The American Hockey League All-Star game was one that the City of Binghamton will never forget.

Just 1:48 into the game, T.J. Hensick (Lake Erie Monsters) put the puck into the back of the net and the scoring didn’t stop. By the end of the first period, Planet USA was up 3-2. Both of the Canadian team’s goals were scored by Teddy Purcell (Manchester Monarchs). Purcell went on to tally his third goal for the hat trick just 1:24 into the second period.

The first All-Star penalty shot was awarded during the second period as well. Toby Petersen (Iowa Stars) took full advantage of the situation and slid the puck through goalie Nolan Schaefer’s (Houston Aeros) legs on a gorgeous backhander. The second period left Planet USA with a 7-5 lead.

The Canadian team made it a one-goal game just 3:55 into the third when Corey Locke (Hamilton Bulldogs) buried a shot off of the post and into the net. However, Planet USA tallied again just 23 seconds later when Portland Pirates defender Brian Salcido shot a loose puck into what seemed to be a wide-open net. But the Canadian team did not falter and tied the game up with just over five minutes left on a goal by Jeff Tambellini (Bridgeport Sound Tigers).

The score stayed tied in the third period and continued on to a shootout. Planet USA’s Rob Schremp (Springfield Falcons) scored first when he lifted the puck up on his stick using a lacrosse-like maneuver, then faked the goalie out of the way and lifted the puck into the top of the net. Up next for the Canadian All-Star’s was captain Denis Hamel (Binghamton Senators). As his name was called, the building went absolutely nuts. Several seconds later after he blasted a slap shot past an unsuspecting goalie, the building’s noise level was off the charts.

‘When the coach told me I was the first to go I just told myself I had to take a slap shot and I’m sure the other goalie didn’t expect that,’ Hamel said. ‘The crowd was great.’

After the next few shooters were denied, Purcell put one past the goalie to go along with his hat trick and give the Canadian team a 2-1 lead in the shootout. This lead would hold as Canadian team goalie Drew MacIntyre (Manitoba Moose) held strong and stopped the next two shooters.

Overall MacIntyre stopped 15 of 16 shots in regulation including two breakaways and a 2-on-1. He also stopped four of five shots in the shootout.

‘The third period is a period that you want to play in, at least I wanted to play in,’ MacIntrye said. ‘I was excited when it was a close game and that shootout was a bonus. It’s nice when you win them.’

Unfortunately for MacIntyre, his effort was not enough for him to take home MVP. The award was given to Purcell after grabbing a hat trick during the game and adding the game winner in the shootout.

After the game was said and done, Hamel had nothing but great things to say about the City of Binghamton and its response to such a great event.

‘Every player had a great time this weekend. It’s a great weekend. Like I always said, the crowd was behind us,’ Hamel said. ‘It’s a great crowd here. They’ve supported us all year and they came for the All-Star game.’

The city was truly amazing during the game and appreciative of all of the players, a reason I’m sure another AHL All-Star Classic is in Binghamton’s future.

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Planet USA defeated the Canadian All-Stars 15-9 in the Skills Competition. The accuracy shooting contest saw Manchester Monarchs’ Gabe Gauthier hit all four targets on his first four tries, something that has been done in the AHL only once before and in the NHL only five times. Mark Mancari of the Rochester Americans partook in the hardest shot competition and while his first shot barely broke 96 MPH, his second shot hit 102.8 MPH, an AHL All-Star record and the third fastest shot in all of hockey All-Star history.