SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … President and CEO of the American Hockey League Scott Howson announced today that the Board of Trustees unanimously approved it Rockford IceHogs as hosts of The 2026 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by BMO.
The 2026 AHL All-Star Classic presented by BMO will feature AHL All-Star Skills Competition to Tuesday, February 10, 2026followed by i AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony to Wednesday, February 11 as well as AHL All-Star Challenge that night.
“As we prepare to celebrate the AHL’s 90th season in 2025-26, we look forward to bringing the AHL All-Star Classic to Rockford next winter,” said Howson. “Being selected to host our showcase event is a testament to the commitment made by the City of Rockford, the State of Illinois and the Chicago Blackhawks organization to provide fans throughout the region with a first-class venue at the BMO Center to enjoy the IceHogs. and AHL hockey.”
Both the AHL All-Star Skills tournament and the AHL All-Star Challenge will be held at the newly renovated BMO Center in downtown Rockford. A $27-million investment to date from the State of Illinois, the City of Rockford and other public and private partners has significantly improved and enhanced the fan experience through improvements to infrastructure, technology, social media, and pay spaces.
“The AHL All-Star Classic will bring together the league’s top talent, showcasing the best hockey players right here in Rockford. This prestigious event will put our city at the forefront of the nation, drawing fans from near and far to celebrate the game and experience all that Rockford has to offer,” said the Mayor of Rockford. Tom McNamara. “From the exciting action at BMO Center to the development of local businesses and the shared excitement of our community, the AHL All-Star Classic will be a celebration of our city’s energy, resilience, and passion for hockey.”
“Illinois’ tourism industry is second to none, and I am thrilled to welcome the AHL All-Star Classic to Rockford – In the Middle of It All,” said Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Kristin Richards. “Strengthened by the Tourism Incentive Grant Program, the State of Illinois is making a significant investment that opens the doors to events that will attract visitors from far and wide while giving local families another opportunity to enjoy Illinois alongside the talented Rockford IceHogs.”
“The IceHogs, in collaboration with our partners from the City, County, State of Illinois Office of Tourism, RAVE (Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority) Board, and GoRockford, are excited to showcase our city and region to a global audience by participating. the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic presented by BMO,” said IceHogs Team President Ryan Snider. “Rockford knows how to throw a party, and we look forward to hosting Stateline’s final AHL party, our IceHogs and Blackhawks fans, and our community at large.”
Fans can visit icehogs.com/asc26 for more information on the event and tickets. Individual tickets for the All-Star Classic will go on sale at a later date.
The annual AHL All-Star Classic brings together the top young talent in the American Hockey League: since 1995, more than 94 percent of All-Star Classic participants have competed in the National Hockey League, incl. 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 honorary members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL during their careers.
