Wild center Koivu picked for NHL's All-Star Game

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Mikko Koivu can now call himself an NHL All-Star as well as captain of the Minnesota Wild.

The 28-year-old center was named Thursday to his first All-Star game. In his seventh season in the NHL, Koivu has nine goals and a team-high 24 assists. He was the Wild's first-round draft choice in 2001.

The All-Star game is scheduled for Jan. 29, in Ottawa. The 54 players in the pool will be divided into two teams during a draft three days before. Six players were selected by fan voting, and Koivu was one of the 36 veterans picked by the league. Additionally, 12 rookies were chosen to participate.

Koivu is the seventh player in the Wild's 11 seasons to make the All-Star game. Marian Gaborik was the only two-time participant.