SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League and the Hershey Bears announced today that Capital BlueCross has been named the title sponsor for the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic.
The 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross will take place at Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. The event will begin with the 2011 AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sun., January 30, and conclude with the 2011 AHL All-Star Game on Mon., January 31.
“The AHL All-Star Classic is a mark of excellence which certainly exemplifies Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company and the Bears organization,” said Bill Lehr, Capital BlueCross president and chief executive officer. “We value our long-standing relationship with the Bears, and are happy to support this event and the great young stars of the American Hockey League who are outstanding role models because of their healthy living, commitment to fitness and community giving.”
“Capital BlueCross has been an outstanding partner of the Hershey Bears for many years,” said Bears president and general manager Doug Yingst. “We as an organization are excited to have their participation in the American Hockey League’s signature mid-season event, and look forward to seeing the AHL’s best and brightest at Giant Center in January.”
Capital BlueCross is the leading health insurer in its region, providing health insurance coverage to nearly one million people in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. By establishing a culture of caring, Capital BlueCross constantly strives to do more in order to deliver more for the men, women and children who depend on the company for their health insurance needs. Capital BlueCross has been providing health security to the people and communities of central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley for more than 70 years and employs about 2,000 people in the region. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
The 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross in Hershey will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League, competing in the AHL All-Star Skills Competition and the AHL All-Star Game, a two-day event to be televised nationally in the United States and Canada. Of the 528 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Dan Boyle, Daniel Briere, Dustin Byfuglien, Brian Campbell, Zdeno Chara, Tomas Fleischmann, Miikka Kiprusoff, Kari Lehtonen, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal and Tomas Vokoun.
