The effort to bring the AHL All-Star Classic to Utica can be tied to current Utica Comets co-owner Frank DuRoss and spans two decades. 

That's because without DuRoss and the Providence Bruins the event may not even exist today.

DuRoss - who has been an owner, partial owner and investor in several professional sports franchises since the mid 1970's - was part of the ownership team that resurrected/created the AHL All-Star Classic in the 90's.

DuRoss, then a partial owner of the Providence Bruins, thought the league needed an event to ''showcase to all the world what the American Hockey League is and the level of talent that we had.''

The idea was pitched to the league, and they said 'Yes'.

The first AHL All-Star Classic was hosted by DuRoss' Providence Bruins in 1995 at the Providence Civic Center and has continued since.

 

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