Toronto To Host All-Star Game

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

September 16, 1998 / 10:36 PM EDT / CBS Sportsline

The 50th NHL All-Star Game will return to the site of the first event as the league Wednesday chose the Toronto Maple Leafs to host All-Star Weekend from Feb. 5-6, 2000.

Toronto hosted the first NHL All-Star Game in 1947, as well as the contests in 1949, '51, '62, '63, '64 and '68.

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Forum: Did the NHL make the right choice?

The previous All-Star games were held at the Maple Leaf Gardens, but the 2000 event will take place at Air Canada Centre, scheduled to open on Feb. 20, 1999.

"Toronto is the home of an 'Orginial Six' team, the birthplace of the All-Star Game and the home of our sport's hall of fame," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. "It is only fitting that the All-Star celebration should return for this milestone game in the millennium year, 2000."

The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the 1999 NHL All-Star Weekend from Jan. 21-24, 1999.