SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Geordie Kinnear of Charlotte Checkers, John Gruden Toronto Marlies, Dan Watson of the Grand Rapids Griffins and Trent Cull of the Calgary Wranglers won the coaching award The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by Spotlight 29 Casinoto be held February 2-3 in Palm Desert, Calif.
The Checkers, Marlies, Griffins and Wranglers all have the best record in their divisions as of the predetermined deadline, the end of the game on December 31, 2024.
Geordie Kinnear will guide the Atlantic Division All-Star team, as Charlotte sits with a record of 18-8-1-2 (39 pts., .672). Kinnear is in his 23rd season coaching in the American Hockey League, and has been the head coach of the Florida Panthers since 2016. Kinnear spent the better part of eight years playing in the AHL, winning a Calder Cup with Albany. River Rats in 1995 and played in the AHL All-Star Classic in 1996 and 1998.
In his second season as head coach of the Marlies, John Gruden you will lead i North Division thanks to Toronto’s league-best record of 17-5-2-3 (39 pts., .722) so far in 2024-25. Gruden joined the organization after serving as an assistant for the Boston Bruins who won the President’s Medal in 2022-23, and was an assistant with the New York Islanders when they reached the Stanley Cup semifinals in 2020 and 2021. As a player, Gruden participated. in the 2002 AHL All-Star Classic.
Dan Watson is headed to his first AHL All-Star Classic representing the top-seeded Griffins Central Division with a record of 19-9-3-0 (41 pts., .661). Watson is currently in his second season as head coach in Grand Rapids and his 16th season overall with the Detroit Red Wings organization, having served in multiple positions with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye from 2009 to 2023.
The Calgary Wranglers will provide Pacific Division The All-Star coach for the third consecutive season thanks to their record of 21-9-1-0 (43 pts., .694). The head coach Trent Cullwho led the Pacific Division in last year’s event, was named an interim assistant coach with the Calgary Flames on December 22; Joe Cirella He is serving as the Wranglers interim coach until he returns.
I The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by Spotlight 29 Casino will include i AHL All-Star Skills Competition presented by Silvercrest to Sunday, February 2followed by i AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony presented by Spotlight 29 Casino and Silvercrest to Monday, February 3 as well as The 2025 AHL All-Star Challenge is presented by Spotlight 29 Casino that night. For ticket information, fans can visit cvfirebirds.com/allstar.
The Skills Tournament pits the Elites from the two divisions of the Eastern Conference against those from the two divisions of the Western Conference in seven skill events. The All-Star Challenge is a round-robin, 3-on-3 tournament between four divisions to determine the All-Star champions.
I The 2025 AHL All-Star Classic is presented by Spotlight 29 Casino will have some of the top talent in the American Hockey League: since 1995, more than 94 percent of All-Star Classic participants have competed in the National Hockey League, including Cam Atkinson, Drake Batherson, Jordan Binnington, Michael Carcone, John Carlson, Brandt Clarke, Thatcher Demko, Lukas Dostal, Ryker Evans, Thomas Harley, Connor Hellebuyck, Joel Hofer, Tristan Jarry, Jordan Kyrou, Jonathan Marchessault, Jacob Markstrom, JT Miller, Brandon Montour, William Nylander, Kyle Palmieri, Mikko Rantanen, Dylan Strome, Tyler Toffoli, Linus Ullmark, Vitek Vanecek, Dustin Wolf again Mats Zuccarello.
Operating since 1936, the American Hockey League serves as the premier league for the development of players, coaches, managers, administrators, broadcasters and personnel for all 32 National Hockey League teams. About 90 percent of today’s NHL players graduated from the American Hockey League, and more than 100 members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL during their careers.
