Washington Capitals prospect and Hershey Bears rookie forward Ethen Frank said he was honored to get selected to the 2023 AHL All-Star Game, which is taking place on Sunday and Monday in Laval, Quebec.
“It means a lot. I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work, so it’s nice to get a little recognition,” Frank told Bears Radio last week.
As part of the All-Star Game festivities, Frank participated in the fastest skater competition on Sunday night. He not only won with a time of 12.915 seconds, he set a new All-Star Game record.
Rookie Ethen Frank leads the Bears in goals (21) and is second in points (37)… AND HE CAN FLY! #HBH #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/ctdeTcynvF
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) February 5, 2023
Frank was the only skater who recorded a time under 13 seconds out of the six skaters that competed:
1. Skater 1: 13.282
2. Ethen Frank: 12.915
3. Skater 3: fell
4. Skater 4: 13.904
5. Skater 5: 13.779
6. Skater 6: 13.322
Frank was interviewed after winning Sunday night’s competition. He was asked what’s the secret to winning the event.
”Skate fast. Really, I don’t know. It’s something we do everyday, all day, after practice and it’s just kind of a normal habit at this point. Gettin’ faster is still one of my goals. Still working on things trying to get things exactly right, and make it as efficient as possible.”
Frank credited his dad, who he said was in attendance tonight, for teaching him how to skate.
🚨 NEW LEAGUE RECORD 🚨
Ethen Frank has a need for speed coming in at 12.915 seconds, becoming the winner of the @ccmhockey fastest skater at the 2023 #AHLAllStar. pic.twitter.com/n3upsDMKCw
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 5, 2023
Frank was another high-quality college free agent signing by Capitals’ Director of Player Recruitment, Danny Brooks, who has also successfully recruited and signed undrafted college free-agents Joe Snively, Bobby Nardella and Clay Stevenson, just to name a few.
“After the first turn, I didn’t fall. I was pretty confident and got some good speed going down the straight-away, and then on the last turn I rode my edges around the net.”
— @efrank_98 recounts his record-setting #AHLAllStar lap pic.twitter.com/pERzrBfbdG
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 6, 2023
Frank, a college free-agent, signed with the Bears in April of 2022, and has been by far the most impressive young forward so far this season in Hershey. Frank is tied for first among all AHL rookies in goals (21) and is second among all AHL rookies in points (37). He leads all Bears in goals and is second on the team in points.
[Related:Rookie Ethen Frank Leading The Way In Hershey]
Frank was the NCAA’s top goal scorer last season, totaling 26 goals in 38 games for Western Michigan University. He finished last season with a career-best 39 points in his fifth year with the Broncos and was named to the AHCA/CCM Hockey West All-American Second Team. He also earned Second Team All-NCHC honors and helped the Broncos to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The native of Papillon, Nebraska finished the season with 10 power play goals, tied for fourth in the NCAA, and six game-winning markers, tied for second in the NCAA. He scored four goals versus St. Cloud State on Nov. 19, 2021. In his NCAA career, Frank posted 118 points (70 goals, 48 assists) in 158 games over five seasons at Western Michigan.
Frank continues to work on his game, in hopes of taking the next step. “Like my coach at Western (Michigan) used to say, ‘happy but never content.’ I’m happy with where I’m at but not content with it,” said Frank. “I’m definetly focusing on a lot of stuff without the puck, a lot of stuff in the d zone.”
By Jon Sorensen