Sharp, Versteeg named All-Star Basic honorary captains

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … American Hockey League President and Chief Government Officer Scott Howson introduced immediately that AHL and Chicago Blackhawks alumni Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg have been chosen to function the honorary captains for the 2026 AHL All-Star Basic introduced by BMO, to be held February 10-11 in Rockford, Sick.

Every year, the All-Star Basic honorary captains be part of the taking part groups within the locker room and on the benches in the course of the occasion, and are acknowledged for his or her careers on the annual AHL Corridor of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony.

Patrick Sharp performed 163 video games with the Philadelphia Phantoms over his first three seasons as a professional, totaling 52 objectives and 114 factors. In 2004-05, he represented the Phantoms within the 2005 AHL All-Star Basic and later notched 21 factors in 21 postseason contests – together with a team-best 4 objectives and 6 factors within the Finals – as Philadelphia received the Calder Cup. Sharp would go on to skate in 939 regular-season video games and 142 playoff video games within the Nationwide Hockey League with Philadelphia, Chicago and Dallas, and was instrumental within the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015. He additionally captured a gold medal as a member of Staff Canada on the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Kris Versteeg skated in 145 video games within the AHL with Windfall, Norfolk and Rockford, together with a stint as captain of the IceHogs in 2019-20. Versteeg tallied 26 objectives and 72 factors in 70 video games to complete fourth amongst all AHL rookies in scoring in 2006-07 earlier than graduating to the Nationwide Hockey League, the place he would seem in 643 video games over 11 seasons with Chicago, Toronto, Philadelphia, Florida, Carolina, Los Angeles and Calgary. Versteeg was named to the NHL All-Rookie Staff in 2008-09 and received a pair of Stanley Cup titles with the Blackhawks, in 2010 and 2015.

The 2026 AHL All-Star Basic introduced by BMO will embrace the AHL All-Star Abilities Competitors on Tuesday, February 10, adopted by the AHL Corridor of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, February 11 and the 2026 AHL All-Star Problem that night. For ticket info, followers can go to icehogs.com/asc26.

The 2026 AHL All-Star Basic introduced by BMO will function the highest younger expertise within the American Hockey League: since 1995, greater than 94 p.c of All-Star Basic contributors have gone on to compete within the Nationwide Hockey League, together with Yaroslav Askarov, Drake Batherson, Jordan Binnington, John Carlson, Brandt Clarke, Thatcher Demko, Lukas Dostal, Ryker Evans, Thomas Harley, Connor Hellebuyck, Joel Hofer, Tristan Jarry, Jordan Kyrou, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, J.T. Miller, Brandon Montour, William Nylander, Kyle Palmieri, Mikko Rantanen, Dylan Strome, Tyler Toffoli, Linus Ullmark, Dustin Wolf and Mats Zuccarello.

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the highest improvement league for the gamers, coaches, managers, executives, broadcasters and employees of all 32 Nationwide Hockey League groups. Almost 90 p.c of immediately’s NHL gamers are American Hockey League graduates, and greater than 100 honored members of the Hockey Corridor of Fame hung out within the AHL of their careers.