The American Hockey League announced today that Lake Erie Monsters center T.J. Hensick has been added to the roster for the 2010 Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Classic. He will take the place of Monsters teammate Darren Haydar, who will miss the game due to injury, and will compete for the PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars.

Currently in his third year with the Monsters, Hensick is leading the team in assists (25) and is second in points (31) in 22 games played. He leads the Monsters in power play assists (13) and is second on the team in power play points (14). Hensick has also recorded a goal and two assists in seven games with Lake Erie’s NHL parent club, the Colorado Avalanche, this season.

The 2010 Time Warner Cable AHL All-Star Game will be played on January 19th at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine. It will be the second AHL All-Star appearance for Hensick, as he was the first-ever Monsters player to compete in the game. Hensick led PlanetUSA with two goals and two assists in the 2008 contest (a 9-8 shootout loss to the Canadian All-Stars), his rookie season and Lake Erie’s inaugural year.

Hensick was recently named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for December, when he recorded 23 points in 13 games (4G, 19A). He was the first player in the history of the Monsters franchise to receive the Player of the Month honor from the league.

The Monsters wrap up a six-game road trip this weekend with a pair of games in Abbotsford and return home next Friday, January 22nd, when they host the Texas Stars at 7:30 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (216) 420-0000, by visiting LakeErieMonsters.com or by visiting any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart.