Rockford Hosts Annual AHL All-Star Classic

Blackhawks' AHL affiliate IceHogs take center stage at premier minor league hockey event.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The American Hockey League's annual All-Star Classic took place in Rockford, Illinois, home of the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. The event featured skills competitions and showcased some of the top rising talent in professional hockey, with many players hoping to earn a call-up to the NHL.

Why it matters

The AHL All-Star Classic provides a platform for up-and-coming players to demonstrate their skills in front of NHL scouts and executives, potentially opening the door to opportunities at the highest level of professional hockey. For the Rockford IceHogs, hosting the event shines a spotlight on the team and its development of future Blackhawks stars.

The details

The two-day event included a skills competition on the first day, followed by the All-Star Game itself on the second day. Players from across the AHL's Eastern and Western Conferences competed in events such as the Hardest Shot, Accuracy Shooting, and Fastest Skater, showcasing their athleticism and technical abilities. The All-Star Game pitted the top players from the Eastern Conference against their Western Conference counterparts in a highly competitive matchup.

  • The AHL All-Star Classic took place on February 12-13, 2026.
  • The skills competition was held on the first day, February 12th.
  • The All-Star Game was played on the second day, February 13th.

The players

Rockford IceHogs

The Chicago Blackhawks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, based in Rockford, Illinois.

Jay Zawaski

A reporter covering the AHL All-Star Classic for allchgo.com.

Mario Tirabassi

A reporter covering the AHL All-Star Classic for allchgo.com.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The AHL All-Star Classic is always a great showcase of the league's top talent, and having it in Rockford this year is a perfect fit given the IceHogs' status as the Blackhawks' affiliate.”

— Jay Zawaski, Reporter (allchgo.com)

“The skills competition was really exciting to watch, and it's clear these players have the potential to make an impact at the NHL level someday soon.”

— Mario Tirabassi, Reporter (allchgo.com)

What’s next

The Rockford IceHogs will look to build on the momentum of hosting the AHL All-Star Classic by continuing to develop their top prospects and potentially earning call-ups to the Chicago Blackhawks roster.

The takeaway

The AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford showcased the depth of talent in the Blackhawks' minor league system, with the IceHogs players demonstrating their skills and potential to earn opportunities at the NHL level.