2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic to be televised nationally on NHL Network

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced on Thursday that the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic will air LIVE exclusively on NHL Network on Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, at 1 p.m. EST from Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For the first time in ECHL history, the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic will feature four teams, representing each of the league's divisions. In a format similar to those adapted by the NHL and AHL All-Star Games, the four teams will compete in a 3-on-3 tournament in order to crown a winner. The 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place between the semifinal and championship rounds of the tournament, highlighting the talents of the ECHL All-Stars, and showcasing the future of hockey as they develop in the ECHL.

“In conjunction with our host team, the Indy Fuel, we are looking forward to showcasing the ECHL's top talent in this new format before a live TV audience,” said Ryan Crelin, COO of the ECHL. “The NHL Network is the perfect platform to bring the 2018 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic to both ECHL fans and hockey fans in general for the matinee event.”

This presentation of the CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic marks the second consecutive year the ECHL and NHL Network, the TV home for the National Hockey League, have worked together to have worked together to air the game live in the United States. For local channel listings, go to www.NHLNetwork.com.

About the ECHL :Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 27 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province as it celebrates its 30th season in 2017-18. There have been 630 players who have started their career in the ECHL have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including seven who have made their NHL debuts in the 2017-18 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 27 of the 31 NHL teams in 2017-18, marking the 21st consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.

The CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic is coming to Indianapolis in 2018! The best players in AA hockey take the ice at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on January 15 as part of a celebration of professional hockey in the Circle City, which will include NHL legend Wayne Gretzky. Visit ECHLAllStarClassic.com for more information and to purchase your tickets, and become an All-Star Insider to get event updates, ticket information and special offers delivered right to your inbox.

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