads the Thunderbirds with 31 points, and his 24 assists share No. 8 in the American Hockey League.
Signed to a one-year, two-way deal this offseason
, the 26-year-old also has three power-play goals and 18 penalty minutes this year.
This will mark Highmore's second trip to AHL All-Star Weekend as he was selected in 2017-18 as a rookie playing for the Rockford IceHogs. In 137 career NHL games for Chicago and Vancouver, he has 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 career points.
The All-Star Classic, featuring both a skills competition and 3-on-3 tournament, will take place from Feb. 5-6 in Laval, Quebec.
Photos courtesy Lucas Armstrong/Springfield Thunderbirds
