"Upon learning of being added to Sunday's NHL All-Star Game, Avalanche center Paul Stastny had no problem cancelling his plans of spending the weekend in Beaver Creek. The former University of Denver star will join teammate Matt Duchene in Raleigh, N.C., and compete in Sunday's 58th mid-season classic at the RBC Center.

"I'm excited. It's an honor," Stastny said after this morning's pregame skate at the Pepsi Center, where the Avs will face the Phoenix Coyotes tonight. "I was supposed to go to the mountains, but there's always something better. This is something you can't pass on. It's an honor to play in an All-Star Game and I've never done it before. I've been hurt in previous years, so this year I get the opportunity, and although it's more hockey (and less rest), but I'll take that. It will be something I'll always remember."

Stastny and Carolina Hurricanes rookie Jeff Skinner are scheduled to replace injured Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Unofficially, Stastny is an NHL all-star for the second time in three years. He was named in 2008 but couldn't play because of an injury. Because of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, there was no all-star game a year ago.

Duchene will also be making his first appearance in the All-Star Game.

"It's great. Paulie and I are really close and it's going to be great to share the experience together, for sure," Duchene said. "In a perfect world, we'd be playing together.""