Hull, 2 Kings Will Start in All-Star Game

MONTREAL — Louis Blues right wing Brett Hull, who received the highest vote total since fan balloting for the NHL All-Star Game began six seasons ago, will join Wayne Gretzky and Luc Robitaille of the Kings in the starting lineup for the NHL All-Star Game, the league said today.

In balloting for this year’s game, to be played Jan. 19 at Chicago, Hull collected 432,879 votes for a spot on the Campbell Conference team.

Gretzky led the Campbell centers with 218,797 votes, while Robitaille, a left wing, got 168,968 votes.

The starting defensemen will be Chris Chelios of the Chicago Blackhawks, the top vote-getter among defensemen with 218,094 votes, and Al MacInnis of the Calgary Flames (194,109).

Calgary’s Mike Vernon (135,381 votes) will be the starting goaltender.