SPRINGFIELD, Mass. …American Hockey League President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Howson announced today that the Texas Stars are ahead Curtis McKenzie and Charlotte Checkers forward Zac Dalpe were chosen as playing captains The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by Spotlight 29 Casinoto be held February 2-3 in Palm Desert, Calif.
The captains of the American Hockey League’s All-Star teams are selected by the league president each year in recognition of their outstanding leadership and service.
A 12-year veteran from Golden, BC, McKenzie played 612 games in the AHL with Texas, Chicago and Utica, recording 186 goals and 279 assists for 465 points. Now in his fifth year as captain of the Stars, McKenzie won the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding rookie in 2013-14, also capturing the Calder Cup championship that season. He also made additional Calder Cup Finals appearances with Texas in 2018 and Chicago in 2019, and has tallied 65 points in 90 postseason games in the AHL. Selected by Dallas in the 2009 NHL Draft, McKenzie played 99 games in the NHL with the parent Stars. This will be his first trip to the AHL All-Star Classic.
Dalpe is in his seventh season with the Charlotte Checkers (2010-13, 2021-) and his 15th professional campaign overall. He has compiled 220 goals and 173 assists for 393 points in 574 AHL contests with Charlotte, Cleveland, Iowa, Rochester, Utica and Albany, serving as team captain for the Monsters (2019-21) and Checkers (2021- ). Selected in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft, the native of Paris, Ont., also played 168 games in the National Hockey League with Carolina, Vancouver, Buffalo, Minnesota, Columbus and Florida, and skated in the Stanley Cup Final no. Panthers in 2023. For Dalpe, who was voted to the AHL All-Rookie Team in 2010-11, this will be his first. AHL All-Star Classic appearance.
I The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by Spotlight 29 Casino will include i AHL All-Star Skills Competition presented by Silvercrest to Sunday, February 2followed by i AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony presented by Spotlight 29 Casino and Silvercrest to Monday, February 3 as well as The 2025 AHL All-Star Challenge is presented by Spotlight 29 Casino that night. For ticket information, fans can visit cvfirebirds.com/allstar.
I The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by Spotlight 29 Casino will showcase the top young talent in the American Hockey League: since 1995, more than 94 percent of All-Star Classic participants have gone on to compete in the National Hockey League, including Cam Atkinson, Drake Batherson, Jordan Binnington, Michael Carcone, John Carlson, Brandt Clarke, Thatcher Demko, Lukas Dostal, Ryker Evans, Thomas Harley, Connor Hellebuyck, Joel Hofer, Tristan Jarry, Jordan Kyrou, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, JT Miller, Brandon Montour, William Nylander, Kyle Palmieri, Mikko Rantanen, Dylan Strome, Tyler Toffoli, Linus Ullmark, Vitek Vanecek, Dustin Wolf again Mats Zuccarello.
Operating since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the premier league for the development of players, coaches, managers, administrators, broadcasters and personnel for all 32 National Hockey League teams. About 90 percent of today’s NHL players graduated from the American Hockey League, and more than 100 members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL during their careers.
