Ice Installation Begins for 2026 AHL All-Star Classic at Rockford's BMO Center

The home arena of the Rockford IceHogs is being transformed to host the prestigious hockey event.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:55pm

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Ice installation for the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic is underway at Rockford's BMO Center, the home arena of the Rockford IceHogs. Crews have been working around the clock to shave down the regular ice rink and install all-star themed decals, which will then be flooded to create layers of ice. The process is expected to be completed in time for the IceHogs' Friday night matchup against the Iowa Wild, with the ice being refinished again in anticipation of the AHL All-Star Classic festivities.

Why it matters

Hosting the AHL All-Star Classic is a major event for Rockford and the BMO Center, as the prestigious hockey event has not been held in the Midwest for over 20 years. This showcases Rockford's ability to handle large-scale sporting events and provides an economic boost to the local community.

The details

Crews have been working for days around the clock to shave down the regular IceHogs rink and install all-star themed decals. The rink was covered with over 100 gallons of a white paint mix before being frozen over. On Tuesday, work began to paint each individual line and circle across the rink, a process that took the ice maintenance crew and Zamboni drivers nine hours to complete.

  • Ice installation began in early February 2026.
  • The all-star decals were put in place on Tuesday afternoon.
  • The process of 'flooding' the decals to create layers of ice is expected to take two days to complete.
  • The rink is expected to be finished in time for the IceHogs' Friday night matchup against the Iowa Wild on February 7, 2026.
  • The ice will be refinished after the Friday game in anticipation for the AHL All-Star Classic festivities.

The players

Gretchen Gilmore

The general manager of the BMO Center in Rockford, Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“It's exciting for those of us that work here. This could be the one time in our career that we're going to be able to experience such a prestigious event”

— Gretchen Gilmore, BMO Center General Manager

“This event has not been in the Midwest for over 20 years and now Rockford is hosting it. That's such a huge deal.”

— Gretchen Gilmore, BMO Center General Manager

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Hosting the prestigious AHL All-Star Classic is a major accomplishment for Rockford and the BMO Center, showcasing the city's ability to handle large-scale sporting events and providing an economic boost to the local community.