ESE Brings the Stars Together

There is something pretty cool about watching some of the biggest names in hockey all end up on the same sheet of ice in the middle of summer.

That is exactly what the ESE Hockey All-Star Challenge brought to Suburban Ice Rochester, with NHL stars including Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Trevor Zegras and Cole Caufield taking the ice alongside talent from across the hockey world.

ESE Hockey has built its summer leagues around bringing together elite players from the NHL, AHL, ECHL, college and junior levels. The annual All-Star Challenge takes that idea one step further, creating a night where some of Michigan’s best hockey talent can come together while giving back to the community.

And the hockey was only part of what made the night special.

This year’s event helped raise funds to provide a custom hockey sled for a 12-year-old double amputee. It was another reminder of what makes events like this bigger than the game itself. Hockey has a pretty incredible ability to bring people together, and ESE continues to use that platform to make an impact beyond the rink.

For a few hours, Suburban Ice Rochester was packed with NHL talent, local hockey fans and a whole lot of skill. But when the night was over, the biggest win had nothing to do with the scoreboard.