ROCKFORD, Ill., - The Central Division, led by Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Dan Watson, forward Dominik Shine and goaltender Sebastian Cossa, returned to the AHL All-Star Challenge Finals for the second-consecutive season but ultimately fell to the Pacific Division, 3-1. Shine posted one assist, three shots and an even plus-minus rating during the three-on-three tournament, and Cossa ranked second among all goalies with a 1.05 goals-against average and an .818 save percentage in 15:10 minutes, trailing the Pacific’s Isak Posch (0.50 GAA, .923 SV%). Watson improved his all-star coaching record with the AHL’s Central Division to 4-2-2-0.

The festivities began on Tuesday with the AHL All-Star Skills Competition, with the Eastern Conference coming away with an 18-15 victory. Cossa kicked things off during the Fortune Tires Rapid Fire, facing off against former Griffin and current Thunderbird Matt Luff and Rochester’s Isak Rosen. Cossa saved eight of 10 shots in the event, allowing two goals to Rosen. The netminder then participated in the Hard Rock Casino Rockford Pass and Score against Charlotte’s Ben Steeves, Syracuse’s Jakob Pelletier and Rochester’s Rosen. In the three-on-zero competition, Cossa collected two saves on three attempts. The former 15th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings finished his night in the Upper Deck Breakaway Relay against Rochester’s Rosen, Providence’s Frederic Brunet, Cleveland’s Luca Del Bel Belluz, Springfield’s Luff and Syracuse’s Conor Geekie. Cossa blanked Rosen, Brunet and Del Bel Belluz, before allowing tallies from Luff and Geekie. 

During his first-ever AHL All-Star Classic, Shine began his skills competition in the CCM Hardest Shot, registering attempts of 93.4 MPH and 96.4 MPH. The veteran captain continued his night in the Hard Rock Casino Rockford Pass and Score alongside San Diego’s Tim Washe and San Jose’s Cam Lund. Shine and Lund were stonewalled by Providence’s Michael DiPietro, while Washe notched the lone goal for the trio. The Detroit native capped off his night in the Upper Deck Breakaway Relay with Tucson’s Dmitri Simashev, San Jose’s Lund, Chicago’s Bradly Nadeua and Coachella Valley’s Jagger Firkus. Shine’s breakaway against Toronto’s Artur Akhtyamov was turned aside and the group tallied three goals on five shots.  

Day two of the AHL All-Star Classic began with the hall-of-fame ceremony. Former Griffin Alexandre Giroux was inducted into the hall of fame after competing in 11 AHL seasons with Grand Rapids (2001-02), Binghamton (2002-04), Hartford (2003-06), Hershey (2006-10), Chicago (2007-08), Oklahoma City (2010-11) and Springfield (2011-12), logging 704 points (368-336—704) in 771 career games. With the Griffins in 2001-02, Giroux totaled 27 points (11-16—27), 74 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating in 70 games. 

The AHL All-Star Challenge ended the weekend with the Central Division falling to the Pacific in the finals. The division went 1-2-1 during the tournament with a win against the Pacific, losses to the North and Pacific, and a tie against the Atlantic. Cossa and Manitoba’s Thomas Milic split time in net for the Central Division. The Hamilton, Ontario native tallied nine saves on 11 shots with a 1.05 GAA in 15:10 minutes of ice time across the four games. In a must-win game against the Pacific to reach the finals, Cossa and Milic both registered three saves for a 4-0 shutout.  

Shine was honored prior to the event when he was chosen to be the alternate captain for the Western Conference in his first all-star appearance. The veteran forward, who is in his 10th season with the Griffins, notched one assist, three shots and an even plus-minus rating, leading the division to the finals.