The AHL All-Star festivities got underway Tuesday night in Rockford, Illinois, with a showcase of skill, speed, and some serious flair. The two-day event opened with the always-entertaining skills competition, setting the stage for Wednesday’s three-on-three tournament. Representing the Calgary Wranglers was forward Matvei Gridin - the lone Wrangler selected for the All-Star spotlight.
Gridin, who’s been turning heads in his rookie season, was tapped to compete in three of the seven skills events: the Fastest Skater, Pass and Score, and Breakaway Relay. Heading into the All-Star break, Gridin had racked up 28 points in 34 games - a solid stat line that includes 10 goals and 18 assists.
He’s also chipped in across all situations: one power-play goal, one shorthanded tally, three game-winners, and a shootout goal on three attempts. Before his call-up to the Flames, he ranked among the top three rookie scorers in the league.
Now, even after spending time at the NHL level, he’s still holding strong - 16th in goals, seventh in assists, and 10th in points among AHL rookies.
Gridin wasn’t the only former Wrangler on the ice in Rockford. Jakob Pelletier, now with the Syracuse Crunch, also earned a spot in the festivities - a nod to the talent pipeline Calgary continues to develop.
Before the puck dropped on the skills competition, Gridin had his eye on one event in particular.
“I’ll try to do my best in the fastest skater,” he said. “Hopefully, I win, but we’ll see.”
Fastest Skater
Gridin came out flying in the Fastest Skater, bringing solid pace through the first half of his lap. But as he tried to squeeze out every last ounce of speed on the final turn, he caught the bottom of the boards and took a spill - a tough break in a high-speed event that demands precision as much as raw speed.
He finished with a time of 14.485 seconds, the slowest among the six skaters. The Eastern Conference took the point in this event.
Pass and Score
Up next was the Pass and Score challenge, where Gridin teamed up with Tanner Laczynski (Henderson Silver Knights) and Cameron Hughes (Texas Stars) to take on goaltender Artur Akhtyamov of the Toronto Marlies. The rules were simple but tricky: three attackers, three attempts, and every player had to touch the puck before each shot.
The trio clicked immediately, going a perfect three-for-three. Crisp passing, smart movement, and clinical finishes - they made it look easy.
Breakaway Relay
Gridin saved his best for last in the Breakaway Relay. With flair and confidence, he pulled off a highlight-reel move - a slick between-the-legs deke followed by a backhander that went bar down.
It was the kind of goal that gets the crowd buzzing and the bench on its feet. Every goal in this event counted toward the overall Conference score, and Gridin’s finish was a bright spot for the Western side.
By the end of night one, the Eastern Conference held an 18-15 lead heading into Wednesday’s three-on-three tournament. That action will get underway at 6:00 p.m. MT and can be streamed on Flo Hockey or TSN5.
Gridin’s night was a mix of promise, poise, and personality - a reminder that the Wranglers have something special in the young forward. From a stumble in the speed lap to a showstopper in the breakaway, he gave fans a little bit of everything.