Coachella Valley Firebirds mascot Fuego carries the flag for the American Hockey League 2025 All-Star Classic at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (Source: © Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)The Pacific Division are the winners of the 2026 All-Star Challenge, beating the Central Division 3-1.
That was certainly not without it's highlights, as well as some controversy.
Heading into the sixth and final round-robin game, the Central Division needed to beat their eventual final opponents, the Pacific Division (who had already qualified for the championship game) by four goals to qualify for the finale, doing exactly that by winning with a score of 4-0.
That left the Atlantic and Central Division equal in points, Head-to-Head record, Goals Differential and Goals Scored For, with the fifth tie-breaker coming into play being the quickest goal to start a game. That went in the Central Division's favor leaving the Atlantic Division to leave the ice disgruntled.
The MVP of the All-Star Challenge was the Pacific Division captain Jayson Megna (COL) who scored four goals and seven points during the competition including a hat-trick against the North Division.