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Rockin’ with Rockford: Strong first steps

  
Samuel Savoie storms across the ice after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against the Milwaukee Admirals. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)

It is two games into the new season, and the Rockford IceHogs have stormed out with two strong victories.

Rockford began the season both as the youngest roster in the AHL and its least experienced, according to Elite Prospects. Mixed in with a first-time AHL head coach, many were prepared for some learning curves. The young IceHogs bucked that narrative against divisional foes right out of the gate.

Opening night

The Rockford IceHogs came out strong in their home opener. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)

After an impressive block party to get the season started, the Hogs hosted the division rival Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday. Milwaukee, who eliminated Rockford in the playoffs last season, looked to continue their spoiling ways in the season opener.

It was Rockford who struck first. With 4-on-4 hockey being played, Kevin Korchinski found captain Brett Seney, who shot a one-timer into the net.

“A little more ice to work with,” Seney said. “[Oliver Moore] made a great play in the middle … [Korch] made a great pass and I was just trying to get something on net.”

Despite taking the early lead, the Ads responded with less than four minutes to go in the frame. The score was 1-1 after the first period, and would remain tied through the second.

In the third period, Milwaukee took a 2-1 lead with 13 minutes left in the contest.

With time winding down, Rockford pulled goaltender Drew Commesso for the extra attacker. This proved effective. With 1:50 left in regulation, forward Jackson Cates deflected an Aidan Thompson shot to tie the game and force overtime.

In overtime, Rockford possessed the puck effectively, which led to Samuel Savoie’s game-winning goal.

“I saw a shooting lane,” Savoie said plainly after the game. “And I had to shoot it.”

The impressive opening-night victory could not have been achieved without the efforts of Commesso, who recorded 35 saves against a potent Admirals lineup.

Game two

The IceHogs had little time to celebrate their opening-night victory. Rockford immediately traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to take on the Iowa Wild. The Wild, another division rival, was looking for their first win after dropping their season opener against the Chicago Wolves.

Unfortunately for the Wild, the Hogs denied them of their first victory.

The game was a rout. Rockford netted three first-period goals by Dillon Boucher, Moore and Jamie Engelbert. With their goals, Boucher has his first career AHL goal, and Moore has his first professional goal.

In the second period, Moore recorded his second goal of the night, assisted by goaltender Stanislav Berezhnoy, marking the goaltender’s first AHL point.

Iowa did cut the lead back down to three with a Tyler Pitlick goal, but that deficit would not last the period. Fourth-liner Connor Mylymok recorded his first career AHL goal to take a 4-1 lead into the final frame.

In the third period, Pitlick once again cut the deficit back to three. That would be the end of Iowa’s scoring for the game, but not for Rockford. On a power play, Dominic Toninato scored to make it 6-2. Nick Lardis assisted on Toninato’s goal, giving Lardis his first career AHL point.

Analysis

Captain Brett Seney leaves the ice with Samuel Savoie and goaltender Drew Commesso after an overtime victory against the Milwaukee Admirals. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)

Early returns on the young roster are promising. Despite the lack of experience, the team plays a mature game.

Moore, who many thought would start the season with the Chicago Blackhawks, has recorded three points in two games, tied with Boucher and Seney for team lead. Along with Moore, Lardis has been a positive for the IceHogs at only 20 years old.

When asked about sharing a line with these two forwards on opening night, the captain had praise.

“I thought they were great … as the game got going, we started to simplify things,” Seney said. “We’re still getting to kinda know each others games … they both have a ton of skill … as they kinda get used to the pace and the way the AHL is they’ll keep getting better.”

It is not just the young forwards who have impressed. The defensemen have shined in their ability to clear the crease and be strong on the puck. Ethan Del Mastro, who started the season with the Chicago Blackhawks before being sent to Rockford before the season opener, currently leads the Hogs in plus-minus and has recorded two assists. Along with Del Mastro, Korchinski has shown strides in his ability to distribute the puck and be a terror in the offensive zone.

When asked about early returns, head coach Jared Nightingale seemed pleased, but saw room to grow.

“It’s just the start,” Nightingale said. “Teams get better and better as the year goes … our play away from the pick [needs to improve].”

Final thoughts

Forward prospect Oliver Moore has shined early in Rockford. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)

Early returns have shown promise for this young Hogs team. Like with their NHL counterparts, they rely heavily on the development of their young skaters, while surrounding them with veterans. It is one thing to win back-to-back games, it is another to sustain on-ice success and player development over an entire season. That is the goal in Rockford, and a strong start helps.

The IceHogs’ season continues on Friday at home against the Texas Stars at 7 p.m. CDT.

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