ST. PAUL, Minnesota, 8 February 2004 — It might be harder than usual during the National Hockey League’s All-Star weekend to tell the difference between today’s showcase game and the less popular Young Stars contest.

That’s because nine of the 42 players in today’s main attraction are age 25-under.

Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk, Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk and Columbus’ Rick Nash are leading a new wave of talent that is expected to figure prominently in the marquee game. The Young Stars game features mainly rookies and second-year players and takes place the day before. There are 14 players making their All-Star debuts this year, including Nash, Datsyuk and Kovalchuk. In contrast, Mark Messier will appear in his 15th All-Star Game.

The 19-year-old Canadian Nash was named to the Western Conference team as a forward. He is the NHL’s leading goal scorer with 31 goals in just his second NHL season.

Today, he will become the youngest player, since Wendel Clark in 1986, to appear in the All-Star Game. “He’s loved. He’s become huge because of the way he plays and scores and because of the type of kid he is. He’s a solid citizen,” Columbus GM Doug Maclean told USA Today newspaper.

Kovalchuk, 20, is arguably the most exciting offensive player in the league. And with teammate Dany Heatley out for most of the first half of year, Kovalchuk, of Tver, Russia, has matured into a team leader.

At 25, Datsyuk is the elder statesman of the young guns’ club. Datsyuk, who was discovered by a Red Wings’ scout while playing in Siberia, is in his third NHL season and is sixth in goal scoring with 25.

Messier, 43, leads the New York Rangers in goal scoring with 14. His 15 All-Star games ties him with Frank Mahovlich for fifth all-time. He will become the third-oldest All-Star Game participant, behind Gordie Howe (51) and Doug Harvey (44).

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Sheldon Souray comes from the same hometown, Edmonton, Canada, as Messier. Souray wasn’t sure what was more exciting — to be picked to play in the game or a chance to meet his hero.

“I never thought I would be this position to even meet these guys, let alone play with them. So just to say hi to Mark Messier, just to tell him I admired him growing up is exciting,” said Souray.

Last year’s All-Star MVP Heatley is noticeably absent. The Thrashers’ forward was the driver in a preseason auto accident that killed teammate Dan Snyder and still is facing legal problems. He just returned to the ice nine days ago.

Heatley, who was born in Germany but grew up in Canada, was a non-starter from the beginning. But there are others who are having solid seasons and were overlooked for the All-Star Game by the voting public and the coaches.

The list includes Colorado’s Milan Hejduk, who was last year’s NHL goals leader and is among the leaders this year with 26. Washington’s Sergei Gonchar, Detroit’s Mathieu Schneider and his teammate Brett Hull also didn’t make it.

Schneider is considered by many to be a legitimate Norris Trophy (top defenseman) candidate this season with 37 points and plus-18.