The AHL All-Star Classic Returns To Utica

For the second time since the Comets returned to Utica in 2013, Utica and the newly dubbed Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium will be the center of the AHL hockey world for the AHL All-Star Classic.

The Utica Comets will host the 2018 All-Star Classic on January 28-29, 2018.

AHL President and CEO David Andrews said in a statement he is looking forward to Utica hosting the game.

“The American Hockey League is thrilled to be returning to the Mohawk Valley for our All-Star Classic,” said Andrews. “We owe great thanks to Robert Esche, the Comets organization, the State of New York and Turning Stone Resort Casino for offering their first-class facilities and accommodations once again so that we can showcase our brightest stars in front of capacity crowds and international television audiences.”

The 2018 All-Star classic will be presented by Turning Stone Resort Casino, who will host the annual AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony on Monday, January 29.

This year's All-Star game will divide the leagues best players into four teams from each AHL division. The four teams will play a round-robin tournament, with the two teams with the best tournament records facing off for the for the championship in a six-minute game.

The round robin tournament will consist of six ten-minute games of 3-on-3 action.

The All-Star Skills competition will have Eastern Conference All Stars vs. Western Conference All-Stars battling it out in 7 events including hardest shot, fastest skater and accuracy shooting.

Tickets to the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic range from $39 to $99 and will get you in to both the Skills Competition on January 28, and the All-Star Challenge on January 29.

Season ticket holders will have access to seats beginning on October 23, and non-season ticket holders will have access starting November 4 at 10 a.m.

I personally had the opportunity to cover the 2015 AHL All-Star Classic for WIBX950 when it came to Utica, it was an amazing night and 2018 will be even better with the newly renovated Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium!

Governor Andrew Cuomo who was in town for the announcement, added that $10.5 million in state money is being spent on the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.