Coghlan, Gaudette Named to AHL All-Star Classic

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The American Hockey League today announced the rosters for the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU, taking place on Feb. 4-5 at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, Calif., home of the San Jose Barracuda.

The Thunderbirds will be sending two representatives to this season's event - defenseman Dylan Coghlan and forward Adam Gaudette.

Coghlan, 25, has been one of the most dangerous offensive blueliners in the AHL throughout the 2023-24 season. Through games played on Jan. 8, Coghlan is tied with fellow All-Star Lucas Carlsson of Charlotte for the league lead in goals by a defenseman with 10. Coghlan is also tied for the AHL lead among defenders with three power-play goals and is second behind Carlsson with four game-winning goals, which includes two overtime game-winners.

The Duncan, B.C. native went undrafted but has skated in 105 NHL games with Vegas and Carolina in addition to 161 AHL contests with Chicago and Springfield. He is one of three Thunderbirds skating while on loan from the Carolina Hurricanes.

A native of Braintree, Mass., Gaudette has been on an offensive tear from day one of the 2023-24 season. Through this past weekend's action, the 27-year-old winger leads the entire AHL with 20 goals scored and is tied for fifth in total points with 32 through Springfield's first 33 games played. In his last 98 AHL games, Gaudette has tallied 47 goals and 83 points.

The Northeastern University alumnus and 2018 Hobey Baker Award winner has already logged six multi-goal games this season and is tied for having the longest goal-scoring streak in the AHL this season when he tallied goals in six straight contests from Oct. 15 to Oct. 28. That run of nine goals in just six games helped Gaudette secure AHL Player of the Month honors for October. Originally a fifth-round selection by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2015 NHL Draft, Gaudette has skated in 218 NHL games with Vancouver, Chicago, and Ottawa in addition to 114 contests in the AHL with Utica, Toronto, and Springfield. 
 

The 2024 AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, Feb. 4, will pit the All-Stars from the two Eastern Conference divisions against those from the two Western Conference divisions in seven skills events.

The AHL’s All-Stars will be divided into four teams, one representing each of the league’s four divisions, for the 2024 AHL All-Star Challenge on Monday, Feb. 5. The teams will participate in a round-robin 3-on-3 tournament. Following the round-robin, the two teams with the best records will face off for the championship.

Tickets for the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU, which include admission to both the Skills Competition and the Challenge, are available now by visiting sjbarracuda.com.

Thunderbirds fans can reserve their seats for the remainder of the 2023-24 season and lock in the best prices by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visiting www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.