ROCKFORD — Games are on pause in the NHL, but there’s no Winter Olympics freeze for the AHL. Instead, it had a brief hiatus this week while the league’s best convened at the BMO Center. The Rockford IceHogs hosted the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic on Tuesday and Wednesday. Not only was it the firs t time the Chicago Blackhawks affiliate catered the event, but the All-Star festivities returned to the Midwest for the first time since 2004, when it took place Grand Rapids, Mich. “When we announced this event a year ago, we got a great reception and I could tell how meaningful it was going to be to this community,” AHL President and CEO Scott Howson said. “Rockford’s (in) proximity to Chicago, they don’t get a lot of these events, and for us to bring this event here was very meaningful. “We haven’t been (to the Midwest) in 20 years, and we’ve got a lot of teams out here. It was really fitting with the Hawks 100-year anniversary (and the AHL’s) 90th season. Lots to be celebratory about.” Nick Lardis and Kevin Korchinski motivated for return to Chicago Blackhawks: ‘You want the stay to last’ The IceHogs faithful didn’t hide their excitement. They offered cheers throughout the night Wednesday during the All-Star Challenge — and some jeers toward the rival Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals All-Stars. It wouldn’t be an All-Star event in Rockford without some IceHogs in the mix. Forward Nick Lardis, captain Brett Seney and defenseman Kevin Korchinski were met with arena-shaking applause. “They’ve done a terrific job on this arena,” Hawson said. “The Blackhawks assumed ownership in July of 2021, and the way they’ve run this franchise, turned it around, the attendance is strong, there were just so many positives to bring.” After participating in the All-Star Skills Competition on Tuesday, it was an active Wednesday for the players. They began their day with kids at Conklin Academy Elementary School, teaching them the hockey ropes. “Get to hang around some kids, the future of the sport, and give back to community,” Korchinski, 21, said. “You get to see the (parts of) Rockford that you don’t normally get to see and just interact with your buddies and just have a good time.” Added Lardis: “I remember when I was a kid, all the support from the hockey teams around my community. It was cool to go to their games and see all those players growing up and get some autographs and learn a thing or two from them. It was special to receive that when I was younger, and then give it back to the kids.” The AHL Hall of Fame induction and awards ceremony followed the community event. Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, Jim Wiemer and Wendell Young made up the 2026 class. Finally, it was time for players to take the ice. The round-robin, division-vs.-division tournament started with the Central facing the Atlantic. It was a 3-on-3 format with seven two-period games to crown a champion. An IceHogs line skated out in their red jerseys representing the Central, and the home crowd prepped as if it were any other Rockford puck drop. “We don’t always have full buildings on All-Star (weekend), we didn’t have one last year in Coachella Valley (in Palm Desert, Calif.), so to have a full building (shows that) people are so genuinely excited about having this event here,” Hawson said. “The players feed off that, make no mistake. Our players always deliver a really good event.” Defenseman Kevin Korchinski (14) practices Sept. 18, 2025, as the Blackhawks begin training camp at Fifth Third Arena. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) The Central stars faced the Pacific in the championship game, with the Pacific winning 3-1 for the title. Korchinski ceded the All-Star MVP trophy he won last year to Colorado Eagles center Jayson Megna, who had four goals and three assists on the night to take home the award for the champions. But the IceHogs skaters still represented well, with Lardis and Seney finishing with three points each over four games. Lardis, 20, has been a highlight reel this season for both the Hawks and IceHogs, and the All-Star Classic was more of the same. He let a floater fly over Providence Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro, a goal that briefly diverted hockey fans’ attention from the Winter Olympics. Related Articles Nick Lardis and Kevin Korchinski motivated for return to Chicago Blackhawks: ‘You want the stay to last’ Blackhawks’ Teuvo Teräväinen and Palos Heights’ Kendall Coyne Schofield embrace ‘rewarding’ Olympic experience Olympic hockey arenas will be ready just in time for the puck to drop: ‘A big relief’ Chicago Blackhawks enter Olympic freeze at 22-26-9. Here’s how players will spend their break until Feb. 26. Chicago Blackhawks cruise to 6-3 win to snap a 5-game skid in final home game before NHL’s Olympic freeze He didn’t say it outright, but it’s safe to say he wanted to show off a little for the hometown fans. “If you’re having fun in practice and you get a breakaway, I’ll sometimes try that move,” Lardis said. “I knew if I had some good ice, I (wanted) to try to pull it off. “I wanted to do something kind of cool (on Tuesday), but the ice was kind of rough. I didn’t want to bobble the puck in front of the fans.” Korchinksi playfully teased Lardis both days, nitpicking the target he missed during the accuracy-shooting competition Tuesday. He was pretty impressed, though, by his teammate and all of the other participants, who get back to work Friday when the AHL season resumes. “There’s not one guy can just pinpoint, that would probably be disrespectful,” Korchinksi said. “It’s different kind of vibe, you’re just … talking and stuff like that, and then you got to go to war on Saturday and Sunday (because) we need those points.” Added Lardis of the two-day event: “Honestly expected from these fans. They’ve been unbelievable all year (with) the support they given us.” ...read more read less