The Eastern Conference secured an 18-15 victory over the Western Conference in the 2026 AHL All-Star Skills Competition held at the BMO Center in Rockford, Illinois. Young stars like Konsta Helenius and Arthur Kaliyev claimed top honors in key events, while goaltender Calle Clang anchored the Western side with standout saves. The event showcased rising talents from across the league ahead of the All-Star Challenge.
The 2026 AHL All-Star Skills Competition took place on Tuesday evening at the BMO Center, home of the Rockford IceHogs, drawing a lively crowd to celebrate the league's midseason showcase. The Eastern Conference jumped to an 8-1 lead after the first four events, capturing three of four heats in the Inglasco Puck Control Relay and the Fortune Tires Rapid Fire. Despite a late push from the West, the East held on for the 18-15 win.
Rochester Americans forward Konsta Helenius, a 19-year-old prospect, won the CCM Fastest Skater with a time of 13.770 seconds. Belleville Senators' Arthur Kaliyev, the AHL's leading goal-scorer, unleashed a 104.0 mph shot to claim the CCM Hardest Shot title. On the Western side, Coachella Valley Firebirds' Jagger Firkus went a perfect 4-for-4 in the Hard Rock Casino Rockford Accuracy Shooting, becoming only the sixth player in AHL history to achieve that feat. Abbotsford Canucks forward Ben Berard dazzled with a highlight-reel goal in the Upper Deck Breakaway Relay.
San Diego Gulls goaltender Calle Clang earned CCM Top Goaltender honors by stopping 16 of 18 shots. In the Fortune Tires Rapid Fire, he denied nine of 10 attempts from Laurent Dauphin and Christian Kyrou. Clang then shut out Tristan Broz, Jack Devine, and Matt Luff in the Hard Rock Casino Rockford Pass and Score, before stopping four of five in the Breakaway Relay. The 23-year-old, a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is 11-3-4 this season with a 2.39 goals-against average, fifth-best in the AHL, helping the Gulls to sixth place in the Pacific Division at 21-14-6-3.
Rockford IceHogs representatives Kevin Korchinski, Nick Lardis, and captain Brett Seney added local flavor. Lardis excelled in accuracy shooting, hitting all four targets on his fifth attempt, and helped the West score in the Puck Control Relay. Korchinski and Seney faced challenges, with stops in rapid fire and breakaways, but the trio emphasized the event's fun and home-crowd energy. 'It's going to be fun to do it with Lardy and Senes... being in front of the home crowd,' Korchinski said. Seney noted the team's youth: 'Kevin and Nick... have been two of our best players all year.' Lardis, fresh off an NHL stint, called it 'a lot of fun... special' in Rockford.
The competition highlighted prospects' skills, with Seney leading IceHogs scoring at 35 points in 41 games, Lardis at 15 goals and 28 points in 28 games, and Korchinski with 23 points in 43 games. Fans cheered enthusiastically, and players lingered post-event for autographs, underscoring Rockford's vibrant hockey atmosphere.
The All-Star Classic continues Wednesday with the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and the 3-on-3 All-Star Challenge.
