PROVIDENCE, R.I. … American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that the AHL Board of Governors has selected the Providence Bruins and the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority to host the 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic as part of a weekend of festivities January 25-28, 2013.
The 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic will kick off with a Providence Bruins home game on Friday, January 25, followed by the Providence Bruins Youth Hockey Festival on Saturday, January 26. The AHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place on Sunday, January 27, and the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony and the 2013 AHL All-Star Game will be held Monday, January 28.
“The American Hockey League is excited to be returning to one of its founding cities for the 2013 All-Star Classic,” said Andrews. “Providence has been part of the fabric of our league since our first season in 1936, and the Providence Bruins organization has been a cornerstone for the last two decades. We’re looking forward to showcasing our brightest stars to capacity crowds at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center and to an international television audience.”
The 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic will mark the third time that Providence has hosted an AHL All-Star event. The old Rhode Island Auditorium was the site of an All-Star Game on Oct. 23, 1956, and the Dunkin’ Donuts Center hosted the first AHL All-Star Game of the modern era on Jan. 17, 1995.
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“The 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic is the American Hockey League’s premier exhibition, bringing together dozens of hockey’s rising stars for an exciting weekend of competition,” said Jeff Fear, CEO of the Providence Bruins. “The Providence Bruins are honored to play host to this special event.”
Events scheduled to take place include:
• Friday, Jan. 25: Providence Bruins regular-season home game – Dunkin’ Donuts Center
• Saturday, Jan. 26: Providence Bruins Youth Hockey Festival – Dunkin’ Donuts Center
• Sunday, Jan. 27: 2013 AHL All-Star Skills Competition – Dunkin’ Donuts Center
• Sunday, Jan. 27: AHL All-Star Post-Skills Party – Rhode Island Convention Center
• Monday, Jan. 28: AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony – Veterans Memorial Auditorium
• Monday, Jan. 28: 2013 AHL All-Star Game – Dunkin’ Donuts Center
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have this event coming to Providence and to be using our entire Complex,” said James Bennett, CEO and Chairman of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority. “One of our primary goals is to bring big-time sporting events to our facilities and we continue to do just that: the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships in 2010, the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Tournament in 2013 and now the 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic weekend.”
The AHL All-Star Classic annually draws thousands of fans to the host city, and the 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic is expected to provide a boost to hotels and restaurants in and around the city of Providence.
“Major sporting organizations have realized that the City of Providence has the infrastructure, facilities, hotels and restaurants to put on a world-class event,” said Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. “We are building lasting relationships with these organizations that will continue to fuel our economy for years to come.”
Additional details, including event times and information on ticket sales, will be announced at a later date.
The 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic in Providence will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League. Of the 597 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since the event was reinstated in 1995, more than 91 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Brad Boyes, Dan Boyle, Daniel Briere, Ryan Callahan, Brian Campbell, Miikka Kiprusoff, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal and Tomas Vokoun, as well as current Providence Bruins Carter Camper, Jamie Arniel, Anton Khudobin, Trent Whitfield and Josh Hennessy and Boston Bruins Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Andrew Ference, Johnny Boychuk, Joe Corvo and Tuukka Rask.
The American Hockey League was founded in 1936 and is currently in its 76th season of operation, serving as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 87 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and the AHL has been home to more than 100 future members of the Hockey Hall of Fame through the years.
The Providence Bruins, established in 1992, are the top affiliate of the 2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Celebrating their 20th anniversary season in 2011-12, the Providence Bruins have enjoyed much success over their history. The team won the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup championship in 1999 and boasts 10 former players on the 2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. In addition to accomplishments on the ice, the Providence Bruins were fourth-best in attendance in the AHL in 2010-11 and are the best-attended minor-league hockey team in New England.
