As the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic presented by BMO rolls into Rockford, Illinois, the spotlight won’t just be on the ice. The American Hockey League is teaming up with the Rockford IceHogs and the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition (PIC) for a meaningful community visit that goes beyond the boards - and it’s bringing some big names with it.
On Wednesday, February 11, AHL and NHL alumni Georges Laraque, Andrew Ference, and Raitis Ivanāns will join several of this year’s AHL All-Stars at Conklin Academy Elementary School. Their mission? To connect with local students in grades 5 through 7 and introduce them to the fundamentals of hockey in an accessible, engaging way.
This isn’t just a one-off appearance. It’s part of a growing initiative that began last year when the AHL partnered with the NHL PIC to bring a player-driven approach to community outreach during All-Star weekend. That collaboration is now evolving into something bigger - a platform for inclusion, education, and grassroots development in hockey.
Laraque and Ference bring serious hockey pedigree and a shared passion for giving back. Laraque, a former NHL enforcer and current radio host and public speaker, suited up for 13 NHL seasons and logged 144 games in the AHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Ference, now the NHL’s Director of Social Impact & Player Programs, was an AHL All-Star back in 2001 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and went on to play over 900 games in the NHL, capturing a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011.
Joining them is Raitis Ivanāns, a name that holds special meaning in Rockford. Ivanāns played for the IceHogs during the 2002-03 season and became the first player in team history to make the jump to the NHL.
His seven-year NHL career included stops with the Canadiens, Kings, and Flames, and he now calls Rockford home. His presence adds a personal touch to the event, reconnecting with the community where his pro journey began.
The visit is being held in partnership with the YMCA of Rock River Valley, which recently received a $15,000 grant from the IceHogs Community Fund. That funding will help launch an NHL Street program later this year at the Good Shepherd YMCA in Rockford - a key step in making the game more accessible to kids who might not otherwise have the chance to play.
The NHL Player Inclusion Coalition - composed of current and former NHL players, as well as women’s pro hockey players - has been working since 2020 to drive inclusion throughout the sport. Whether it’s through educational programming, community events, or investing in grassroots initiatives, the Coalition is focused on creating a hockey culture that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.
This All-Star community visit isn’t just a warm-up act for the weekend’s on-ice festivities. It’s a reminder that hockey’s future isn’t just being shaped in arenas - it’s being built in classrooms, community centers, and street rinks across North America. And with leaders like Laraque, Ference, and Ivanāns leading the charge, the next generation of hockey fans - and maybe even future pros - are getting a front-row seat to what the game is all about.
Since its founding in 1936, the AHL has been the proving ground for nearly 90 percent of today’s NHL players. It’s also been a launchpad for coaches, executives, and broadcasters.
And with more than 100 Hockey Hall of Famers having passed through the league, its legacy is firmly cemented in the sport’s history. But events like this show that the AHL is just as committed to shaping hockey’s future - both on and off the ice.