SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that the Lehigh Valley Phantoms have been selected to host the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic.

The 2017 AHL All-Star Classic weekend will include a Phan Fest & Tailgate Party on Saturday, January 28, followed by the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, January 29, and the AHL Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony and the 2017 AHL All-Star Game on Monday, January 30.

“We are proud of the success of the Phantoms in quickly building one of the strongest and most vibrant fan bases in the AHL,” said Andrews. “The beautiful PPL Center and surrounding amenities will provide a fantastic home for the AHL All-Star Classic, and we look forward to showcasing our best players, our rich history and the Lehigh Valley to fans from around the league and an international television audience next January.”

“Being selected to host the AHL All-Star Classic is a huge honor and we are excited for the positive impact it will have on our community,” said Lehigh Valley Phantoms co-owner/governor Jim Brooks. “We look forward to spotlighting the Lehigh Valley and showcasing the premier talent of the AHL on an international stage.”

“We would like to thank our fans, supporters and talented staff for creating a fun and energetic atmosphere within the PPL Center that has been noticed by the American Hockey League,” added Phantoms co-owner/governor Rob Brooks.

Tickets for the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic weekend are on sale now. Tickets start at $67 and include admission to Saturday’s Phan Fest & Tailgate Party, Sunday’s All-Star Skills Competition and Monday’s All-Star Game. To purchase tickets to the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic, visit www.phantomshockey.com or www.pplcenter.com.

The 2017 AHL All-Star Classic will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League: since 1995, more than 93 percent of All-Star Classic participants have gone on to compete in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Ben Bishop, Troy Brouwer, Ryan Callahan, Zdeno Chara, Logan Couture, Jiri Hudler, Tyler Johnson, Chris Kunitz, Ryan Miller, Gustav Nyquist, Zach Parise, Tuukka Rask, Pekka Rinne, Bobby Ryan, Martin St. Louis, Cory Schneider, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, P.K. Subban and Mats Zuccarello.

In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the 15th year in a row, more than 6 million fans have attended AHL games across North America in 2015-16.