Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho chosen for 2024 NHL All-Star Game

Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes is returning to the NHL All-Star Game for a third time in his career.

Aho was one of the 32 players announced Thursday by the league who will represent NHL teams at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, set Feb. 3 in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.

The remaining 12 players — eight skaters and four goalies — will be chosen by a vote of the fans that will end Jan. 11.

The All-Star event will have a new format this year. A player fantasy draft will be reinstated, with the 44 players picked into four 11-man teams of nine skaters and two goalies. Celebrities will be paired with the team captains, the NHL said.

Aho’s All-Star selection comes as the center is playing some of the best hockey of his career. Aho recently was named the NHL’s first star of the week after earning 11 points in three victories.

Aho, 26, played for the Metropolitan Division team in 2019 and 2022. The Metro team won the three-on-three All-Star tournament each time, allowing Aho to return with a share from the $1 million pot.

Aho also won the shooting accuracy competition at the 2022 All-Star Game, adding a few more bucks to his winnings.

Canes forward Andrei Svechnikov represented Carolina on the Metro team a year ago and also captured the fastest skater competition.

The Canes’ Rod Brind’Amour coached the Metro team both of the past two seasons.

The All-Star Skills competition, to be held Feb. 2, will have a new look. There will be 12 All-Stars competing in eight events, with the player collecting the most points winning $1 million.

The All-Star festivities will have members of the Professional Women’s Hockey League playing a three-on-three showcase event.