The Laval Rocket are getting a third chance to host the American Hockey League’s All-Star Classic.
The AHL said in a release Thursday that the 2023 all-star showcase will take place Feb. 5-6 at Place Bell in Laval, Que.
The AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens was initially chosen to host the All-Star Classic during the 2020-21 season, but the event was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHL president and chief executive officer Scott Howson said when the second postponement was announced in December that he was committed to bringing the event to Laval in the future.
The event will include the AHL Hall of Fame induction ceremony and a skills competition.
“Since they were first selected two years ago, the Laval Rocket and Place Bell have been preparing to welcome our players, coaches and fans from across North America to their city and their beautiful facilities,” Howson said in a release Thursday.
“We are eagerly looking forward to celebrating our league and honouring our Hall of Fame inductees in Laval next February.”
The last AHL all-star game to be held in Canada was in 2014 at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, N.L.