Lidstrom, Staal are NHL all-star captains

NEW YORK, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom and Carolina's Eric Staal have been selected the captains for this year's NHL All-Star Game.

The designation is more than honorary. The NHL has changed its format and the captains will choose their teams from the pool of players selected for the all-star team. Previously, the league sorted all-star teams by conference.

Lidstrom and Stall will take turns choosing their teammates Jan. 28, two days before the All-Star Game in Raleigh, N.C., Staal's home ice Team Lidstrom will wear dark jerseys with royal blue trim while Team Staal will use white sweaters with red trim.

Lidstrom will be making his 12th all-star appearance in 19 seasons in the NHL. Staal was selected to the all-star team for a third time in seven seasons. He was the most valuable player of the 2008 All-Star Game.

"With all the great players participating, it's a great honor to be selected as a captain for this year's All-Star game," said Lidstrom. "I'm really looking forward to all of the weekend's events and I'm very excited to be a part of the draft that decides the rosters of the two teams."

Staal said: "I am honored that I have been given the opportunity to captain a team during the All-Star Game in my home arena. I'm looking forward to the challenge of selecting my own teammates for the game."