On Tuesday evening at the BMO Center in Rockford, Illinois, the Eastern Conference secured an 18-15 victory over the Western Conference in the 2026 AHL All-Star Skills Competition. The event showcased top talent from across the league, with the competition intensifying throughout the night.
Standout Performances Highlight Skills Events
Rochester Americans forward Konsta Helenius, just 19 years old, claimed the CCM Fastest Skater award by completing the course in 13.770 seconds. Arthur Kaliyev of the Belleville Senators, who leads the league in goals, earned the CCM Hardest Shot title with a memorable 104.0 miles per hour shot.
Representing the Western Conference, Jagger Firkus from the Coachella Valley Firebirds became the sixth player in AHL history to achieve a perfect 4-for-4 in the Hard Rock Casino Rockford Accuracy Shooting contest. Meanwhile, Calle Clang of the San Diego Gulls earned the CCM Top Goaltender award by stopping 16 of 18 shots. The Abbotsford Canucks’ Ben Berard impressed fans with a highlight-reel goal during the Upper Deck Breakaway Relay.
Early Leads and Event Victories Propel East Forward
The Eastern Conference quickly took control, leading 8-1 after four events. They dominated the Inglasco Puck Control Relay by winning three of the four heats and also secured the Fortune Tires Rapid Fire event, setting the tone for their eventual victory in the overall skills competition.
Upcoming AHL All-Star Classic Festivities
The 2026 AHL All-Star Classic continues on Wednesday with the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony at noon ET/11 a.m. CT. This year’s class includes Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, Jim Wiemer, and Wendell Young. The ceremony will also honor Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg as honorary All-Star Classic captains. Fans can watch the event live on AHLTV via FloHockey and its social media channels.
Later on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, the All-Star Challenge will conclude the league’s mid-season showcase. This 3-on-3 round-robin tournament features the league’s four divisions and will be broadcast live in the United States on NHL Network, in Canada on TSN5, and streamed on AHLTV through FloHockey’s platforms. The Chicago Sports Network is producing the coverage.
