AHL News : The First Week of October 2025
Leading into the start of the 2025-26 season, the American Hockey League announced a few partnerships and the alumni numbers in the National Hockey League.
Extension of CCM Partnership
Kicking off the month of October, the AHL announced the extension of their partnership with CCM, a global hockey brand with a rich history of equipping the best hockey players in the world for over a century.
“The American Hockey League’s partnership with CCM has been a critical component of the AHL’s business success for more than two decades,” said Scott Howson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Hockey League in the league’s press release. “Its impact on our league operations on and off the ice cannot be overstated, and we are excited to be continuing to be part of CCM’s legacy as an industry leader.”
Here are all the things that will continue thanks to the extension of this partnership:
CCM continue to be the official equipment supplier of the AHL
They will be the head-to-toe uniform provider for the AHL’s referees and linespeople
CCM will still sponsor the AHL All-Star Classic. Equipment, jerseys, and locker room apparel will be provided for the event
They will remain the exclusive licensee for AHL on-ice and replica jerseys
CCM will remain a licensee for other AHL apparel and headwear
596 AHL Grads on the NHL Opening Night Rosters
On October 7, the NHL opened their 2025-26 season with more than 82% of their opening-day active rosters being made up of players who have played in the AHL. Out of the 32 teams in the NHL, 21 of them have a head coach who was an AHL coach at one point in their career.
Both the Winnipeg Jets and Tampa Bay Lightning have the most AHL grads with 22. No team in the NHL has below 16 AHL grads on their team.
Enhanced Video Review Partnership with Spiideo
The AHL announced aa multi-year partnership with Spiideo, who will provide officials with “high-definition, multi-angle views of the entire ice surface in all 32 arenas.”
“As one of the premier hockey leagues in the world, the AHL’s commitment to accuracy and fairness aligns perfectly with Spiideo’s mission to deliver the most cutting-edge automated video technology in sports,” adds Patrik Olsson, co-founder and CEO, Spiideo in the league’s press release. “We’re thrilled to partner with the AHL to deploy multi-angle camera systems that capture every moment on the ice. With our cloud-based video tools, footage is instantly available to league officials anywhere, any time.”
Per the league’s press release, the only situation subject to video review is determining whether the puck legally crossed the goal line. The video resources will also be available for use by the AHL’s Player Safety Committee during discipline reviews.
Fortune Tires New Sponsor of “Player of the Month” Award
In February 20255, the AHL and Fortune Tires entered into a multi-year partnership where they sponsored the AHL standings page, promotional nights in select cities, and will have a strong presence at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Ill.
On October 9, Fortune Tires added another layer to their partnership with the AHL by sponsoring the league’s “Player of the Month” award. It will now be called the “Expect More” Player of the Month Award, and will still recognize the top players in the league each month. At the end of the season, an "Expect More” Player of the Year will be awarded.
According to the press release, “Fortune Tires will contribute $500 to the player’s charity of choice - and $2,500 to the Player of the Year’s charity - highlighting the company’s commitment to both excellence and community impact.”
“At Fortune Tires, performance matters – on the road, on the ice, and in the community,” said Samuel Felberbaum, President of Fortune Tires said in the league’s press release. “Just as AHL players push themselves to excel, our tires are designed to deliver top-tier safety, handling and reliability. We’re honored to support players and their charitable causes, because that’s what it means to EXPECT MORE – both in performance and in giving back.”
