IceHogs roster: Signed through 2019–20

Top to bottom for all three positions, here is the running list of players that are already signed on for the 2019–20 season or beyond for the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs. AHL-only contracts specified for the players who are only eligible to play for the IceHogs or the ECHL’s Indy Fuel, without signing a contract with the Blackhawks.

Forwards

• Liam Coughlin
  • AHL contract
• Mackenzie Entwistle
• Alexandre Fortin
• Brandon Hagel
• Matthew Highmore
• Mikael Hakkarainen
• Reese Johnson
• Graham Knott
• Dominik Kubalík
• Philipp Kurashev
• Dylan McLaughlin
  • AHL contract
• Nick Moutrey
  • AHL contract
• Jacob Nilsson
• Nathan Noel
• John Quenneville
  • Acquired from New Jersey Devils
• Jack Ramsey
  • AHL contract
• Aleksi Saarela
  • Acquired from Carolina Hurricanes
• Dylan Sikura
• Tim Soderlund
• Mathew Thompson
  • AHL contract
• Kris Versteeg
  • AHL contract
• Anton Wedin

Defensemen

• Nicolas Beaudin
• Adam Boqvist
• Lucas Carlsson
• Carl Dahlstrom
• Dennis Gilbert
• Henri Jokiharju
• Slater Koekkoek
• Chad Krys
• Josh McArdle
  • AHL contract
• Dmitry Osipov
  • AHL contract
• Joni Tuulola

Goalies

• Collin Delia
• Kevin Lankinen
• Chase Marchand
  • AHL contract
• Matt Tomkins
  • AHL contract

With the Blackhawks making multiple trades over draft weekend, the potential for a few new names to be added to the list has come up. Notably, with the additions of Calvin de Haan and Olli Maatta to the Chicago defensive group, players like Boqvist and Jokiharju may be all but certainties to begin the year in Rockford with the IceHogs. While Boqvist still has the ability to return to the London Knights of the OHL, there is almost no benefit to that, since his best option is likely to begin developing his game and logging meaningful ice time against men, not teenagers.

Carl Dahlstrom lines up for a face off during a Rockford IceHogs game. (Photograph courtesy of the Grand Rapids Griffins)

Also becoming possible NHL-casualties of the de Haan and Maatta additions by the Blackhawks are bottom-pair defensemen Slater Koekkoek and Carl Dahlstrom. While both players would have to clear waivers in order to be sent to the IceHogs, the additions made by Chicago are creating a crowded NHL blue-line group with more than enough bottom-pair defensemen available to Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton. Dahlstrom and Koekkoek, while playing fine for their roles last season, are not the movers of the defensive needle that the Blackhawks need them to be. There is a potential for one or maybe both players to be traded, but if one is dealt, the other may find himself with the IceHogs early in the season.

Aleksi Saarela of the Charlotte Checkers playing in the Calder Cup Finals against the Chicago Wolves. (Photograph courtesy of the Charlotte Checkers)

In the trade with the Hurricanes, the Blackhawks sent Anton Forsberg and Gustav Forsling to Carolina and acquired de Haan and Saarela. In Saarela, the Blackhawks get a proven AHL-level scorer, as he has tallied 61 goals and 107 points in his 147 AHL games with the Charlotte Checkers. Saarela also notched 15 points in 17 Calder Cup Playoff games this year with the Checkers on their way to winning the Calder Cup. He has an outside chance of making the Blackhawks’ roster out of training camp, but more likely he will be the top-end goal scorer that the IceHogs have needed in recent years.

Dylan Sikura skates for the Rockford IceHogs last season. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Finally, on players that are signed through next season, the Blackhawks announced on Friday that they had reached deals with Sikura and newly acquired Quenneville, who they received from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for John Hayden in a trade on day two of the NHL Entry Draft. Both players entered the offseason as restricted free agents, and both signed identical deals worth a $750,000 annual average value over two years. Both contracts are two-way deals in the first season and one-way pacts in the second year. While it currently looks like both players have a better-than-not chance at making the Blackhawks’ roster, depending on training camp performances and possible free agent additions, one or both of Sikura and Quenneville could see time with the IceHogs next year.

IceHogs roster: Already gone

Not everyone fits into the future plans of the Rockford IceHogs, or reversely, the IceHogs do not always fit into every players’ future plans. For Rockford, there are already a few players from the 2018–19 squad who will not be re-signing with the club, let alone any North American team.

• Viktor Ejdsell — Farjestad BK (Sweden)
  • 2018–19 with IceHogs: 61 games, 12 goals, 17 assists
• Anton Forsberg – Carolina Hurricanes
  • 2018–19 with IceHogs: 32 games, 15-15-2, 2.64 goals against average, .919 save percentage
• Peter Holland — Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)
  • 2018–19 with IceHogs: 21 games, seven goals, nine assists
  • 2018–19 total: 73 games, 27 goals, 38 assists
• Jordan Schroeder — Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
  • 2018–19 with IceHogs: 62 games, 19 goals, 26 assists
• Brett Welychka – Esbjerg Energy (Denmark)
  • 2018–19 with IceHogs: 18 games, 0 points, -4

Anton Forsberg guards the goal for the Rockford IceHogs last season. (Photograph courtesy of the San Antonio Rampage)

The major skaters lost leave a big hole in the carried-over offensive production from last year’s IceHogs squad. Holland and Schroeder were producers for Rockford late in the season as they pushed for a Calder Cup Playoff spot, and Ejdsell showed flashes in 2018–19 of the player he was supposed to be, but could not produce on a consistent basis. While Ejdsell is going back to Sweden, the Blackhawks did extend to him a qualifying offer to retain his NHL rights should he want to come back to North America.

The next biggest departure from the IceHogs is Forsberg. Leading the IceHogs in net along with Collin Delia last season, Forsberg has more than established himself as a solid goaltender at the AHL level. His NHL opportunities though have not been as productive as hoped. With Delia and Lankinen becoming more and more likely the No. 2 and 3 goalies on the Blackhawks depth chart, respectively, Forsberg’s spot with the organization was lost and a change of scenery will be best for him in Carolina.

IceHogs roster: Unsigned

While there is a larger number of players left unsigned that would more likely be in play for the Blackhawks, here is the list of remaining players left unsigned that are likely in play for the IceHogs and the Indy Fuel.

Unrestricted free agents

• Radovan Bondra
• Terry Broadhurst
• Andrew Campbell
• Brandon Davidson
• Blake Hillman **
• Luke Johnson **
• Anthony Louis **
• Andreas Martinsen
• Connor Moynihan
• William Pelletier
• Tyler Sikura
• Spencer Watson **

(**Did not receive restricted free agent qualifying offer)

Luke Johnson battles for a puck during a Rockford IceHogs game. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Adding to the list of unrestricted free agents are the four players that were left without restricted free agent qualifying offers. Johnson, Louis, Hillman and Watson were left without offers from the Blackhawks. While any of these players could re-sign with the organization once free agency opens on July 1, it is likely that no one from this list returns to the Blackhawks or IceHogs.

It was perhaps most surprising to see that Johnson was not extended a qualifying offer. Johnson played 15 games with the Blackhawks early on last season, notching just one assist, but was liked by then-head coach Joel Quenneville and his staff early on as a fourth-line option. In his AHL career, Johnson has 39 goals and 78 points in his 199 games with the IceHogs. With the incoming prospect class for Rockford and the returns of both Highmore (health) and Nilsson, Johnson’s spot with the organization became much like Forsberg’s.

Anthony Louis plays with a puck prior to a Rockford IceHogs game. (Photograph courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs)

Same can be said about Louis. After leading the IceHogs in scoring in the 2017–18 season, Louis failed to live up to his billing as one of the top scoring options for the IceHogs in 2018–19. Tallying 34 points in 74 games played, Louis had a lot riding on his shoulders for a team that had trouble putting the puck in the next on a consistent basis. He never got a shot at the Blackhawks’ roster during the regular season, but could get an opportunity elsewhere. In 157 AHL games with Rockford, Louis tallied 27 goals and 81 points.

This IceHogs roster will begin to take more shape as the summer roles along. The next edition will provide an even more clear picture as unrestricted free agency will be fully underway and the Blackhawks’ development camp will have come and gone. As the summer progresses, so will this list. Keep tuned in for edition 3.0 later in July.

The post Early edition: Rockford IceHogs 2019–20 roster 2.0 appeared first on The Rink.

Victor Ejdsell elects not to re-sign with Blackhawks, returns to SHL

When Victor Ejdsell was acquired by the Blackhawks for the Nashville Predators, there was a ton of optimism around him and his eventual jump to North America. Signed by the Predators in the spring of 2017, Ejdsell was a young, standout player in the Swedish Allsvenskan (Tier 2) out of BIK Karlskoga and was the league’s MVP for the 2016–17 season. In his only SHL season, Ejdsell tallied 34 points in 50 games for HV71 and was traded to Chicago at the 2018 NHL trade deadline.

– Magkänslan avgjorde, säger @victorejdsell som nu är tillbaka i Färjestad BK. https://t.co/S2MbIvhKkz #fbkse pic.twitter.com/pUKY4ljYDo

— Färjestad BK (@farjestad_bk) May 9, 2019

Ejdsell joined the organization in March, playing two games with the IceHogs before joining the Blackhawks for the final six games of the 2017–18 season. He tallied one assist in the AHL and one assist in the NHL before rejoining the IceHogs for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs.

It was there that Ejdsell made a name for himself within the organization. In 13 Calder Cup Playoff games with the IceHogs, Ejdsell tallied 12 points including two huge overtime goals, starting with this one in triple overtime of Game 3 against the Chicago Wolves.

Then, in the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals against the Texas Stars, Edjsell kept the IceHogs’ season alive.

Your @TheAHL Play of the Week is another overtime goal from Victor Ejdsell in a must-win Game 4. The must-win Game 5? The @goicehogs won that too. https://t.co/9bKWzO7h2J

— NHL (@NHL) May 27, 2018

Following his run in the Calder Cup Playoffs, expectations were high on Ejdsell to make the Blackhawks’ roster out of training camp for the 2018–19 season. While he did not make the NHL roster, it seemed he would have been one of the top options to come out of Rockford first when the Blackhawks made a call-up. Ejdsell ended up playing the entire season with the IceHogs, skating in 61 games and tallying 29 points, far under-performing what was expected of him by the fanbase and the organization. Late in the season, IceHogs head coach Derek King spoke about Ejdsell putting things together, finally, and doing the little things right to get more ice time as Rockford pushed for a Calder Cup Playoff spot this spring. Rockford fell short, and Ejdsell, a restricted free agent this summer, has decided that his future does not mesh with the Blackhawks, or with the NHL.

Rockford IceHogs forward Victor Ejdsell awaits a faceoff against the San Antonio Rampage. (Photograph courtesy of San Antonio Rampage)

Breaking down the Blackhawks-Predators trade that acquired Ejdsell, the only known quantities in the trade at the time were Ryan Hartman and Victor Ejdsell. Hartman was later traded from Nashville to the Philadelphia Flyers and the 2018 fifth-round pick the Blackhawks sent to Nashville in the deal turned into Spencer Stastney. For Chicago, aside from acquiring Ejdsell, they also picked up the 2018 first and fourth-round picks from the Predators. Those two picks became Nicolas Beaudin and Philipp Kurashev, respectively. The jury is still out on the deal, but from the return in draft picks, Chicago looks the beneficiary.

Ejdsell played a major role for the IceHogs’ most successful run in the Calder Cup Playoffs and for that at least, the organization and the fans can be grateful. It is unfortunate that his time with the Blackhawks organization was brief and underwhelming in the grand scheme.

The post Victor Ejdsell set to return to Sweden appeared first on The Rink.

Rockford IceHogs exit interviews

The Rockford IceHogs put a cap on their season with their annual end-of-the-year exit interviews. After finishing the regular season in seventh place in the AHL Central Division, the IceHogs missed the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second time in the last three years. Paired with the Chicago Blackhawks missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row, this year marks the first time since becoming the AHL affiliate of the Blackhawks that Chicago and Rockford both missed the postseason.

There are a number of reasons why there is not playoff hockey being played in Rockford this season: coaching changes, injuries, recalls and assignments of key players, etc., but the IceHogs simply could not support their stellar team defense with enough scoring on a regular basis to get them over the hump and into the Calder Cup Playoffs. The league’s best goalie group of Collin Delia, Kevin Lankinen and Anton Forsberg were regularly let down by the league’s lowest scoring offense. Rockford finished the season with a 30–2–2 record when scoring three or more goals in a game, while on the flip side, lost 19 games this year when holding their opponents to two or fewer goals in a game.

But let’s not beat a dead horse any longer.

Interim head coach Derek King

IceHogs head coach Derek King did pretty much as well as he could have been asked after taking over the IceHogs from Jeremy Colliton in early November. King inherited the reigns of a 6–3–3 IceHogs team on Nov. 6 and finished the season with a 35–31–10 record, a 29–28–7 record with King as head coach. As of Wednesday, King’s status with the organization is still undecided, but one would figure he managed his position well enough to be given a chance to remove the interim tag from his coaching position.

Dylan Sikura (46 games played, 17 goals, 18 assists)

One of the brightest spots for the IceHogs this season was Dylan Sikura‘s emergence as a force to reckon with at the AHL level. While his well-hyped arrival in the Blackhawks organization has not lived up to the billing at the NHL level (11 points in 38 NHL games, no goals), Sikura tied Peter Holland for the highest points per game rate for the IceHogs this season at 0.76 points per game. In his first full professional year, Sikura finished third on the team in scoring, having played nearly 20 fewer games than the other Rockford scorers in the top five. He also finished eighth in rookie goal-scoring with 17 tallies on the year. Sikura becomes a restricted free agent this summer after completing a two-year deal with the Blackhawks organization.

Jordan Schroeder (62 games played, 19 goals, 26 assists)

Veteran forward Jordan Schroeder had one of his best AHL seasons of his career in 2018–19 with the IceHogs. Finishing with a career-high 45 points, Schroeder was consistently one of the most relied-upon players for the IceHogs. Paired with Holland down the stretch of the season, Schroeder found scoring chemistry with his newly acquired teammate and it showed. Over his final 25 games of the season, Schroeder tallied 21 points, including a five-game point streak and four multi-point games. Schroeder becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing his one-year deal with the Blackhawks organization. 

Henri Jokiharju (30 games played, two goals, 15 assists)

While there is some debate whether or not Henri Jokiharju actually needed to play with the Rockford IceHogs this season, it showed that his time in the AHL made an impact on him on the ice. Jokiharju finished second on the team in scoring for defensemen (excluding Darren Raddysh), having played half as many games as the leading scorer in Lucas Carlsson. Jokiharju logged heavy minutes with the iceHogs and played in all situations. His 0.57 point per game pace was the highest on the team for defensemen and his plus-7 rating was tied with Sikura for the best rating on the roster. Jokiharju will be joining Finland’s World Championships camp this Summer. Jokiharju has two years remaining on his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

Luke Johnson (53 games played, 18 goals, 13 assists) 

After starting the season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Luke Johnson joined the IceHogs in late November for the remainder of the season, save for two games in December. Johnson set new AHL career-highs in goals and points this season, playing all over the lineup. One of the more consistent players on the roster this season, Johnson’s physical aspect of his game seemed unchanged as his ability to score and generate scoring chances improved from last season. Johnson becomes a restricted free agent this summer after completing his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks organization.

Collin Delia (26 games played, 13–8–4, 2.48 goals against average, 0.922 save percentage)

Along with Sikura, another major bright spot for the IceHogs and Blackhawks this season was the continued improvement and development of goaltender Collin Delia. After joining the organization last season and ascending from the ECHL Indy Fuel to the Chicago Blackhawks in one season, Delia again played major roles for both the Blackhawks and IceHogs. Finishing this season with the second-best save percentage in the AHL, Delia, along with Lankinen and Forsberg, made up the best goaltending group in the league this season based on save percentage. Many have speculated that he projects to be the future No. 1 goaltender in the Blackhawks organization and if he continues his development trajectory, he will be. Delia signed a three-year, $3 million contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks this season, which kicks in next year.

Dennis Gilbert (63 games played, five goals, nine assists)

Winner of the team’s ‘Most Improved’ award this season, defenseman Dennis Gilbert truly came a long way from the beginning of the season. His confidence grew as the year progressed and his ice time increased. At the beginning of the year, Gilbert seemed to do little more than throw his weight around on the IceHogs’ blue line. But as they year went on, he began to open up more in the offensive zone while continuing to be a menace defensively. Gilbert ranked third on the active roster for scoring defensemen and led the team with seven fighting majors. Gilbert has two years remaining on his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

Matthew Highmore (12 games played, three goals, six assists) 

The 2018–19 season could have been much different for the Rockford IceHogs had Matthew Highmore been healthy the full year. After tallying seven points over his first eight games of the year, Highmore was lost to a shoulder injury for nearly five months. He returned at the beginning of April, only to re-injure the shoulder and not finish the season on the ice for the IceHogs. Highmore had a lot of promise heading into this season, having set the AHL franchise rookie goal scoring record in 2017–18. Highmore probably would have been like Sikura was this season, up and down with the Blackhawks had he been healthy, but his games lost for the IceHogs truly had an impact across the board. Highmore has one year remaining on his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

Anton Forsberg (32 games played, 15–15–2, 2.64 goals against average, 0.919 save percentage)

Much of what was said about Delia before can be repeated for Anton Forsberg this season. Consistently under-supported offensively, Forsberg took the majority of starts for the IceHogs this season after beginning the year as the backup in Chicago. His .919 save percentage finished as the fourth-best in the AHL this season. Forsberg becomes a restricted free agent this summer after completing a two-year contract with the Blackhawks he signed in the summer of 2017.

Victor Ejdsell (61 games played, 12 goals, 17 assists)

It is hard to label Victor Ejdsell‘s 2018–19 season a complete disappointment, but the expectations on him heading into the year certainly did not help his cause. Many, including myself, felt Ejdsell had a better than 50–50 chance of making the Chicago Blackhawks’ NHL roster coming out of training camp. He did not, nor did he receive a recall to the Blackhawks all season. Ejdsell dealt with injuries at times this year and only recently had found his stride within the offense. He still can show flashes of the scoring and playmaking ability that made him an intriguing prospect for the organization, but putting it all together consistently remains his issue. Ejdsell becomes a restricted free agent this summer after completing his two-year entry-level contract that he signed with the Nashville Predators in May of 2017.

Andrew Campbell (64 games played, three goals, five assists)

While there was little chance he would suit up for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, Andrew Campbell did everything asked and expected of him for the Rockford IceHogs this season. As he mentions in his exit interview, there is more to be measured that just numbers for his success this season. He was named a playing captain for the AHL Western Conference at the AHL All Star weekend this year, a testament to his longevity and leadership at the AHL level. Campbell served as a sort of assistant coach for the IceHogs this season, providing a veteran leadership presence for a young locker room. Campbell becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing his one-year contract with the Blackhawks organization.

Alexandre Fortin (47 games played, six goals, six assists)

After a quick two-game stint with the IceHogs to begin the year, Alexandre Fortin joined the Blackhawks for a generous portion of the season, skating in 24 games at the NHL level, before rejoining the IceHogs for the remainder of the season. At multiple points over the two years that Fortin has spent with the Blackhawks and IceHogs organizations, he as shown the abilities to be a dangerous speedster who can create space and scoring chances with his feet. His downfall is his ability to actually finish those chances. Over the final 21 games of the season, Fortin tallied just three points. The abilities are there, but putting them together needs to be the next step for Fortin. He has one year remaining on his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

Andreas Martinsen (38 games played, three goals, eight assists)

Another forward who played a good portion of his 2018–19 season with the Chicago Blackhawks before coming to the Rockford IceHogs, Andreas Martinsen was exactly as expected in his time with the IceHogs: a physical player who can now and again contribute offensively and provide a veteran presence in the locker room, same as his role last season with the IceHogs. The problem is that he has more than likely reached his ceiling with the Blackhawks and IceHogs organizations. Martinsen becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing his one-year contract with the Blackhawks.

Tyler Sikura (50 games played, seven goals, 12 assists)

Similar to the season of Victor Ejdsell, Tyler Sikura‘s 2018–19 campaign was a let down. After playing his first full season in the AHL last year and finishing second in the team in goals and third in points in 2017–18, the elder Sikura failed to reach that productivity this season. Hampered by injuries for a while this year, Tyler was now and again the net-front presence he was last season, but did not reach his same ice time nor did he have the same opportunities on the power play that he had last year. Like Martinsen, Tyler has more than likely also reached his ceiling with the IceHogs organization. He becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing his one-year contract with the Blackhawks.

William Pelletier (41 games played, seven goals, 10 assists)

Rockford’s 2018–19 ‘Man of the Year,’ William Pelletier bounced back from missing nearly half of the season due to injury to provide jump and energy into the lineup late in the season. Pelletier’s highlight of the year came from scoring back-to-back goals just 13 seconds apart against the San Antonio Rampage on April 2 to spark an epic comeback win. Unfortunately, those were his final two points of the season. Pelletier plays above his 5-foot-7 frame and can provide a bit of offense at the AHL level. He becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing his one-year AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs.

Terry Broadhurst (40 games played, four goals, eight assists)

Hampered by injuries this season, Terry Broadhurst‘s return to the IceHogs did not really live up to what both he or the team maybe would have hoped for. Broadhurst started hot with five points in his first eight games with the IceHogs, but tallied just seven more points over his other 32 games played this season. At 30 years old, it is unclear what the next step will be for Broadhurst in his playing career, as he becomes an unrestricted free agent after completing his one-year contract with the Rockford IceHogs.

Blake Hillman (54 games played, one goal, three assists)

In and out of the lineup for a portion of the season, Blake Hillman seemed to stall in his development in his first full professional season. After joining the organization late last season, Hillman looked like he might be in line for a shot at the NHL roster entering last summer. He never took that next step. Inconsistent with the puck on his stick, Hillman still has a lot of hockey ahead of him and could be brought back into the mix next season. He becomes a restricted free agent this summer after completing his two-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

Nathan Noel (46 games played, two goals, four assists) 

It is hard to get a true read on Nathan Noel. He has dealt with injuries the last two seasons with the IceHogs, but when healthy, he looks the part of a decent depth AHL player. He mixes speed, physicality and a good touch with the puck on his stick at times, but cannot find it consistently. He has one year remaining on his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

Josh McArdle (19 games played, one goal, two assists)

The first Rockford-area native to play for the IceHogs, Josh McArdle was a solid ECHL call-up for Rockford this season. He was able to step in during a thin stretch of the season for the iceHogs when they were dealing with injuries to the blue line. He played 33 games with the Indy Fuel in the ECHL this season, his first full professional season. McArdle becomes an unrestricted free agent after completing his one-year contract with the Rockford IceHogs.

Dmitry Osipov (Eight games played, zero goals, two assists)

A big-bodied defenseman like Dmitry Osipov was missing from the IceHogs roster for the majority of the season. While Gilbert and Campbell both weigh in at over 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Gilbert was the only true physical presence in the defensive group for Rockford. Osipov, coming in at 6-foot-4 and 234 pounds, provided a physical element that King wanted more of in his lineup. Osipov played in 66 games with the Indy Fuel in the ECHL this season, totaling 13 points. He becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer after completing his contract with the Indy Fuel.

Reese Johnson (Six games played, zero goals, four assists)

A late-season signing from the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, Reese Johnson stepped into the IceHogs’ lineup late in the season alongside his Red Deer teammate Brandon Hagel and made an immediate impact. Johnson showed flashes of playmaking skill and a high motor in his small sample of AHL play. He looks to be a part of the IceHogs’ lineup next season as he begins he three-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks.

Brandon Hagel (Eight games played, zero goals, one assist)

Speaking of Hagel, the WHL’s fourth-leading scorer this season joined the IceHogs late in the year after signing as a junior free agent in October. While he only tallied one assist in his eight games with Rockford, Hagel’s scoring ability should make him a key figure for the organization to keep an eye on going into next season. He begins a three-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks next season.

Philipp Kurashev (Three games played, zero points)

Another late-season addition for the IceHogs this year was QMJHL standout Philipp Kurashev. After leading the Quebec Remparts in scoring this season, Kurashev joined the IceHogs for their final three games of the season. While not tallying a point in those three games, Kurashev’s 125 points over the last two seasons with Quebec, paired with him showcasing his abilities at the World Juniors this past January, make him an exciting prospect for the Blackhawks and IceHogs heading into the summer. He begins a three-year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks next season.

The IceHogs’ 20th anniversary season did not end with another run at the Calder Cup, but it was far from unsuccessful.

https://twitter.com/goicehogs/status/1118597418000560128

For the depth of the Chicago Blackhawks organization, the IceHogs have plenty of players to be excited about for the future and be encouraged for how many of them are progressing in their careers.

What’s next?

A giant thank goes out to the great media and communications staff with the Rockford IceHogs for providing all the videos of the exit interviews.

The Calder Cup Playoffs begin this week, but not for the IceHogs. Stay tuned to The-Rink for more news and analysis on the Chicago Blackhawks organization, top to bottom, as the spring and summer roll along.

The post Rockford IceHogs 2018–19 season exit interviews appeared first on The Rink.

Rockford IceHogs def. Chicago Wolves, 2-1 (SO)

The IceHogs came into Wednesday night’s contest with a slim one-point lead over the Texas Stars for fourth-place in the Central Division. In the AHL, the top four teams in each Division make the Calder Cup Playoffs, so the race in the Central Division has come down to two spots: a race between the top three teams for first-place and a race between the other five teams for fourth-place. Rockford “leads” the fourth-place race currently and the win over Chicago helped keep their one-point lead alive for another night.

Rockford IceHogs forward Victor Ejdsell celebrates a goal against the Chicago Wolves. Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

The IceHogs and Wolves were scoreless through the first period, but it took just under four minutes in the second period for Victor Ejdsell to breakthrough and get the game’s first goal. Alexandre Fortin put a shot on net that deflected off a Wolves defender and Ejdsell was able to re-direct it on net and get by Oscar Dansk. The goal was Ejdsell’s 10th of the season and gave the IceHogs a 1-0 lead.

Rockford IceHogs forward Jordan Schroeder celebrates with his teammates after scoring a shootout goal against the Chicago Wolves. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

The lead would last almost to the end of the period, but with just under two minutes to go in the middle frame, the Wolves were able to get a breakaway chance on a Rockford powerplay and Cage Quinney found the back of the net. Quinney’s 17th of the season tied the game at 1-1 heading into the third period.

Neither team was able to break the 1-1 tie in the third period, thanks to some stellar goaltending on both ends of the ice from Delia and Dansk. The game would head to overtime, and while Rockford had at least three chances in the extra frame to put the game away, including a Henri Jokiharju shot off the post and a failed Dennis Gilbert breakaway chance, they would come up empty and the game would head to the shootout.

In the shootout, the Wolves and IceHogs were both shut down in the first and second rounds with Dansk and Delia making two saves a piece. It wasn’t until Jordan Schroeder‘s turn in the top of the third round that a breakthrough was made as he beat Dansk with a patient backhand move. It was down to Delia against T.J. Tynan with the game on the line and Delia was able to make a five-hole save to seal the win for Rockford.

Mood:
COLLIN DELIA VICTORY STRUT#IceHogs top #Wolves in the shootout!#RFDvsCHI #AHL#HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/M5SmCK8HNs

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) March 21, 2019

Delia celebrated with a McMahon/McGregor style strut and it was well-deserved after his 32-save performance against the Wolves. With the win, the IceHogs are riding a four-game win streak and keep hold of the fourth spot in the Central Division. Delia improved his record to 10-6-4 with a league-leading (min. 20 GP) 0.932 save-percentage and a 2.26 GAA which ranks second in the AHL (again, min. 20 GP).

It a hotly contested, playoff-like rivalry game against the Wolves, the IceHogs were able to kill all six powerplays against them, but as 0-for-5 on their own powerplay. Rockford ranks eighth in the league on the penalty-kill with an 82.6% kill-rate.

Calder Cup Playoff Race

With the shootout win over the Wolves, the IceHogs kept hold of the fourth spot in the Central Division with 72 points this season. The Texas Stars defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday night, but remain one point behind Rockford in fifth-place.

1. Chicago Wolves (64 GP) – 37-19-8, 82 pts
2. Grand Rapids Griffins (64 GP) – 35-19-10, 80 pts
3. Iowa Wild (65 GP) – 34-19-12, 80 pts
4. Rockford IceHogs (65 GP) – 31-24-10, 72 pts
5. Texas Stars (66 GP) – 32-27-7, 71 pts
6. Manitoba Moose (64 GP) – 31-27-6, 68 pts
7. Milwaukee Admirals (65 GP) – 26-24-15, 67 pts
8. San Antonio Rampage (65 GP) – 27-31-7, 61 pts

Rockford’s final 11 games this season will all be against Central Division opponents, including three straight games against the Milwaukee Admirals coming up in their next three games.

Roster Updates

Late Wednesday night, the IceHogs made an addition to their roster by signing 2014 Blackhawks draft pick Fredrik Olofsson. Drafted in the fourth round by Chicago in 2014, Olofsson played the last four seasons at Nebraska-Omaha, skating in 137 games and tallying 95 points (35 G, 60 A) in his NCAA career. Olofsson set a career-high in points with 34 as a Senior this year.

Blackhawks forward prospect Fredrik Olofsson of the University of Nebraska-Omaha. (Courtesy: Omaha Athletics)

Olofsson also has spent time playing for Team Sweden in his junior ranks, skating with Sweden in the 2016 World Junior Championships and tallying three points in seven games. He joins the IceHogs on a PTO deal and could factor into the Rockford lineup as the Calder Cup Playoff push continues.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs are back in action on Friday as they open a three-game set against the Milwaukee Admirals that will stretch over six days until Wednesday, March 27. On Friday, the IceHogs travel North to Milwaukee for a 7pm CT puck drop at the Panther Arena. Following Friday night’s contest, the IceHogs turn around and host the Admirals for a 6pm CT puck drop at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Finally, on Wednesday March 27, the IceHogs again host the Admirals for a 7pm CT puck drop in Rockford. This season, Rockford holds a 4-2-1 record over Milwaukee with all four IceHogs wins decided by one goal.

The post IceHogs, Delia Stop Wolves In Shootout Win appeared first on The Rink.

IceHogs In A Goal Famine

Around this time last season, the Rockford IceHogs paired a multi-faceted offensive attack with stellar goaltending on their way to a playoff push that saw them reach the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals. It seems that both ingredients from last season are going to be needed once again for the IceHogs to find a playoff push yet again in the second half of the season. While goaltending has been a positive for the IceHogs this season, a collective 2.69 GAA and a 0.915 save-percentage from Collin Delia, Anton Forsberg, and Kevin Lankinen, their offense has been lacking.

This season, the IceHogs have scored two goals or fewer in 26 games this season. In those 26 games, the IceHogs hold a 2-18-6 record. On the opposite side, the IceHogs have scored three goals or more in 18 games this season. When the IceHogs score 3 or more goals, they hold a 15-1-2 record. It doesn’t take a genius to decipher that the more goals you score, the better your chance is of winning a game, but for the IceHogs this season, all but one game when scoring at least three goals has come away with at least one point in the standings.

So what can the IceHogs do to create more scoring chances? Or is it down to their roster and who is and who is not pulling their offensive weight?

The Usual Suspects

This season has seen a trio of forwards pushing the offensive pace for the IceHogs. Starting with the team-leader in scoring, Anthony Louis. After finishing last season at the top of the scoring charts as a rookie, Louis is once again pacing the Rockford roster in points with 26 through 44 games. Louis holds the team-lead in assists with 16 and is tied for second in goal-scoring with 10 so far this year.

Rockford IceHogs forward Anthony Louis. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

A constant fixture on the Rockford powerplay, Louis uses his shifty skating ability to his advantage to get to the open areas to get pucks on net. His on-ice vision is tops on the team and he uses his hands to set-up teammates often. The one thing hurting Louis is his lack of size at the professional level. Unable to consistently take the puck top the net, Louis’ perimeter game can only take him and the IceHogs so far on offense.

Also playing a more perimeter game for the IceHogs is rookie Dylan Sikura. Still one of the top forward prospects in the Chicago Blackhawks’ system, Sikura has been good, but not great in his first full-professional season. Ranking tied for second on the team in points with 23, and leading the roster in goals with 11 this season, the younger Sikura brother has been a focal-point of the Rockford offense this season.

Rockford IceHogs forward Dylan Sikura fires a shot against the Grand Rapids Griffins. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Much like Louis, Dylan Sikura uses his skating speed and agility to his advantage to mask his lack of physical ability to get to tough areas of the ice. Sikura is not afraid to shoot the puck from anywhere on the ice, as is evident from his team-leading 107 shots on goal, four more than Louis’ 103, even though playing 11 fewer games. The problem with Sikura, and many of the IceHogs’ top-offensive threats, is that he relies on other to create space for him to find lanes to the net or to utilize his hands. When Sikura is allotted time and space, his game excels but it is hard for him to find that when paired alongside forwards that share his skill-set and size.

The same can also be said for Jordan Schroeder this season. Tied with Sikura in points this season with 23, Schroeder ranks alone in third on the team in goal-scoring with nine this season. The veteran of the group of top-scoring IceHogs, Schroeder, another under-sized skill winger, is a figure on the powerplay with Sikura and Louis, utilizing his ability to distribute the puck. Schroeder also ranks behind Sikura and Louis in shots on goal this season with 98.

Rockford IceHogs forward Jordan Schroeder makes a pass against the Grand Rapids Griffins. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Although he is an under-sized player, Schroeder is not afraid to get below the net and try to set up offense from around the net and try to get and keep the puck deep in the IceHogs offensive zone. The problem for the likes off all three players is that they cannot be expected to carry the weight of the team by themselves. The hard truth is that they works best as complimentary players to other forwards who can create space, either with size and physicality or by being equally as skilled. While size is not always a benefit, it can’t hurt to be able to pair top-skill players with those who can give them space to work and also contribute offensively. Something the IceHogs took advantage of last season.

Supporting Cast?

The most disappointing returning player from last season’s IceHogs team might just be the elder Sikura brother in Tyler Sikura. Last season, Sikura played his first full season in the AHL and did not miss his opportunity to make an impact. Last season, Tyler Sikura finished second on the team in goals with 23, and third on the team in points with 39. Currently, Sikura ranks tied for fifth in goals with just 6 tallies on the season, while ranking seventh overall in points with 14 this season.

Tyler Sikura of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Sikura was used in a top-six forward role for the majority of last season when he was producing. As a player who can make his impact around the net, Sikura hasn’t been able to find his groove this season and has been demoted to the third and fourth-line groupings for the majority of the season. If the IceHogs want to increase their offensive production, maybe a move up in the lineup and a role as a garbage-goal scorer in the crease could boost both Sikura’s game and the IceHogs offense.

While Tyler Sikura could provide a spark up front with his physical presence, the IceHogs could also use any speed up-front that they can get. Speed, Alexandre Fortin has. What has not come full-circle for the second-year pro is his finishing ability. While he can fly down the ice and use his foot-speed to create offensive chances, Fortin’s ability to finish those chances created hasn’t developed like the Chicago Blackhawks had hoped at this point.

Alexandre Fortin of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Fortin has tallied just five points in 19 games this season with the IceHogs, and has not recorded a point in his last 12 games. In fact, all five of Fortin’s points this season came in a four-game span from December 15-21. While his speed makes him an asset in most any role with the IceHogs, Fortin will have to find a way to generate points if Rockford is to climb out of the bottom of the AHL Central Division.

Much like Sikura from last season to this season, another player that hasn’t fully lived up to the hype generated for him for the 2017-18 playoff push is Victor Ejdsell. Talking about a player who could provide size and skill, the six-foot-five Swede hasn’t been able to light the lamp consistently this season and has yet to regain the level of play he finished with during the Calder Cup Playoff run last season. Ejdsell ranks sixth on the team in points with 17 and is tied for fifth in goal-scoring with Sikura with six goals on the season.

Victor Ejdsell tries to control a rebound against the Grand Rapids Griffins. (Courtesy: Grand Rapids Griffins)

Ejdsell’s inconsistency this season has been curbed as of late, scoring six points in his last eight games, but from time to time his lack of involvement in the offensive zone leaves a lot to be desired. Playing in his first full season in North America, he has the size and has shown the skill-set to be an asset in a top-six forward role, but he has yet to show a complete, rounded game for the IceHogs this season. If Ejdsell could find an extra edge to his game, he could provide the physical presence and top-end skills to complement a Dylan Sikura or Anthony Louis.

Finally, one of the top performers for the IceHogs this season from the defensive group has been M.I.A as of late. Darren Raddysh ranks third on the team in points this season with 22, ranking in a tie for fourth in goal-scoring with 7 this year, but has not scored since the Christmas holiday break and has just three points over that 13 game span.

Darren Raddysh of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Grand Rapids Griffins)

Another fixture on the Rockford powerplay units, Raddysh has already equaled his point production from last season with 22 points in 44 games (22 points in 66 games last season), but has not gone longer than nine games between goals this season prior to the Holiday break. Raddysh plays a solid two-way game and is not afraid to jump into the offensive zone to try to create chances. If he could be given more freedom to do so from the blue-line, Raddysh could step up and be the point-producer the IceHogs need if their forwards group cannot pull the weight necessary.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs return to action on Friday night as they play host to back-to-back homes games this weekend. On Friday night, the IceHogs host the Manitoba Moose for a 7pm CT puck drop at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford. Manitoba is currently the only team behind the IceHogs in the AHL Central Division based on overall points. The IceHogs dropped a 2-1 shootout loss to the Moose on October 28, the only previous matchup between the clubs this season.

On Saturday night, the IceHogs host the Iowa Wild on Autism Awareness night. Puck drop on Saturday night is scheduled for 6pm CT. Rockford holds a 2-4-1 record against the Wild this season following a 4-1 loss in Des Moines in their last meeting.

The post IceHogs Goal-Scoring Slump Continues appeared first on The Rink.

IceHogs Fall Into Three-Game Losing Streak

The Rockford IceHogs took a first period lead against the Rampage on Tuesday night, but were not able to hold it or add to it over the second and third periods, allowing a goal in both frames to fall 2-1 to the Rampage. Victor Ejdsell tallied the lone IceHogs goal, his fifth of the season, but it was not enough to pull out a win.

Ejdsell has a goal and an assist in his last three games since returning to the IceHogs lineup, 15 points on the season in 30 games played. Ejdsell hasn’t lived up to the hype that was built for him coming into the season and has been consistently inconsistent. Ejdsell had a 13-game goal drought from October 28 to November 24, and then another eight-game goal drought from December 1 to last night’s contest. His 15 points ranks 7th on the Rockford active roster.

Much like it has been all season, the IceHogs’ offense was held to just one goal on the night, and were held off the board on the powerplay. Rockford’s 93 goals scored this season ranks them 30th in the AHL, just one ahead of the Manitoba Moose with 92 goals. Only the Moose have played in four fewer games than the IceHogs, making Rockford the lowest-scoring team in the league based on average goals per game with 2.27 to Manitoba’s 2.48 rate.

Rockford was able to keep the Rampage off the board on the powerplay, killing all three short-handed situations, improving their penalty-killing rate to 84.8-percent this season. Rockford ranks fifth in the AHL in penalty-killing, but a lowly 26th on the powerplay, with a 15.1-percent success-rate.

Rockford IceHogs goaltender Anton Forsberg. (Courtesy: San Antonio Rampage)

Anton Forsberg got the start against the Rampage on Tuesday night, hoping to snap a personal four-game losing streak. Making 24 saves on 26 shots faced, Forsberg couldn’t get the goal-support needed and dropped his fifth-straight game in regulation. His record falls to 7-8-1 on the year with a 2.81 GAA and a 0.913-save percentage. Over his last five starts, Forsberg holds a 0.915 save-percentage and has received six goals of support from the offense.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs return to action on Friday night to kick-off back-to-back games in the state of Illinois over the weekend. Starting Friday night in Rockford, the IceHogs host the Grand Rapids Griffins. Puck drop at the BMO Harris Bank Center is set for 7pm CT. Rockford holds a 2-3-0 record against the Griffins so far this season.

Following Friday night’s home game, the IceHogs head to Rosemont to take on the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night. Another installment of the Illinois Lottery Cup Rivalry is set for a 7pm CT puck drop at the Allstate Arena. This season, the IceHogs hold a 3-3-1 record against the Wolves with the road team holding a 6-0-1 record in the series.

The post IceHogs Close Texas Road-Trip With Loss To Rampage appeared first on The Rink.

Possible Chicago Blackhawks Recalls: Forwards

This Summer saw a lot of interest and chips put behind the fact that Victor Ejdsell and Dylan Sikura were penciled into the NHL regular lineup. Neither one of those players made the Blackhawks’ roster, but there was Luke Johnson and Alexandre Fortin making their NHL debuts early this year. Sikura and Ejdsell remain on the outside looking in at the Blackhawks from the Rockford IceHogs roster, but they remain two of the top options upfront for potential NHL call-ups.

Outside of those two, another lesser-recognized option has emerged after the 20-game mark for the IceHogs. Anthony Louis, last year’s point-leader in Rockford, is again near the top of point-production for the Hogs and continues to be an offensive-creator for a recently starved Rockford attack.

Dylan Sikura of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Probables

• Dylan Sikura: 22 GP, 15 Points (6G, 9A), +2
  • Sikura has lived up to his AHL hype for the most part this season. Leading the IceHogs in points and shots on goal (79), his ability to drive the Rockford offense is his biggest asset. If Sikura is going to make the leap to the NHL this season, he’ll have to prove that he can be more than a perimeter player or that he can create his own space with his speed.
• Victor Ejdsell: 21 GP, 11 Points (4G, 7A), -4
  • Ejdsell’s hype-train has lost a bit of steam after joining the organization late last season. Still one of the better shots on the IceHogs, Ejdsell continues to show has the skill-set to succeed in at the AHL level, he’ll have to show it more consistently if he wants to get a shot with Chicago.
• Anthony Louis: 22 GP, 13 Points (8G, 5A), +2
  • Another offensive driver like Sikura, Anthony Louis remains a consistent top-player for the IceHogs. After a breakout season last year, the third-year pro has the foot-speed and hands to make an impact in any game, but his size continues to be a hindrance. If Louis can continue to show his worth on both special teams units for Rockford and maintain his offensive production-rate, he should be rewarded with his first NHL action in Chicago.

Jordan Schroeder (right) is all smiles against the San Antonio Rampage. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Dark Horses

• Jacob Nilsson: 22 GP, 7 Points ( 2G, 5A), -3
  • The Blackhawks organization took a flyer on Nilsson this summer, much like they did with players in the past like Michael Kempny and David Kampf. While both of those players have gone on to become NHL-regulars, Nilsson may be a bit away from that standard at the moment. A reliable secondary offensive option for Rockford, if Nilsson continues on his pace and proves his worth on the IceHogs penalty-kill, he may get a shot in Chicago.
• Jordan Schroeder: 13 GP, 10 Points (4G, 6A), -5
  • One of the veterans of the IceHogs forward group, Schroeder has been a key figure to the Rockford attack, when he is healthy. He leads the IceHogs in point-per-game percentage and has played a key role on the powerplay as of late. If for some reason the Blackhawks want to save their younger players from the horrors of their current form, a veteran like Schroeder could be an option.

Possible Chicago Blackhawks Recalls: Defensemen

While the Blackhawks’ defensive group has been arguably their biggest weakness this season, the rotation between Chicago and Rockford for blue-liners has been quiet. Gustav Forsling was an early-season player who was thought to be in line for a spot in the Blackhawks’ rotation, but began the year out of action with an injury. Once he was healthy, Forsling spent a cup of coffee’s worth of time with the IceHogs before making the leap to the NHL. Chicago has yet to send down any defensemen to the IceHogs this year, but if a move were made, there are two standouts among the Rockford group.

Carl Dahlstrom of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Grand Rapids Griffins)

Probables

• Carl Dahlstrom: 18 GP, 7 Points (G, 6A), -6
  • One of the more experienced defensemen on the IceHogs roster, Dahlstrom plays a game that the Blackhawks don’t really have in their defensive group at the moment: shut-down defense and blocking pucks. While he may not be the second-coming of Niklas Hjalmarsson, Dahlstrom’s physical presence and ability to skate with the puck could be enough for Chicago to give him another look late this season.
• Darren Raddysh: 22 GP, 14 Points (5G, 9A), +2
  • What Chicago doesn’t necessarily need is another offensive-minded defenseman. But with Raddysh, the IceHogs are benefiting from a player who can hold his own in both ends and makes his offensive bread with a dangerous slap-shot. His ability to contribute on the Rockford powerplay has been noticeable and he could be a “hey, we haven’t seen you yet” type of Blackhawks recall later this year.

Lucas Carlsson of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Grand Rapids Griffins)

Dark Horses

• Lucas Carlsson: 21 GP, 9 Points (2G, 7A), -5
  • One of the seven rookie regulars for the IceHogs this season, Carlsson is the lone first-year defenseman who has played in every game this season that he has been healthy. Carlsson already has two professional seasons under his belt in the SHL with Brynäs IF and his experience shows. Responsible in his own end, Carlsson has been paired with Dahlstrom all season long and has been able to show off a bit of his offensive skill-set early this year.
• Joni Tuulola: 18 GP, 3 Points (G, 2A), -2
  • Tuulola joined the IceHogs late last season and made an immediate impression on Jeremy Colliton, eventually edging Darren Raddysh out of the lineup in the Western Conference Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs last season. Playing with a good mixture of finesse and physicality, Tuulola is still a raw talent, but might have a shot at making the jump if he continues to progress.

What’s Next?

For Rockford, the IceHogs are off until December 1, when play host for a Saturday Night game against the Milwaukee Admirals at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford. Puck drop is set for 6pm CT. After that, the IceHogs host the San Antonio Rampage for a Sunday afternoon contest. Puck drop at the BMO Harris Bank Center is set for 4pm CT on Sunday.

For the Blackhawks, coming off of Tuesday night’s big loss against the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago travels North of the border for a Thursday night game against the Winnipeg Jets. Puck drop on Thursday is set for 7pm CT at the Bell MTS Place. After that, the Blackhawks are on the road against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm CT at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The post A Look At Chicago Blackhawks Possible Recalls appeared first on The Rink.

Rockford IceHogs Take Five Of Six Points Over Weekend

Starting on Friday night in Milwaukee, the Rockford IceHogs faced a jam-packed weekend of AHL Central Division hockey. On Friday, the IceHogs took on the division-leading Milwaukee Admirals in Milwaukee.

The Admirals jumped to the game’s first lead late in the first period (on Teddy Toss night no less, with 1,069 Teddy Bears collected by the Admirals), but the IceHogs responded quickly thereafter with a goal coming from Dylan Sikura. Shortly after killing off one of Rockford’s SEVEN penalties on the night, Jacob Nilsson corralled the puck out of the penalty box, brought it deep into the Admirals zone and found Sikura on a beautiful cross-crease feed for his third goal of the season.

Once again the Admirals would have to respond as the Admirals took a second period lead with the 2-1 goal coming from Zach Magwood, his second goal of the game and Rockford trailed by the same score heading into the third period. Time wound down in the period, Rockford held the Admirals scoreless on three powerplay opportunities in the third, and Darren Raddysh would give the IceHogs the equalizing goal. His second goal of the season and the game would head to overtime. In the extra frame, it would be Raddysh again, on a delayed penalty chance that gave the IceHogs a 3-2 win on the road. Anton Forsberg made his second start of the season, making 22 saves on 24 shots, earning his first AHL win of the year.

Following the overtime win over Milwaukee, the IceHogs prepared for a home-and-home series with the Iowa Wild beginning in Rockford in Saturday night. Iowa would strike early in the first period, taking the 1-0 lead into the second period with the IceHogs failing to capitalize on three powerplay chances in the opening frame. Late in the second period, Anthony Louis buried his fourth goal of the season to tie the game up at 1-1 going into the third period.

Fighting off two penalties in the third period, the IceHogs and starter Collin Delia were able to hold the Wild off and force overtime. No scoring in the overtime period led to a shootout where Louis and Victor Ejdsell would not convert on their chances while Iowa put two behind Delia for the 2-1 shootout win. Delia made 41 saves on 42 shots in 65 minutes of work, sealing his sixth start in a row earning at least a point for the IceHogs.

The Rockford IceHogs celebrate a victory over the Iowa Wild. (Courtesy: Iowa Wild)

Putting a bow on the three games in three nights stretch of play for Rockford, the Wild and IceHogs headed West to Des Moines, Iowa for a Sunday late afternoon tilt. With both teams finishing a three-in-three stretch, undisciplined play ruled the day again. The IceHogs were forced to kill-off three penalties in the first period, doing so successfully. Iowa wasn’t able to capitalize and the IceHogs jumped out to a two-goal lead early with goals from Dylan Sikura, his fourth of the season, and Anthony Louis, his fifth of the season, a minute apart. Matt Bartkowski tallied his first goal of the season to make it a 2-1 Rockford lead after one period.

The Wild converted an early second period powerplay to tie the game at 2-2 under four minutes into the middle frame. But the IceHogs were able to get their own powerplay goal in the second period, coming from Jacob Nilsson to re-take the lead on his first goal of the year. IceHogs held the 3-2 lead into the third period and added the 4-2 goal on an empty-net tally from Louis to seal the deal. Forsberg made his second start of the weekend, getting his second win of the weekend with 31 saves on 33 shots.

Rockford improves their record to 6-3-3. good enough for 15 points in the standings and a fourth-place standing based on points-percentage (eye-roll).

Injury Concerns

While the results are the high-points for the IceHogs over the weekend, they didn’t come out unscathed. On Friday night, Rockford was without defensemen Gustav Forsling. Adding to the list of injured IceHogs that includes top-minutes eaters in Carl Dahlstrom and Matthew Highmore, Forsling was out with what Head Coach Jeremy Colliton called a “Tweaked Groin.” Colliton did iterate that the injury to Forsling shouldn’t be long-term.

Gustav Forsling was out tonight for the #IceHogs with what Head Coach Jeremy Colliton called a "Tweaked groin" adding "If he was healthy, he would be playing." Colliton believes that the issue should not be long term.#Blackhawks #NHL #AHL

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) November 3, 2018

As if that wasn’t enough to worry about on the injury report, the IceHogs also lost defenseman Luc Snuggerud on Saturday night against the Wild. Snuggerud had to be taken by stretcher off the ice after a dangerous check from Mike Liambas sent Snuggerud’s head into the boards.

An update was given on Sunday to his condition after the hit on Satuday night:

Received an update on @goicehogs D Luc Snuggerud from team doctors:

Snuggerud is at home resting after being discharged from observation. He is stable and there is no timeline on his return. #IceHogs #Blackhawks

— Joseph Zakrzewski (@JoeyZRadio) November 4, 2018

With the IceHogs suddenly short-handed on defense, the team made two moves to fill the gaps left by Forsling and Snuggerud, recalling defensemen Josh McArdle and Neil Manning from the Indy Fuel prior to Sunday’s game in Iowa. Both McArdle and Manning  were in the lineup for the IceHogs on Sunday.

Without major players in the lineup for some time for the IceHogs, getting points is at a premium. Rockford did a good job of that over the weekend, but that kind of play and points-pace will need to continue if they are to avoid falling behind in a tough Central Division.

Hot Hogs

So who is helping the IceHogs keep the pace in the Division early on? One need look no further than the men in-between the pipes. Both Collin Delia and Anton Forsberg have been solid and reliable in net since the season began. In seven appearances this season, Delia is 4-1-2 with a 2.38 GAA and a 0.933 save-percentage. Over his last six starts for Rockford, Delia has earned at least a point with a 4-0-2 record. For Forsberg, in his three appearances this season, he has a 2-1-0 record with a 1.99 GAA and a .929 save-percentage. Delia has yet to start a game this season without facing less than 31 shots on net, while Forsberg’s three starts has seen him face 24, 27, and 33 shots on net, respectively.

Anton Forsberg of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Iowa Wild)

Also helping pace the IceHogs are a group of young “vets” and a pair of “rookies” that lead Rockford on the score-sheet seemingly every night. On the backend, coming off a two-goal performance against the Admirals and three-point weekend, Darren Raddysh has solidified his spot in the IceHogs defensive group. Entrusted in all facets of the game, the second-year pro has rebounded from losing ice-time in the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs to be a leader on the ice for a young IceHogs group.

Also producing a three-point weekend, with three goals, Anthony Louis continues to find the back of the net for Rockford. Last season’s point-leader is again near the top of the score sheet for the IceHogs with a team-high six goals. His eight points on the year rank him tied for third on the team with Tyler Sikura.

After a hot start to the season, Tyler Sikura has seen his production hit a small dip with just two assists in his last six games following a six points in six games start. Sikura still is creating offense for Rockford and continues to be used by Jeremy Colltion on both the powerplay and penalty-killing units.

Finally, the “rookie” class leaders for the IceHogs come from two players who saw their first NHL experience last season. Victor Ejdsell and Dylan Sikura, two players many believed would start the year with the Chicago Blackhawks, have found their ways early on in the AHL.

Victor Ejdsell of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Ejdsell, after a sluggish start and a healthy-scratch from Colliton, has returned to the offensive formed that he showcased late last season. Over his last six games, Ejdsell has five points (3 G, 2 A) and finds himself ranked in a tie for fourth with Matthew Highmore in scoring for the IceHogs with seven points (3 G, 4 A) in 11 games.

As for the younger Sikura brother, Dylan has been one of the brightest spots for the IceHogs so far this season. Coming into his full rookie season with heavy expectations, Sikura began the season with Rockford after making his NHL debut late last season with Chicago. A prized late-round draft pick and NCAA hockey stand-out, Sikura has been the driving offensive factor for Rockford since game one. Sikura also had a three-point weekend and added to his team-leading ten points (4 G, 6 A) in his first 12 AHL games. His ten points also ranks tied for fourth in AHL rookie scoring.

Dylan Sikura Making Case For NHL Ice-Time

Speaking of Dylan Sikura, his play to begin the season is beginning look pretty familiar to a player who also started last season off with a high-point production, offensive-driving style of play. The comparison has been made before on this site between Sikura’s start this year to that of Vince Hinostroza last season.

After firing off 22 points in 23 games to start last season, Hinostroza made his way to the Blackhawks roster and provided an offensive spark to a struggling Chicago squad. Hinostroza put up 25 points in his 50 NHL games with the Blackhawks last year, then was traded this offseason to the Arizona Coyotes. While the same fate is hopefully not in the cards for the young Sikura, his opportunity to make an impact on the Blackhawks could be similar.

Dylan Sikura of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

The Chicago Blackhawks are a bad defensive team. Sikura is not going to help that. It’s not his style, nor was it Hinostroza’s. Sikura is a playmaker with the puck with an ability to find space for teammates to create scoring chances. It’s what drove him in his four years at Northeastern University, leading to a Hobey Baker nomination in his Senior Year.

If the Hinostroza comparison doesn’t get your gears moving, look at a player that the Blackhawks recently faced that made their poor defense look even worse, Johnny Gaudreau.

Now, right off the bat, there is no comparing Gaudreau and Dylan Sikura on paper as far as skill goes. The gap is far too wide to sensibly make that statement, but stylistically, it’s there. As The-Rink.com College Hockey Analyst Aaron Goldschmidt puts it, “Sikura is a poor man’s version of Johnny Gaudreau.” The diminutive Gaudreau (5-9, 165-pounds) relies on his speed and agility to create space for himself, while having a set of silky hands to control the puck like most others in the NHL cannot do.

Chef Victor Ejdsell, known for his world-famous sauce, serves up renowned sauce critic Dylan Sikura

Sikura enjoyed the sauce so much he put it on a biscuit then put said biscuit into the basket pic.twitter.com/nMmr5yfW40

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) November 4, 2018

Sikura (5-11, 160-pounds) has shown that style of play in the AHL so far this season. He demands the puck on offense and has set-up numerous scoring chances for Rockford. He’s also been on the receiving end of some nice setups as well, thanks to his ability to find space without the puck.

If the Blackhawks are going to continue to play the way they are defensively, then they will have to out-score opponents in 7-6 games all season. It’s not realistic, nor would it be sustainable. But it couldn’t hurt to try as the early-season luster is wearing off the Blackhawks rapidly. Could Dylan Sikura not provide more to the Blackhawks than Chris Kunitz or Luke Johnson at this point offensively? One could figure a move may be in the cards sooner rather than later.

What’s Next?

After taking five points over the weekend, the IceHogs are off until Wednesday when they host the Iowa Wild for a 10:30 AM CT puck drop. Completing a three-straight set of action against the Wild in what Jeremy Colliton called a “mini playoff series,” the Rockford IceHogs host their annual “School Day Game” on Wednesday morning. Expect an energetic crowd full of Rockford-area youngsters ready to blow the roof off the BMO Harris Bank Center.

The post Rockford IceHogs Continue Point-Streak appeared first on The Rink.

Rockford IceHogs Struggle To Score In Weekend Slate

Coming off of a 5-2 win over the San Antonio Rampage on Wednesday, the IceHogs had a decent amount of offensive momentum heading into their weekend slate against the Monsters and Moose. With the 5-2 win, the IceHogs had scored three or more goals in five-straight games, notching five goals three times over that stretch, and having a five-game point-streak going as well. But Rockford wasn’t able to continue that hot-stretch as Cleveland and Manitoba were both able to hold the IceHogs to just one goal a piece, and just one point out of a possible four over the weekend.

After being scratched against the Tucson Roadrunners on Oct. 20, Victor Ejdsell has been able to find his way back into the IceHogs lineup and back onto the score-sheet. Ejdsell tallied two goals against the Rampage and followed that up with the IceHogs’ lone goal against the Monsters on Saturday, coming on the powerplay.

The lone Ejdsell goal wasn’t enough to help Anton Forsberg on Saturday night as he was making his IceHogs debut. Forsberg, facing his former team that he helped win a Calder Cup with, made 25 saves on 27 shots faced in his first game with Rockford since joining the Blackhawks organization.

Hoping to get back on track to close out the weekend, the IceHogs were able to force extra time against their Central Division foe Manitoba Moose on Sunday. Thanks to a second period goal from Andrew Campbell, his first goal of the season, the IceHogs were able to tie up the Moose 1-1. Collin Delia got the start in net for the IceHogs against the Moose, making 36 saves on 37 shots faced in his sixth appearance of the season, helping back-stop Rockford into the shootout.

Rockford would go scoreless in the shootout with attempts from Ejdsell, Anthony Louis, and Dylan Sikura all denied by Moose goaltender Mikhail Berdin. Manitoba’s Seth Griffith was able to get the only shootout goal past Delia for the 2-1 win.

The weekend slate didn’t turn the results that the IceHogs would have wanted, especially dropping three of four possible points early-on in the season. With the regulation loss on Saturday and shootout loss on Sunday, the IceHogs now sit at 4-3-2 on the season, with 10 points in the standings and a 0.556 point-percentage, tied with the Texas Stars for 4th in the AHL Central Division.

Anton Forsberg Makes Rockford IceHogs Debut

In his first AHL action since the Spring of 2017 and his first full game of the season, Anton Forsberg returned to an AHL net on Saturday night with the Rockford IceHogs. After being sent down from the Chicago Blackhawks due to the return to health by Corey Crawford, Forsberg was put into the starting role on Saturday and gave the IceHogs a better than decent chance to get a win, making 25 save son 27 shots. For his career, Forsberg has a 73-36-10 record in the AHL with a career 2.22 GAA and 0.923 save-percentage.

With Crawford returning to health, Forsberg and the Blackhawks organization find themselves in a bit of an odd situation with three goalies in the system who are all NHL-caliber players. There just isn’t room in net for all three, given the fact that Cam Ward was given a no-movement clause in his one-year deal with Chicago. For now, Forsberg finds himself in Rockford spliting time with Collin Delia.

Kevin Lankinen Assigned, Brett Welychka Recalled

Speaking of the goalie situation in Rockford, the IceHogs announced on Monday that they had recalled forward Brett Welychka from the Indy Fuel of the ECHL and assigned goaltender Kevin Lankinen to the Fuel.

Two AHL/ECHL moves announced. #Icehogs #IndyFuel pic.twitter.com/KN5YNXhAf2

— The Rink – Hockey coverage (@TheRinkOfficial) October 29, 2018

Lankinen was 0-1-1 with a 3.39 GAA and 0.825 Save-percentage with the IceHogs this season and will now split time with Matt Tomkins in net for the Fuel. Welychka, a former two-time OHL champion with the London Knights and Summer signing from Carleton University in Canada, joins the IceHogs after five games with the Fuel. In his first professional season, Welychka has four points (2 G, 2 A) in five games in the ECHL.

Injury Woes?

While the losses on the scoreboard hurt the IceHogs early in the Central Division standings, the losses on the ice may hurt Rockford even more in the short-term. On Sunday night against the Moose, both defenseman Carl Dahlstrom and forward Matthew Highmore exited the game with injuries.

Carl Dahlstrom left today's #IceHogs game with a groin injury. Matthew Highmore's injury is a shoulder, per Jeremy Colliton. He gave no timetable on either player at this point. #Blackhawks

— ChrisBlock (@ChrisBlock) October 28, 2018

Highmore helps lead the team in points, tied with the Sikura brothers with seven points through nine games, while Dahlstrom is a major minutes-eater for Rockford and plays in all situations on the ice.

Two major contributors to the IceHogs on both ends if the ice, losing both Dahlstrom and Highmore could put Rockford in a bind early on in the season. Luckily for the IceHogs and head coach Jeremy Colliton, the depth of both the forward and defensive groups should provide some relief when looking down the bench for replacements.

Rockford IceHogs After 9 Games

With a nearly week-long stretch between games for the IceHogs, here is how the team shapes up after the first nine games of the season.

Standings

AHL Central Standings 10-29-18

Points Leaders

1. Matthew Highmore: 7 points (3 G, 4 A)
2. Tyler Sikura: 7 points (4 G, 3 A)
3. Dylan Sikura: 7 points (2 G, 5 A)

Goaltenders

1. Collin Delia: 6 GP, 4-1-1, 2.64 GAA, 0.925 Save%
2. Anton Forsberg: 1 GP, 0-1-0, 2.07 GAA, 0.926 Save%

Special Teams Ranks

• Powerplay: 13th in AHL, (9-42, 21.4%)
• Penalty-Kill: 5th in AHL, (33-38, 86.8%)

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs are off until Friday when they travel to Milwaukee to take on the Milwaukee Admirals. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm CT at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee.

Friday night’s game is the first of three games in three days for the IceHogs next weekend as they face the Admirals and Iowa Wild. Rockford plays a home-and-home series with the Wild over the weekend with Saturday’s game at home in Rockford and Sunday’s game in Iowa.

The post Rockford IceHogs Salvage One Point Over Weekend appeared first on The Rink.

Rockford IceHogs Look To Build Off Successful 2017-18

Last year did not end the way the IceHogs would have wanted to, losing in Game Six of the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals against the Texas Stars. But, the changes in the coaching staff and roster turnover from 2016-17 to 2017-18 took Rockford from the bottom of the Central Division to the AHL’s version of the Final Four.

The Rockford IceHogs celebrate their overtime win over the Texas Stars in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Not Bad.

Now second-year Head Coach Jeremy Colliton is tasked with living up to the expectations that last year’s team set. While the departures of high-production players like Cody Franson, Chris DiDomenico, Adam Clendening, and veteran net-minder Jeff Glass left holes in the Rockford lineup, this year’s squad has more than enough talent to fill the gaps and then some.

Meet The IceHogs

Earlier this summer, The-Rink came out with a WAY TOO EARLY IceHogs roster prediction for what the 2018-19 roster would look like in Rockford. It was pretty close to what the team will look like when they take the ice Friday night in Cleveland against the Monsters.

My Predictions (from July 24):

Forwards

• Tyler Sikura
• Anthony Louis
• Luke Johnson 
• Andreas Martinsen
• Nathan Noel
• Henrik Samuelsson
• Graham Knott
• William Pelletier
• Matheson Iacopelli
• Jacob Nilsson
• Alexandre Fortin
• Matthew Highmore
• Jordan Schroeder

Defensemen/Goalies

• Carl Dahlstrom
• Blake Hillman
• Dennis Gilbert
• Lucas Carlsson
• Joni Tuulola
• Darren Raddysh
• Andrew Campbell
• Collin Delia
• Kevin Lankinen

Rockford IceHogs 2018-19 Season Opening Forwards

Rockford IceHogs 2018-19 Season Opening Defensemen and Goalies

Roster Breakdown

A few wrong guesses in there with Luke Johnson and Andreas Martinsen making the Chicago Blackhawks roster out of training camp, but those players are off-set by the addition of Victor Ejdsell and Dylan Sikura to the IceHogs lineup.

Ejdsell and Sikura were penciled into the Blackhawks’ top-nine forwards rotation by most to begin the summer. Both had a small sample size of NHL action with the Blackhawks last Spring and Ejdsell made a name for himself within the organization with his play in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Both ended up not impressing the Blackhawks staff enough during their play this Summer and find themselves as top priorities in Rockford this season.

Needless to say, having Dylan Sikura join his brother Tyler Sikura to begin the year will be a treat.

You have to call me Dragon.

…You have to call me Nighthawk. pic.twitter.com/AMMEHmCSut

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 3, 2018

The IceHogs ended up having 14 rookies make their professional hockey debuts last season and each one of them returns to this year’s opening roster. The second-year “veterans” are highlighted by the return of last season’s points leader in Anthony Louis (who cut his hair, by the way), last season’s top two goal-scoring leaders in Matthew Highmore (24G) and Tyler Sikura (23G), and last season’s breakout goaltender and Rockford IceHogs ‘Man of The Year’ recipient, Collin Delia.

With the second-year players coming back, the IceHogs roster would already be in great shape to contend in the Central Division again in 2018-19, but Rockford is benefiting from another high-caliber first year professional group of player coming in this season. Highlighted by Jacob Nilsson, Blake Hillman, Dennis Gilbert, Joni Tuulola, and goaltender Kevin Lankinen, the IceHogs rookie class looks to live up to the production standards set by the 2017-18 group.

Matthew Highmore of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

Additionally, the IceHogs added a number of true veterans to the roster this season. On defense, Rockford welcomes 10-year pro Andrew Campbell to the team with 9-year pro Jordan Schroeder and 6-year pro Terry Broadhurst joining the forwards group.

Campbell is the most seasoned veteran player on the Rockford roster coming into this season with 42 NHL games and 655 AHL games under his belt. Campbell has been named a Captain for three different AHL teams in his career, most recently serving as the Tucson Roadrunners Captain last season. Schroeder joins the IceHogs with 165 games of NHL experience and 340 AHL games played in his career, scoring 88 points in his last 113 AHL games over the last three years.

Orland Park native Terry Broadhurst returns to the IceHogs after playing 112 games with Rockford from 2012-2014. Broadhurst has 219 games of AHL experience, finishing second in scoring with the Cleveland Monsters last season with 41 points in 66 games.

What’s Next?

WHAT’s NEXT, YOU ASK? HOCKEY!

The Rockford IceHogs open the 2018-19 regular season on Friday night as they take on the Cleveland Monsters in Cleveland. Puck drop is set for 7pm ET/6pm CT. They follow-up Friday night’s game with a Saturday afternoon contest again the same Cleveland Monsters in Cleveland, puck drop will be 1pm ET/12pm CT.

After the road back-to-back, the IceHogs return home and take on Texas Stars on Saturday, October 13 at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Home opening puck drop will be 6pm CT in Rockford.

Happy Hockey Season!

The post Rockford IceHogs 2018-19 Season Preview appeared first on The Rink.

The trio of forwards skated as the Blackhawks’ fourth-line in Tuesday night’s loss to the Red Wings and return to the IceHogs, having all finished last season with Rockford in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

IceHogs Add Firepower As Blackhawks Make Roster Cuts

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton and the IceHogs are getting a welcomed gift of offensive firepower from Chicago after the most recent round of training camp cuts. All three forwards make up some of the more promising prospects in the Blackhawks’ system.

CHICAGO, IL – SEPTEMBER 23: Alexandre Fortin #84 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during a preseason game at the United Center on September 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Blue Jackets defeated the Blackhawks 3-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

This marks Alexandre Fortin’s second extended stay with the Blackhawks during training camp in his third go-around with the team in September. This preseason, Fortin showed off his speed again, creating chances offensively but still showing that his game needs to fully round out.

Not far from an NHL opportunity, Fortin returns to the IceHogs for his second season after playing in 53 games and tallying 21 points (4 G, 17 A) as a rookie last year. A fully healthy Fortin figures to be in the Top-Six forward mix for the IceHogs.

Mar 15, 2018; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks forward Matthew Highmore (36) skates behind the Winnipeg Jets net during the third period at Bell MTS Place. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Matthew Highmore continues to progress as a professional on and off the ice. He played in 13 games last season with the Blackhawks, playing on the wing, even though his natural position is at Center. He came into this Summer playing primarily wing again, but was used at Center against the Red Wings between Fortin and Ejdsell.

Tallying a goal in his final preseason appearance for the Blackhawks, Highmore brings an all-around game to the table and has the ability to play in all facets of a game, powerplay, penalty-kill, wing or center, Highmore can plug-in and play. He returns to the IceHogs after setting the AHL Franchise rookie record for goals (24) and finishing second in points (43), he will likely be the Top-Line Center for the IceHogs to start the season.

Sep 18, 2018; Columbus, OH, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Victor Ejdsell (17) looks to pass against Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dillion Simpson (79) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

Finally, the more surprising, but at the same time not so surprising roster cut of Victor Ejdsell. Coming into training camp, Ejdsell was penciled in by most (including myself) to be in the Blackhawks’ top-nine forwards group. His performance at the end of last season, mixed with his work in the Traverse City Rookie Tournament gave him a boost over the Summer. But his development through training camp appears to have plateaued at the moment and other players have surpassed his play as camp moved along.

Still, with less than 25 games in North America under his belt, Ejdsell has a lot more to learn about playing in the NHL and the AHL. He will no doubt be in the Top-Line mix for the IceHogs, and if he can build on the production he found in the Calder Cup Playoffs last season (12 points in 13 games) he will no doubt find his way back to Chicago soon enough.

What’s Next?

Rockford’s training camp continues on as the IceHogs host their Fan Fest on Friday, September 28, which will showcase an inter-squad scrimmage. Rockford opens their 20th professional regular season on the road against the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, October 5.

The home-opener is slated for Saturday, October 13 as they host the team that ended their season last year in the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals, the Texas Stars.

The post Blackhawks Assign Highmore, Fortin, Ejdsell to IceHogs appeared first on The Rink.

Last season, the term “youth-movement” emerged in the offseason and translated through the summer and into the season with players like Nick Schmaltz and Alex DeBrincat making names for themselves with the organization. This year, the “youth-movement” may yet again be a common theme throughout the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs organizations.

Questions surround the NHL club at every position and the Traverse City Rookie Tournament will give the team and the Blackhawks fan community a chance to see what the future holds. Heading into tomorrow’s opening day, here a some players and storylines to watch for at the Rookie Tournament.

Chicago Blackhawks Rookie Tournament: Players To Watch

Last Summer’s Rookie Tournament was headlined by a number of players who would eventually make their NHL debuts last season including Matthew Highmore, David Kampf, Carl Dahlstrom, and Collin Delia. But no other player had as much attention on him as Alex DeBrincat did. He finally had the summer showcase that prospect camp was supposed to be and went on to have one of the best Blackhawks rookie seasons since Patrick Kane won the Calder Trophy in 2008.

This Summer, the Blackhawks rookie roster is loaded on defense with high-end draft picks looking to showcase the future of the organization’s blue-line, as well as a number of forwards who will be looking to crack into Chicago’s regular lineup.

Forwards

• Dylan Sikura – RW/C (23, 5-11, 160lb) – 2014 6th Round Pick (CHI #178)
  • Sikura was a highly touted NCAA prospect coming out of Northeastern last season. A late-bloomer in the Chicago system, Sikura made his way to the Blackhawks late last season and showed promise in a Top-9 role. Although a small sample size, Sikura looks to be the most promising forward prospect that the Blackhawks have heading into the 2018-19 season. Look for him to be a focal point offensively in Traverse City.
• Victor Ejdsell – LW/RW (23, 6-5, 215lb) – Acquired via Trade (NSH)
  • Acquired as part of the Ryan Hartman trade with the Nashville Predators, Ejdsell made a quick name for himself within the organization as part of the Rockford IceHogs late last season. Again, a small sample size of work, but Ejdsell showed that he can shoot the puck at a high-level and knows how to use his size to his advantage. A key factor in the IceHogs’ run in the Calder Cup Playoffs, Ejdsell will be a key forward in Traverse City and could play his way into the Blackhawks regular lineup with a solid showing and training camp.
• Dominik Kahun – C/LW (23, 5-11, 175lb) – Acquired via International Signing
  • Kahun is an interesting project for the Blackhawks organization. Signing a contract after an impressive showing during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang with the German National Team, Kahun comes into the summer as one of many player sitting on the NHL/AHL fence for the organization. In four seasons with EHC München in the DEL (Germany), Kahun has racked up 111 points in 157 games and skated in 18 games with Germany at the Olympics and World Championships last season, tallying 12 points. A two-way style center, Kahun could be a surprise for the Blackhawks this season as the depth at Center is thin behind Jonathan Toews.
• Alexandre Fortin – LW/C (21, 6-0, 175lb) – Acquired via Undrafted Signing
  • It seems like a long time ago that Fortin was the summer darling of the Blackhawks organization. Signing as an undrafted free agent, Fortin made a huge splash two summers ago and was nearly on the Blackhawks roster to begin the 2016-17 season. But now, after a full season with the Rockford IceHogs last year that saw him deal with injuries, and the luster has washed away a bit from him. Still young and still having a considerable upside to his game, Fortin will be a ‘veteran’ on the Traverse City roster and could be a dark horse to make the Chicago lineup with an overly impressive showing.
• MacKenzie Entwistle – RW/C (19, 6-3, 175lb) – Acquired via Trade (ARI)
  • Another player that came to the Blackhawks by trade this season, Entwistle is a largely unknown commodity to the organization. A 3rd round pick by the Arizona Coyotes in 2017, Entwistle is coming off his second season in the OHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs which saw him skate in 49 games and tally 38 points during the regular season and 21 OHL playoff games with 17 points racked up. Entwistle has a large frame at 6-foot-3 and 175-pounds at the age of 19, but his game still needs refining. Keep an eye out for him to be the player to lay a big hit in the Traverse City tournament and hopefully give the organization the idea to play Entwistle in Rockford once Hamilton’s season ends this Spring.

The future

Hillman and Sikura putting in work pic.twitter.com/T2fkyIABUe

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) September 6, 2018

Defense

• Adam Boqvist – RHD (18, 5-11, 170lb) – 2018 1st Round Pick (CHI #8)
  • It’s only a matter of time before the Chicago Blackhawks fan community will be introduced to the “Adam Boqvist Era.” The highest selected player for the Blackhawks since Patrick Kane went 1st overall in 2007, Boqvist has been referred to as the next Erik Karlsson in the NHL. A fast, puck-moving defenseman who is not afraid to jump into the offensive zone and produce points, Boqvist will be the highlight of the Traverse City tournament for the Blackhawks. His first real North American showcase comes at the Rookie Tournament and watch for him to make a play or two that will definitely jump off the page. Playing with the London Knights in the OHL this year, the Blackhawks organization will be able to keep an eye on his development and could bring him into the fold in Chicago or Rockford once the season ends for him with London.
• Nicolas Beaudin – LHD (18, 5-11, 175lb) – 2018 1st Round Pick (CHI #27)
  • Not to be out-done by his fellow 2018 1st round draft pick in Boqvist, but Beaudin is no slouch on the blue-line himself. Much like Boqvist ahead of him, Beaudin is a small-bodied, mobile, puck-moving defenseman that can drive the offense. Playing with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL, Beaudin looks to build on his breakout second season last year in which he tallied 69 points in 68 games played in the regular season and 11 points in 10 QMJHL playoff games. There is a very real chance that Beaudin and Boqvist could make-up the Blackhawks top defensive pair in the near future and that should excite the Blackhawks fan community.
• Henri Jokiharju – RHD (19, 6-0, 180lb) – 2017 1st Round Pick (CHI #29)
  • Who else might be the next best top-pairing defenseman for the Blackhawks? Look no further than Jokiharju. Last year’s top draft pick out of Portland of the WHL, Jokiharju may be the most NHL-ready defensive prospect in the Blackhawks system or he may take years to be top-pairing material. While the latter seems to be way less likely, Jokiharju has a lot to show at the Traverse City Tournament. After tallying 71 points in 63 games with the Winterhawks in the WHL, Jokiharju is currently thought to be on the fence between starting the season in the NHL or in Rockford in the AHL. With an impressive showing in Traverse City, followed up by a quality training camp, Jokiharju could very well be in the Chicago Top-6 defensive group on opening night in Ottawa.
• Blake Hillman – LHD (22, 6-1, 180lb) – 2016 6th Round Pick (CHI #173)
  • Another player last season to make his NHL debut with the Blackhawks out of the NCAA, Hillman is coming off of three very productive years with Denver University that saw him play in two Frozen Fours in 2016 and 2017 and win a National Championship with the Pioneers in 2017. Hillman played in a handful of games with Chicago late last Spring and even scored his first NHL goal. A decently sized defenseman, Hillman plays a more stay-at-home style on the blue-line and looks to start the season with the IceHogs, but that could change if he impresses enough in the Traverse City Tournament and in training camp. There is little to say he won’t have a decent look at quality ice-time this preseason to make his mark.
• Joni Tuulola – LHD (22, 6-3, 180lb) 2015 6th Round Pick (CHI #181)
  • Much like Victor Ejdsell did last year, Joni Tuulola joined the Rockford IceHogs late last season for his first taste of Hockey in North America and jumped right into the mix. After his third full season in Liiga (Finland), Tuulola joined the IceHogs late in the regular season and played in just two regular season games before being edged-out of ice-time as the Calder Cup Playoffs began. But, as has been noted by IceHogs head coach Jeremy Colliton, Tuulola continued to impress the coaching staff and played his way into the lineup during the Western Conference Finals for the final three games. Now heading into what will be his first full season in North America, Tuulola will have a chance to be a focal point of the IceHogs’ defensive core and could eventually provide a mobile, large-bodied defensive presence for the Blackhawks one day.

Chicago Blackhawks Rookie Tournament: Storylines

This season is already shaping up to be one of the more intriguing of the last decade, if only for the fact that there are so many unanswered questions heading into the preseason. The Blackhawks did very little to make major improvements to their forwards group, high-end defensive depth, or address the looming question of what their long-term solution would be in net if goaltender Corey Crawford does not return to the level he has played at for the last handful of years.

Heading into the Traverse City Rookie Tournament, the Blackhawks will have an opportunity to showcase a few players that could answer a number of these questions. Here are a few storylines to follow at the Traverse City Rookie Tournament and preseason training camp begin.

Loaded Defensive Depth

As stated before, the Blackhawks did not address their need for HIGH-END defensive depth this offseason. What they did do is back-load themselves with potentially NHL-ready defensive prospects and veteran NHL players who are now on the NHL/AHL fence themselves. Players like Brandon Manning, Brandon Davidson (PTO), and Andrew Campbell joined the Blackhawks this offseason and will be in the mix with Jan Rutta and Erik Gustafsson for the bottom-pairing spots in Chicago.

While it’s more likely that Rutta and Gustafsson are the defacto 5th and 6th defensemen on the Blackhawks roster, players like Manning, Davidson (PTO), and potentially Henri Jokiharju, could all push for NHL ice-time this season. Not to be forgotten is defenseman Gustav Forsling, who will miss the opening month of the season after having wrist surgery over the summer.

The 6th/7th defenseman log-jam that the Blackhawks roster moves created then slides into what the Rockford IceHogs will have to deal with for their defensive core. Last season the IceHogs finished with Forsling, Carl Dahlstrom, Cody Franson, Darren Raddysh, Adam Clendening, Viktor Svedberg, and Luc Snuggerud rotating through the defensive group on a regular basis. Gone are the likes of Franson, Svedberg, and Clendening, and added to the fray are players like Andrew Campbell as mentioned above, and Joni Tuulola, Blake Hillman, Dennis Gilbert, Lucas Carlsson, and potentially Henri Jokiharju. It will be interesting to see how Jeremy Colliton navigates his first-world problem of having too many quality AHL defenders on his roster.

NHL-Ready Forwards?

On the flip-side of the defense, the Blackhawks NHL-depth at forward is thin. Adding veteran winger Chris Kunitz this offseason did little to move the needle on the spectrum of “franchise changing” but it filled one hole in the Chicago Top-12 forward group. Kunitz will play in a bottom-6 role, but questions still loom in the top-9 of the group. Who will play the top-line wing position with Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad? Will Nick Schmaltz be a reliable second-line option at center? Who fills out the bottom-6 forward positions? All of these are still on the table for discussion by the Blackhawks heading into the preseason and training camp.

The blessing the Blackhawks have is that they at least have a number of decent options to fill the gaps, but those options may not fall under “franchise changing” either.

As mentioned above, players like Victor Ejdsell and Dylan Sikura could more than likely earn themselves opening night roster spots with quality camps and showings in the preseason. Other names in the mix would be John Hayden, David Kampf, and Matthew Highmore. While it may be the most open competition the Blackhawks have this summer, forward depth is going to be hard-stretched to fill for Chicago by only looking in-house.

Options do remain in Rockford as well as players like Anthony Louis, Tyler Sikura, and Luke Johnson could push for NHL ice-time, but the Blackhawks will need strong showings from the forwards group to quell the doubts perceived by the Blackhawks fan community.

Schedule

Here’s the full schedule for the Traverse City Rookie Tournament:

Traverse Cityt2018 Rookie Tournament Schedule

The Blackhawks will look to defend their 2017 tournament championship against the Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars. Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and New York Rangers.

The championship game will take place on September 11 between the winners of the Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay divisions.

The post What To Watch For: Chicago Blackhawks Rookie Tournament appeared first on The Rink.

In one of the more memorable season’s in Rockford IceHogs AHL history, the team accomplished a tremendous amount together and individually in the 2017-18 season. To note a few:

• Furthest run in the Calder Cup Playoffs, including deepest postseason run since 2007 Colonial Cup win (UHL).
• Chris DiDomenico sets franchise record for postseason point total (18 points, 13 games)
• Matthew Highmore sets franchise rookie goal-scoring record (24 goals)
• Adam Clendening sets franchise all-time assists and points record for a defenseman (122 assists, 148 points)
• Carl Dahlstrom becomes 100th IceHogs player to reach the NHL
• Vince Hinostroza and Erik Gustafsson named AHL All-Stars, replaced by Matthew Highmore and Carl Dahlstrom at AHL All-Star Classic

Rockford IceHogs Exit Interviews

(Key: Regular Season Stats / Calder Cup Playoff Stats)

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton

In his first season coaching in North America, Colliton led the Rockford IceHogs back to the Calder Cup Playoffs after a last-place finish in the Central Division last season. At just 33-years old, Colliton is already proving his worth to the Chicago Blackhawks organization and maybe, just maybe, a possible replacement for Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville in the near future.

Cody Franson, Defenseman – 37 GP, 9 G, 19 A / 13 GP, 6 G, 7 A

Cody Franson‘s 2017-18 season did not go as planned. He signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, expecting to be a top-six defenseman for the NHL club. Those plans changed mid-way through the season and he finished the year with the IceHogs. One of the leading point scorers in the regular season and playoffs, Franson made the most of his stint in Rockford and helped propel the IceHogs offensively and defensively.

Adam Clendening, Defenseman – (38 GP, 4 G, 26 A / 13 GP, 1 G, 13 A)

Much like Franson, Adam Clendening did not expect his 2017-18 season to wind up with the Rockford IceHogs. Acquired via trade with the Arizona Coyotes, Clendening re-joined the IceHogs late in the season and made his reunion count. Leading all Rockford defensemen in points in the regular season and playoffs, Clendening was a big part of the trio of veteran players that led the IceHogs through the Calder Cup Playoffs alongside Franson and Chris DiDomenico.

Chris DiDomenico, Forward – (22 GP, 8 G, 15 A / 13 GP, 7 G, 11 A)

Rounding out the trio of players who all joined the IceHogs late in the year, but had some of the biggest impacts in their time with the team, Chris DiDomenico also found his 2017-18 season come to a close with the IceHogs via a trade. Late in the season, DiDomenico  joined Rockford and immediately made his presence known on the ice and in the locker room. Head Coach Jeremy Colliton praised DiDomenico’s contributions to the roster mentally and physically, saying he brought the feeling to the group that on any given night, they should come away winners. Over his last 35 games combined, DiDomenico put up 41 points.

Jeff Glass, Goaltender – (28 GP, 15-9-2, 2.82 GAA, .904 SV% / 3 GP, 2-1, 1.48 GAA, .955 SV%)

What a ride the 2017-18 season was for goaltender Jeff Glass. A journeyman net-minder, who has played the majority of his career in the KHL, becomes the starting goalie for the Rockford IceHogs and Chicago Blackhawks at different points of the season. At 32-years old, Glass made his NHL debut with Chicago and tallied three wins in the big league. With Rockford, Glass continued to lead the IceHogs through tough stretches of the season and graciously took a back seat at the beginning of the Calder Cup Playoffs to Collin Delia. When called back upon in the postseason, Glass gave the IceHogs every chance to complete an improbable comeback, before ultimately coming up just two wins short of the Calder Cup Final.

Collin Delia, Goaltender – (28 GP, 17-7-4, 2.72 GAA, .900 SV% / 10 GP, 7-3, 2.34 GAA, .924 SV%)

Speaking of wild rides this season, Collin Delia had one of the more unbelievable start to finishes this year for the IceHogs. Starting the year with the Indy Fuel in the ECHL, making his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks, and leading the Rockford IceHogs into the Calder Cup Playoffs, Delia was the most improved player from day one. Having a stretch from early January to the end of the regular season, Delia lost just a handful of games, with the majority of those losses coming in overtime or the shootout. It goes without saying that the IceHogs would not have been in the position they were in the final six weeks of the season without Delia. Oh, and he was named the Rockford IceHogs Man of the Year.

Lance Bouma, Forward – (20 GP, 7 G, 7 A / 13 GP, 1 G, 1 A)

Lance Bouma found himself in similar shoes as Cody Franson did with the Chicago Blackhawks this season. Signing a one-year contract, Bouma started the year as a regular in the Blackhawks’ lineup, but as the year progressed his play wasn’t what Chicago needed and the opportunity to give players with more of a future with the organization arose. Thus, Bouma headed to Rockford and made the most of his situation, providing a physical presence on the ice and a leadership quality in the locker room.

Tanner Kero, Forward – (36 GP, 8 G, 12 A / 12 GP, 0 G, 3 A)

Tanner Kero dealt with injuries on and off this season, which was a factor in him having a less-than-stellar outing with the Chicago Blackhawks this year. Being one of the players on the fence between the NHL and AHL in the organization, Kero saw his spot as a bottom-six center with Chicago go to David Kampf and found himself with the IceHogs. Once healthy, he was a consistent presence for Rockford during the regular season and Calder Cup Playoffs.

John Hayden, Forward – (24 GP, 5 G, 12 A / 13 GP, 3 G, 0 A)

One of the younger players that plays on that same NHL/AHL fence for the Chicago Blackhawks organization, John Hayden could have taken his assignments to the Rockford IceHogs this season as a negative. But, to Hayden’s credit, he played well and understood that his time with the IceHogs this season was to give him time to develop his game. Playing with Chicago, Hayden’s game started to deviate from size and skill, to size and slam. Hayden has more to offer than just a big-bodied player and with Rockford, Hayden was able to play more meaningful minutes and find his skill-set at the pro level. A restricted free agent this summer, the Blackhawks will more than likely sign Hayden and make him a part of the bottom-six in Chicago next season.

Tyler Sikura, Forward – (74 GP, 23 G, 16 A / 13 GP, 5 G, 1 A)

Next to Collin Delia, Tyler Sikura was one of the most improved players over the course of the season. In his first full-year in the AHL, Sikura scored 23 goals (2nd on the team) and earned himself his first NHL deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Sikura can find himself in a position battle for a bottom-six forward spot with Chicago next year as he showed that he has a scoring touch around the net for the IceHogs and can play physical when called upon.

Andreas Martinsen, Forward – (64 GP, 12 G, 16 A / 13 GP, 2 G, 3 A)

Joining the IceHogs right as the 2017-18 season began, Andreas Martinsen was brought in to the organization to help lead a young locker room early on. Far from a grizzled veteran, Martinsen brought some NHL experience to a locker room in Rockford that started the year with nearly a dozen players making their first year pro debuts. Martinsen was a leader on and off the ice for the IceHogs and provided consistent physical play throughout the year and into the Calder Cup Playoffs. Martinsen was also able to get a few NHL games under his belt with the Blackhawks late in the NHL season.

David Kampf, Forward – (33 GP, 7 G, 11 A / 13 GP, 1 G, 0 A)

David Kampf came into the Chicago Blackhawks organization with a ton of question marks surrounding him. A free agent signing from Europe, the 23-year old Czech Center joined the IceHogs out of training camp and was a player that head coach Jeremy Colliton gave a large amount of ice-time to. It worked in Kampf’s favor as he was recalled to the Blackhawks mid-way through the season and would only re-join the IceHogs with a few games remaining in the regular season. While only scoring one playoff point, Kampf created a ton of offensive chances. He’ll figure to be in the mix for a bottom-six position with Chicago next year.

Carl Dahlstrom, Defenseman – (64 GP, 3 G, 25 A / 13 GP, 3 G, 6 A)

The 2017-18 season narrative of the Rockford IceHogs continued to be young talent making huge improvements all season, and for defenseman Carl Dahlstrom, that narrative rang true. A sizable defender, Dahlstrom more than doubled his point production from last season in fewer games played. Named an AHL All-Star replacement for Erik Gustafsson, Dahlstrom also made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks during the 2017-18 campaign and will figure to challenge for a spot on Chicago’s blue-line next season.

Gustav Forsling, Defenseman – (18 GP, 2 G, 3 A / 13 GP, 1 G, 4 A)

One of the more interesting defenseman in the Chicago Blackhawks organization, Gustav Forsling had a difficult 2017-18 season. Bouncing between the Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs, Forsling dealt with injuries that hindered his season. But, when healthy, Forsling showed flashes of why the Blackhawks still have a ton of faith that he will be able to play the role of a defenseman who can jump into the offense and produce points in the NHL. At 21-years old (turning 22 in mid-June), Forsling still has room for development, but figures to be in the mix for a spot on Chicago’s blue-line next season.

Robin Norell, Defenseman – (63 GP, 2 G, 5 A / No Playoff Stats)

Robin Norell had an odd 2017-18 season. As a defenseman, Norell played solid on both ends of the ice for the IceHogs, but ultimately found himself dressing for more games as a forward than a defender. Once the latter half of the season rolled around, and the Rockford blue-line took shape, Norell saw his spot in the lineup go away and he did not dress for the Calder Cup Playoffs. He’ll more than likely figure to be a part of the IceHogs defensive core again next season.

Viktor Svedberg, Defenseman – (73 GP, 6 G, 18 A / 13 GP, 0 G, 5 A)  

A stalwart in the Rockford IceHogs organization for the last few years, Viktor Svedberg had arguably his best season of his career in 2017-18. His highest point total in his AHL career (24 points), Svedberg had a decent shot with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2015-16 season, playing in 24 NHL games, but it seems as if the organization may have moved on from the towering Swedish defenseman. An unrestricted free agent this summer, it will be interesting to see if the Blackhawks bring Svedberg back, as he has become an integrated part of the Rockford organization, but may not have an NHL future with Chicago.

Matt Tomkins, Goaltender – (8 GP, 1-4-2, 4.04 GAA, .871 SV%) / (No Playoff Stats)

Another goalie for the IceHogs who did a fair share of bouncing around this season was Matt Tomkins. While largely only playing in a backup role with the IceHogs, Tomkins was another first-year pro who made his debut with Rockford this season. Tomkins figures to be a starting option in net for the ECHL Indy Fuel next season, but could be a challenger for some AHL time too.

Victor Ejdsell, Forward – (5 GP, 0 G, 1 A) / (13 GP, 7 G, 5 A)

Acquired in the Ryan Hartman trade with the Nashville Predators, Victor Ejdsell came into the Chicago Blackhawks organization late in the year and quickly took the sting away from the Hartman deal for many fans. A big-bodied forward, Ejdsell played a handful of game with the Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs once he arrived in North America and showed flashes of quick hands and a powerful shot from the wings. Ejdsell was a huge factor for the IceHogs in the Calder Cup Playoffs, scoring two overtime goals over the 13-game run. Ejdsell should get a chance with the Blackhawks early on next season.

Henrik Samuelsson, Forward – (25 GP, 9 G, 3 A) / (4 GP, 0 G, 0 A)

Henrik Samuelsson joined the IceHogs late in the season from the ECHL Idaho Steelheads and jumped right into the lineup in a way. Scoring a goal in each of his first three games, Samuelsson is a former-first round pick making his way back to the top leagues of North America. A big-bodied forward, Samuelsson was scratched to start the Calder Cup Playoffs for the IceHogs, but found his way back into the lineup later in the postseason. Samuelsson signed an extension into next season and should factor into the Rockford lineup as a regular.

Graham Knott, Forward – (70 GP, 4 G, 5 A) / (No Playoff Stats)

Another first-year pro making his debut with the Rockford IceHogs this season, Graham Knott had an underwhelming first year. Nine points in 70 games played for the former second-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks, Knott played a fourth-line role all season for Rockford before being scratched for the Calder Cup Playoffs. Another large-bodied forward, Knott will need to improve his strength and skating over the summer, but will have a spot with the IceHogs next season.

Darren Raddysh, Defenseman – (66 GP, 5 G, 17 A) / (9 GP, 0 G, 2 A)

Making his professional debut with the Rockford IceHogs this season, Darren Raddysh played his way into and NHL contract with the Chicago Blackhawks while in the midst of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Raddysh was a regular in the IceHogs defensive core, but was a scratch for the final few games of the postseason. He’ll be a factor in the Rockford blue-line again next season, maybe with an outside chance at making his NHL debut in 2018-19.

Luke Johnson, Forward – (73 GP, 13 G, 17 A) / (13 GP, 4 G, 4 A)

Luke Johnson made a huge leap from the 2016-17 to 2017-18 season. Playing in 73 games again this season, Johnson doubled his point production from last season and saw his on and off-ice responsibilities increase under head coach Jeremy Colliton. Johnson should be a key player for the IceHogs next season and could even make his NHL debut with the Blackhawks next season if Chicago gets bitten with injuries.

Nathan Noel, Forward – (17 GP, 1 G, 0 A) / (No Playoff Stats)

Nathan Noel had a tough season in his first year as a pro. Dealing with injuries and playing on the fence between the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL and the Indy Fuel in the ECHL, Noel made the most of his time with Rockford but left more to be desired. Next season should provide more opportunities for Noel at the AHL level, but he’ll need an impressive summer.

Matheson Iacopelli, Forward – (50 GP, 11 G, 8 A) / (No Playoff Stats)

One of the more interesting cases for the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs organizations, Matheson Iacopelli has the skill-set to be a regular contributor at the AHL level and his shot has been said to be NHL quality. But, for some reason, although scoring at a 0.40 point per game pace over his 58 AHL games, Iacopelli was scratched and even sent to the Indy Fuel in the ECHL late in the season. In 10 games with Indy, Iacopelli scored 10 points (9 G, 1 A) and was quickly brought back to Rockford, but didn’t see any action in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He’ll factor into the IceHogs lineup next season, but wouldn’t hurt to have a standout summer.

Matthew Highmore, Forward – (64 GP, 24 G, 19 A) / (13 GP, 2 G, 7 A)

One of the more impressive first-year players with the Rockford IceHogs this season, Matthew Highmore went from undrafted free agent signing out of the QMJHL, to Rockford’s top goal-scorer in 2017-18. Setting the rookie goal-scoring record with 24 goals in 63 games, Highmore took over the production role, alongside Anthony Louis, when Vince Hinostroza left Rockford for his permanent stay with the Blackhawks early in the season. The Chicago Blackhawks took a flyer on Highmore and it has already paid off in one year for both organizations. He made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks late this season, including his first NHL goal, and will again be looked at as an option for the Blackhawks next season.

Anthony Louis, Forward – (70 GP, 14 G, 44 A) / (9 GP, 0 G, 5 A)

As mentioned above, Anthony Louis was one of the key players for the Rockford IceHogs all season. The 2017-18 points leader for Rockford, Louis emerged as one of the go-to players after Vince Hinostroza was recalled to the Chicago Blackhawks. In his first full year in the AHL, Louis showed that he has the speed and vision to create for his teammates offensively. He’ll need more time in the AHL to round out his game and will undoubtedly be one of the key players for the IceHogs next season.

Alex Fortin, Forward – (53 GP, 4 G, 21 A) / (1 GP, 0 G, 0 A)

Alexandre Fortin, by all accounts, had a fine first professional year in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs. Outside of dealing with injuries, Fortin made his pro debut and did well in the role he was given by head coach Jeremy Colliton. The problem comes with the expectations that Fortin came into the Chicago Blackhawks organization with. He was a free agent signing and had a monster summer showing, enough to make some people believe he was NHL-ready. But Fortin’s first full pro season left something to be desired. If Fortin can have another decent showing over the summer, he’ll be a regular again in the IceHogs lineup and could potentially get his NHL shot in 2018-19.

William Pelletier, Forward – (69 GP, 14 G, 15A) / (13 GP, 2 G, 0 A)

Guess what? Another first-year pro! William Pelletier made a few appearances late last season for the Rockford IceHogs, but the 2017-18 season was his first full season in the AHL. A former Division III standout at Norwich University, Pelletier is another “water-bug” type of player in the Chicago Blackhawks system that has excelled with the IceHogs. Like Hinostorza and Anthony Louis, Pelletier uses his quick feet and playmaking ability to create offensive chances for his linemates and has an ability for finding open space to find his shot. Over his 77 career games with Rockford, Pelletier is playing at a .47 point per game pace and will be a regular for the IceHogs next season.

Luc Snuggerud, Defenseman – (40 GP, 5 G, 12 A) / (No Playoff Stats)

Another player hinder by the injury big this season, Luc Snuggerud made his pro debut in his first full year in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs this season. When healthy, Snuggerud was a regular part of the Rockford defensive core and showed the ability to play effectively at both ends of the ice. While healthy at the end of the season, Snuggerud was edged out in the defensive rotation and did not dress for any games in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Over his 53 career games with the IceHogs, Snuggerud is producing at a .42 point per game pace which is great from a defenseman. With a solid showing this summer, Snuggerud will be a regular part of the Rockford defensive lineup next season.

A GIANT thank goes out to the great Media and Communications staff with the Rockford IceHogs for providing all the videos of the exit interviews.

As the 2017-18 season comes to an official close for the Rockford IceHogs, it goes without saying that this squad came together under familiar circumstances with a rookie head coach being paired with so many first-year pros. The locker room gelled and added the right veteran pieces to produce some AHL magic and create a renewed vigor in the Rockford hockey community. Adam Clendening’s statement that this group was the most fun group he has ever played with spoke volumes to what Jeremy Colliton, the coach staff, and management did to rebuild the IceHogs from their disappointing 2016-17 run.

While the Chicago Blackhawks regulars have had their spring to relax and recover from last season, the IceHogs have been going through a tough Calder Cup Playoffs run. For most players, the offseason will be short as Summer Prospect Camp gets underway in the latter half of July, leading into the Rookie Showcase in Traverse City before Training Camp in late August. While the additions of new free agent and draft pick signings will re-shape the look of the IceHogs for the 2018-19 season, the organization is back on the right track and provides a hopeful look into the future of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The post Rockford IceHogs 2017-18 Season Exit Interviews appeared first on The Rink.

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton turned to Jeff Glass to take over in net for Collin Delia and maybe spark some Calder Cup Playoffs magic. Through ten games in the postseason, Delia worked a 7-1-2 record with a 2.34 GAA and a .924 save-percentage. As a whole, nothing to scoff at. But in the Western Conference Finals against Texas, Delia has lost all three of his starts, two in overtime, and had a 4.16 GAA and .843 save-percentage. Glass would make his first Calder Cup Playoffs start of his professional career and in yet another overtime game, the IceHogs would find a way in the end to extend the series with a 3-2 victory.

Game Four: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-2 (OT)

With Glass in net, the IceHogs pulled no punches to begin Game Four. With a powerplay chance early and out-shooting the Stars just over six minutes into the game, Rockford controlled the action to begin their must-win game. It was then that Victor Ejdsell continued his tremendous play in the Calder Cup Playoffs, beating two Texas defenders on his way to the net and beating Mike McKenna for the opening goal of the game. Ejdsell’s sixth goal of the postseason gave Rockford exactly the start they were looking for.

Victor Ejdsell celebrates a goal with his teammates in Game Four of the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

The IceHogs’ hot start continued through the period, including hitting the post twice but not finding the back of the net. The first period was playing mostly within the Rockford zone, but back-to-back penalties by the IceHogs forced them in to their first adversity of the game. On a 5-on-3 powerplay, Travis Morin was able to go high on Glass and tie the game up 1-1 with just over six minutes remaining in the period. Morin’s fourth of the Calder Cup Playoffs marked the fourth-straight game in which the IceHogs had allowed a powerplay goal. The period would end tied at 1-1, with Rockford holding a 16-14 shots on goal advantage.

In the second period, the IceHogs and Stars would be more evenly matched and the early ice-tilt that favored Rockford wouldn’t be felt as much in the second. At the mid-way point of the period, Rockford had a chance at a two-on-none chance, catching Texas on a line-change. Unfortunately, the puck skipped off of Victor Ejdsell’s stick and Rockford couldn’t capitalize. Carl Dahlstrom would create another quality scoring chance for Rockford off the rush, but was dragged down with no call coming on the play and the game carried on into the latter half of the second period, still tied 1-1.

Carl Dahlstrom drives to the net in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals against the Texas Stars. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

Late in the second period, the IceHogs would be called for a penalty away from the play and with less than a minute to play in the period, Matt Mangene would get a fortunate bounce and give the Stars the late 2-1 lead on his seventh goal of the post season. Another powerplay goal given up by Rockford put them in considerably their most desperate point of the season: down a goal with just one period between them and the off-season.

In the third period, the Stars would play a “keep away” strategy to begin, and it stifled the IceHogs offense early on in the final frame. As the third period reached the mid-way point, Rockford has mustered up the only two shots on net in the period, but still couldn’t find the equalizing goal. The IceHogs would pick up the pace and begin to build momentum with just about seven minutes remaining in the period as Lance Bouma and David Kampf started to create scoring chances late.

Cody Franson (center) celebrates his game-tying goal against the Texas Stars in Game Four of the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)

With 6:58 to play in the third period, Rockford would find their breakthrough as Luke Johnson would tip a shot from the point and it would find its way through traffic and into the net. Johnson’s third of the Calder Cup Playoffs and the game would be tied 2-2. Jeff Glass would come up big late in the third period with a pad save in close with 3:24 to play in the third, it would be the first shot on net he would see in the period. He would be called upon a few more times to keep the tie intact and the horn would sound, signaling the third-straight overtime game that the IceHogs and Stars would need in the series. It would also be the eighth overtime game in 13 Calder Cup Playoff games for the Stars in which they would go to overtime.

In the overtime period, the IceHogs would draw a penalty just 37 seconds into the extra frame marking the third man-advantage for Rockford on the night. It would be all the time that the IceHogs would need as Victor Ejdsell would bury his second goal of the night to cap-off a three-point game and send the series to a Game Five on Friday night in Rockford.

GAME FOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-2 (OT)

Jeff Glass would make 28 saves on 30 shots faced, while Mike McKenna made 33 saves on 36 shots faced from the IceHogs. Glass gets his first win in the Calder Cup Playoffs of his professional career and will like remain the starter for Friday night’s Game Five.

Victor Ejdsell notched three points in the win, making his total for points in the Calder Cup Playoffs 11 (7G, 4A) in 11 games played. His total since joining the IceHogs this season is 12 points in 16 games.

Postgame Reaction

After the win, Head Coach Jeremy Colliton, Luke Johnson, Victor Ejdsell, and Jeff Glass spoke to the media. Take a listen to what they had to say as Rockford prepares for Game Five:

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton

Luke Johnson

Victor Ejdsell

Jeff Glass

With the quick turnaround to Game Five, the IceHogs look to build on their momentous win and force the Western Conference Finals back to Texas.

What’s Next?

This Western Conference Finals series marks the third time in AHL history that the IceHogs and Stars have met in the postseason. Both teams hold a series sweep over the other with Texas winning a first-round series in 2010, and Rockford winning a first-round series in 2015.

Here is the schedule for the IceHogs and Stars in the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals:

• Game One: Texas Stars def. Rockford IceHogs, 4-2 (TEX leads series 1-0)
• Game  Two: Texas Stars def. Rockford IceHogs, 3-2/OT (TEX leads series 2-0)
• Game Three: Texas Stars def. Rockford IceHogs, 6-5/OT (TEX leads series 3-0)
• Game Four: Rockford IceHogs def. Texas Stars, 3-2/OT (TEX leads series 3-1)
• Game Five: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, Friday, May 25, 7pm
• * Game Six: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Monday, May 28th, 7pm (*If Necessary)
• * Game Seven: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Tuesday, May 29th, 7pm (*If Necessary)

The Winner of the series will advance to the Calder Cup Finals and play the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Toronto Marlies.

The post IceHogs Find Overtime Winner, Extend Series To Game Five appeared first on The Rink.

Texas Stars vs Rockford IceHogs: By The Numbers

IceHogs Final Record and Standings: 40-28-8, 88 points, 4th Central Division

Stars Final Record and Standings: 34-28-14, 90 points, 2nd Pacific Division

Head-to-Head: 2-1-1, Rockford

Rockford Regular Season Goals For vs Texas: 13

Texas Regular Season Goals For vs Rockford: 5

Rockford Second-Round Series: 4-0 over Manitoba Moose

Texas Second-Round Series: 4-1 over Tucson RoadRunners

Rockford Calder Cup Playoffs Powerplay: 15/40 (37.5%), 1st in AHL

Texas Calder Cup Playoffs Powerplay: 5/29 (17.2%), 10th in AHL

Rockford Calder Cup Playoffs Penalty-Kill: 26/28 (92.9%), 2nd in AHL

Texas Calder Cup Playoffs Penalty-Kill: 24/28 (85.7%), 6th in AHL

Rockford Calder Cup Playoffs Top Skater: Chris DiDomenico (4G, 7A), 11 points

Texas Calder Cup Playoffs Top Skater: Brian Flynn (6G, 4A), 10 points

Rockford Calder Cup Playoffs Top Goalie: Collin Delia (7-0-0), 1.64 GAA, .948 Save-Percentage

Texas Calder Cup Playoffs Top Goalie: Mike McKenna (7-2-0), 1.65 GAA, .952 Save-Percentage

Series Preview Audio

Ahead of their Western Conference Finals series against Texas, hear from Rockford head coach Jeremy Colliton, Matthew Highmore, and Collin Delia as they breakdown the upcoming matchup with Texas, having a full week off before Game One, and the journey it has been reaching this point of the season.

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton

Matthew Highmore

Collin Delia

Players To Watch

Collin Delia, G, Rockford IceHogs

The success of the IceHogs essentially starts and stops with Delia in net. He has played outstanding in the postseason and in the two month run-up to the Calder Cup Playoffs. Delia is one of the two hottest net-minders in the postseason this year and his work in net has been one of the key factors in getting Rockford to this point. If Delia continues what he has done since the beginning of February, and out-duel Stars goalie Mike McKenna, the IceHogs penalty-kill can continue to be successful and the pucks will stay out of their net.

Collin Delia salutes the home crowd after the Rockford IceHogs defeat the Manitoba Moose in Game Four of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs. (Courtesy: Alec Reicher)

Mike McKenna, G, Texas Stars

It’ll be a tall order for Delia to out-duel McKenna in net as the 35-year old McKenna has been at the top of the AHL this season in net. The Stars continue to ride McKenna and rely on him in the penalty-killing game, just like Rockford with Delia. The IceHogs will have to simplify their game in getting pucks to the net and force McKenna to work for saves. Getting traffic in front of net and cycling the puck on the powerplay will be keys for Rockford if they are to crack McKenna.

Chris DiDomenico, C, Rockford IceHogs

Speaking of Rockford’s powerplay, the top-ranked unit in the Calder Cup Playoffs has been key in getting the IceHogs to this point in the season. The biggest contributor to the man-advantage success is forward Chris DiDomenico. Eight of his eleven points so far in the postseason have come on the powerplay (2G, 6A) and he has facilitated a ton of offensive chances while at even-strength as well. Rockford’s offense seems to go as DiDomenico does.

Chris DiDomenico celebrates with his teammates after a goal in Game Four of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

Brian Flynn, RW, Texas Stars

The leading point-scorer for the Stars so far in the Calder Cup Playoffs, Flynn has come up at big spots for the Stars this postseason with timely goals. Flynn, a veteran of 275 NHL games since 2013, is playing in his first full season in the AHL since the strike-shortened 2012-13 season. He has tallied six goals in nine games for the Stars so far, including an overtime winner in the First Round and a overtime-forcing goal in the Second Round. If the IceHogs are going to have success defensively, keeping Flynn off the scoreboard will be key.

Victor Ejdsell, LW/RW, Rockford IceHogs

This postseason has been a bit of a showcase for the sizable Swedish forward. Ejdsell took a bit to come around to the North American game, joining the IceHogs late in the season. But what he has shown in the Calder Cup Playoffs so far is that he has a tremendous vision on the ice and a deceptive shot. As he has earned ice-time, his confidence and comfort level have increased and it shows in his play. If Ejdsell can continue to find his game, he’ll continue to find the scoresheet and help Rockford’s offense.

Victor Ejdsell of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

Travis Morin, C, Texas Stars

Morin is one of three current Stars players who are still on the team that won the Calder Cup in 2014 (Morin, Curtis McKenzie, Justin Dowling) and won the Jack A. Butterfield award as Calder Cup Playoff MVP during the Stars’ 2014 run. He ranks third in points for Texas with six (3G, 3A) over their nine games in the postseason and has been one of the key forwards for Texas for nine years. A veteran of 623 AHL games and 74 Calder Cup Playoff games (all with Texas) Morin can always be counted on to lead a talented Stars roster. He leads the Stars in penalty minutes (12) in the postseason and Rockford could find a way to get Morin in the box and give their top-powerplay units opportunities to get on the board.

What’s Next?

The Rockford IceHogs and Texas Stars meet in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the third time in AHL history, with both teams owning a sweep in the postseason over the other.

Here is the schedule for the IceHogs and Stars in the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals:

• Game One: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Friday, May 18, 7pm (H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Cedar Park, Texas)
• Game  Two: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Sunday, May 20, 5pm
• Game Three: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, Tuesday, May 22, 7pm (BMO Harris Bank Center, Rockford, Illinois)
• Game Four: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, Thursday, May 24, 7pm
• * Game Five: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, Friday, May 25, 7pm (*If Necessary)
• * Game Six: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Monday, May 28th, 7pm (*If Necessary)
• * Game Seven: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Tuesday, May 29th, 7pm (*If Necessary)

The Winner of the series will advance to the Calder Cup Finals and play the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Toronto Marlies.

The post IceHogs To Face Stars In Calder Cup Western Conference Finals appeared first on The Rink.

Game Four: Rockford IceHogs def. Manitoba Moose, 6-3

The IceHogs hoped that their recipe of stellar goaltending from Collin Delia and the best combined special teams units in the Calder Cup Playoffs could power them to a seventh-straight win in the postseason, and subsequently a second sweep in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Delia, through his first six games, held a 6-0-0 record with the lowest GAA in the postseason at 1.44, and the second-highest save-percentage at .953%.

Collin Delia takes the ice for the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

The first period, got off to a familiar start for Rockford as Cody Franson would open the scoring with a powerplay goal. Let me know if you’ve seen me write this before. (Hint: you have.) Franson from the left-circle blasted a one-timer by Eric Comrie with a great setup from Adam Clendening and it was 1-0 Rockford. With under seven minutes to play in the period, Manitoba would respond with a game-tying goal from Julian Melchiori, his second of the series, and it would be a 1-1 game.

But, less than a minute later, Chris DiDomenico would put the IceHogs back on top with his fourth goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs, giving Rockford the 2-1 lead. In the theme of back-and-forth of the first period, the Moose would capitalize on a Rockford turnover. While on a five-minute powerplay after Moose Captain Patrice Cormier was assessed a match-penalty for kicking, along with a roughing and boarding-major penalty, the IceHogs turned the puck over and J.C. Lipon scored short-handed to tie the game 2-2 and head to the first intermission knotted up.

Chris DiDomenico celebrates with his teammates after a goal in Game Four of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

Rockford would begin the second period with a powerplay that carried over from the first period, they would make sure that Manitoba would pay. Carl Dahlstrom would score his second goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs to give the IceHogs the 3-2 lead on their second poweplay goal of the game. The intensity and physicality would increase as the game progressed, with Manitoba throwing all they could at Rockford, trying to hold off being swept out of the playoffs.

Their aggressive play would come back to cost Manitoba as they yielded a powerplay to the IceHogs and Victor Ejdsell would earn a penalty shot while on the man-advantage. Ejdsell would go back-hand, top-shelf to beat Comrie for his fifth goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs and give Rockford the 4-2 lead in the second period. It would get even better for the IceHogs in the second period as the Moose would take yet another penalty and it would be another powerplay goal for Cody Franson. A near carbon-copy of his first powerplay goal of the game, Franson one-timed it by Comrie with help from DiDomenico and Clendening. The period would come to a close with Rockford ahead 5-2 and 20 minutes away from yet another historical elimination scenario.

Collin Delia makes a sliding save against the Manitoba Moose in Game Four of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

In the third period, the IceHogs would hold their 5-2 lead well into the final frame while continuing their perfect night on the penalty-kill and chewing more time off the clock by controlling play with their eighth poweprlay of the night. Collin Delia would keep the Moose at bay, shutting down 15 of 16 shots in the third period. Helping the cause, with the Moose net empty, Andreas Martinsen would send the puck deep and find the yawning cage with just over three minutes remaining in regulation to seal the deal. Rockford completes the sweep of the Moose, 4-0 in the series and remains undefeated in the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2018.

GAME FOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Rockford IceHogs def. Manitoba Moose, 6-3

Collin Delia with another quality night in net, see his record to 7-0-0 with a 1.65 GAA and a .948 save-percentage. Through the first two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Rockford special teams records are a staggering 15/40 (37.5%) on the powerplay and 26/28 (92.9%) on the penalty-kill, including a perfect 11/11 against the Manitoba Moose.

Impressive.

Postgame Reaction

Watch the postgame reaction from Head Coach Jeremy Colliton and Collin Delia after the Rockford IceHogs defeat the Manitoba Moose 6-3, and sweep the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semi-Finals series.

WATCH: Jeremy Colliton Postgame after Game Four vs Manitoba Moose 

WATCH: Collin Delia Postgame after Game Four vs Manitoba Moose

What’s Next?

With the victory, the IceHogs head to the Western Conference Finals in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time in the club’s AHL history. They also are the first team in the AHL to win seven consecutive postseason games since the Toronto Marlies in 2014. Rockford takes a sweep over the Chicago Wolves and a sweep of the Manitoba Moose into the third round of the playoffs.

There they will face the Texas Stars after Texas ousted the Tuscon RoadRunners 4-1 in their Western Conference Semi-Finals series. Here is the schedule for the IceHogs and Stars in the Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals:

• Game One: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Friday, May 18, 7pm (H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Cedar Park, Texas)
• Game  Two: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Sunday, May 20, 5pm
• Game Three: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, Tuesday, May 22, 7pm (BMO Harris Bank Center, Rockford, Illinois)
• Game Four: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, Thursday, May 24, 7pm
• * Game Five: Texas Stars at Rockford IceHogs, Friday, May 25, 7pm (*If Necessary)
• * Game Six: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Monday, May 28th, 7pm (*If Necessary)
• * Game Seven: Rockford IceHogs at Texas Stars, Tuesday, May 29th, 7pm (*If Necessary)

By advancing to the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals, this marks the furthest a Chicago Blackhawks minor-league affiliate team has gone in the AHL playoffs since the Brunswick Hawks won the Calder Cup in 1982.

The IceHogs held a 2-1-1 record over the Texas Stars in the regular season this year. Historically in the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Stars and IceHogs have faced off twice. In 2010, Texas swept Rockford in the first round, while in 2015, it was the IceHogs who swept the Stars in the opening round of the playoffs.

The post IceHogs Complete Sweep Of Moose, Advance To Western Conference Finals appeared first on The Rink.

Rockford IceHogs Media Day Audio: May 8, 2018

Hear from Head Coach Jeremy Colliton and his thoughts on keeping the team even-keel while being undefeated in the postseason, Chris DiDomenico on his journey to this point of the season with the IceHogs, Victor Ejdsell on his comfort in the transition to the North American game, and Collin Delia on the secrets behind his stellar play as well as his love for the Minions and a playoff beard update.

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton

Chris DiDomenico

Victor Ejdsell

Collin Delia

War Pig Stats

Rockford enters Game Three with the best special teams units of teams still alive in the Calder Cup Playoffs with the top-ranked powerplay at 35.7%, and the top-ranked penalty-killing unit at 89.5%. Through the first two games of their series against the Moose, the IceHogs are 3-for-10 on the powerplay and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Collin Delia holds the lowest Goals Against Average of goalies left in the Calder Cup Playoffs at 1.52, ranking .07 lower than Alex Nedeljkovic of the Charlotte Checkers. Delia also holds the highest save-percentage of goalies still in the Calder Cup Playoffs at .949%, ranking .001-percent higher than Mike McKenna of the Texas Stars.

Chris DiDomenico is tied for second in scoring in the Calder Cup Playoffs with eight points (3G, 5A) through five games, and is riding a five-game point streak through the playoffs. DiDomenico (2G, 4A), along with Adam Clendening (G, 5A) and Cody Franson (2G, 3A) lead all players in the Calder Cup Playoffs in powerplay points produced, with Clendening and DiDomenico atop the list with six points each.

With a win in Game Two, the IceHogs are 5-0 this postseason, including 4-0 on the road. Rockford set the franchise record, both AHL and UHL combined, with four-straight road wins in the playoffs, and its 5-game win streak is one short of the all-time franchise mark from 2007, the final year that Rockford competed in the UHL and won the UHL’s Colonial Cup.

What’s Next?

Here is the full schedule for the Calder Cup Western Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-Seven series between Rockford and Manitoba:

• Game One: Rockford IceHogs def. Manitoba Moose, 4-2 (RFD leads series 1-0)
• Game Two: Rockford IceHogs def. Manitoba Moose, 4-1 (RFD leads series 2-0)
• Game Three: Wednesday, May 9 at BMO Harris Bank Center (Rockford, Illinois), 7pm
• Game Four: Friday, May 11 at BMO Harris Bank Center, 7pm
• * Game Five: Saturday, May 12 at BMO Harris Bank Center, 6pm (* If Necessary)
• * Game Six: Tuesday, May 15 at Bell MTS Place, 7pm (* If Necessary)
• * Game Seven: Wednesday, May 16 at Bell MTS Place, 7pm (* If Necessary)

The winner of the IceHogs and Moose series will face the winner of the Tucson Road Runners and Texas Stars Western Conference Semi-Finals series. The IceHogs have never advanced to the Western Conference Finals in their AHL Franchise history.

The post LISTEN: IceHogs Media Day Ahead Of Game Three Against Moose appeared first on The Rink.

Game One: Rockford IceHogs def. Manitoba Moose, 4-2

The IceHogs turned to Collin Delia in net after his stellar performance in the opening round series against the Chicago Wolves. Delia posted a 3-0-0 record with a 1.51 GAA, and a .949 save-percentage in the first round against the Wolves and will need to continue that level of play if Rockford is to advance to their first ever Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals. Opposite Delia would be Eric Comrie for Manitoba. Comrie led the Moose to a 3-2 series win against the Grand Rapids Griffins in Round One, posting a 3.12 GAA and a .911 save-percentage over the five-game series.

In the first period, the IceHogs and Moose went through an extended feeling-out period as Game One marked just the fifth game between the teams this year (Regular season and postseason combined). Compared to both teams’ first round series, the IceHogs had seen the Wolves 12 times before Game One, while the Moose had faced the Grand Rapids Griffins eight times before their opening Game One.

While Rockford had the advantage in scoring chances early on, it would be Manitoba’s Buddy Robinson who would break the scoreless tie with just over three minutes remaining in the period. A bouncing puck setup the chance for Robinson as he buried his first goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Delia did his best to keep Manitoba off the board in the opening frame, and made a number of high-quality saves that kept Manitoba from breaking the game wide open early on.

In the second period, the IceHogs and Moose would trade powerplay opportunities but nothing would come from either chance. It wouldn’t be until just past the mid-way point of the contest that Rockford would finally get on the board. Matthew Highmore found Victor Ejdsell open and he would put a backhand shot by Comrie and tie the game at 1-1. Ejdsell, the triple-overtime hero from Game Three against the Wolves scored his third goal in his last two games and knotted the game up in the middle frame.

Cody Franson (left) makes a pass against the Manitoba Moose in Game One of the Calder Cup Western Conference Semi-Finals. (Courtesy: Manitoba Moose)

Rockford would start the third period on the powerplay thanks to a late second period Brendan Lemieux penalty, but the Moose would be able to kill it off. Just over a minute later, the IceHogs would have a third chance on the powerplay and three times would be a charm as Tyler Sikura would tip-in a Chris DiDomenico shot and put Rockford ahead 2-1. Sikura’s second goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs was barely out of the net (not really) before the IceHogs struck a second time in under a minute as John Hayden would bury a one-timer behind Comrie and put the Rockford ahead 3-1 early in the third period. Hayden’s first goal of the playoffs came just 45 seconds after Sikura’s and Rockford was in full control of Game One at that point.

HIGHTLIGHTS: Rockford IceHogs def. Manitoba Moose, 4-2

The IceHogs would hunker-down and hold their 3-1 lead until the Moose pulled Comrie with just a minute to play and Cody Franson would add one on an empty-net powerplay goal to make it 4-1. Franson’s goal extends his current point-streak to eight games with 13 points (5G, 8A) over that span. The Moose would add a second goal with under 30 seconds to play but it wouldn’t be enough as Rockford would come away 4-2 winners.

A valuable win on the road in the Calder Cup Playoffs is one thing, to get in the win column in Game One is icing on the Rockford cake heading into Game Two on Saturday. Delia finished the game with 24 saves on 26 shots faced and improved to 4-0-0 in his first taste of professional playoff hockey so far this postseason. Undefeated in the postseason, Rockford’s powerplay continues to be their driving force, a staggering 9/24 (37.5%) through the first four games of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

What’s Next?

Here is the full schedule for the Calder Cup Western Conference Semi-Finals Best-of-Seven series between Rockford and Manitoba:

• Game One: Rockford IceHogs def. Manitoba Moose, 4-2 (RFD leads series 1-0)
• Game Two: Saturday, May 5 at Bell MTS Place, 4pm
• Game Three: Wednesday, May 9 at BMO Harris Bank Center (Rockford, Illinois), 7pm
• Game Four: Friday, May 11 at BMO Harris Bank Center, 7pm
• * Game Five: Saturday, May 12 at BMO Harris Bank Center, 6pm (* If Necessary)
• * Game Six: Tuesday, May 15 at Bell MTS Place, 7pm (* If Necessary)
• * Game Seven: Wednesday, May 16 at Bell MTS Place, 7pm (* If Necessary)

The winner of the IceHogs and Moose series will face the winner of the Tucson Road Runners and Texas Stars Western Conference Semi-Finals series. The IceHogs have never advanced to the Western Conference Finals in their AHL Franchise history.

The post IceHogs Use Third Period Push, Take Game One Over Moose appeared first on The Rink.

Game Three: Rockford IceHogs def. Chicago Wolves, 4-3 (3OT)

Buckle up.

The IceHogs turned, once again, to Collin Delia in net after his stellar performances in the first two games of the series propelled Rockford to their 2-0 series lead heading into Game Three, while the Wolves went to Max Lagace in net, pulling their starter from games one and two, Oscar Dansk.

The game began on Thursday, and from the drop of the puck, had a different pace than the previous two, with both teams creating their fair share of stoppages early on. The start and stop forced both teams to work hard to find their groove in the opening frame. That would be until mid-way through the first period, with David Kampf retrieving a new stick from the Rockford bench, Philip Holm was able to find the back of the net through a screen and put the Wolves ahead 1-0.

Chicago was able to mount a bit of momentum after scoring the opening goal of the game, but Delia was able to come up with a number of saves on high-quality chances from the Wolves. the game could have been 3-0 or even 4-0 in favor of the Wolves through the first 20 minutes of the game. Rockford and Chicago would head to the dressing rooms after the first period with the Wolves holding a 1-0 lead.

The second period began with both sides trading powerplay chances in the first eight minutes of the middle frame, but both teams were able to kill off the penalties. Right off the IceHogs’ man-advantage, the Wolves were able to make it a 2-0 game as Keegan Kolesar found space between Delia’s pads to add to Chicago’s lead. It wouldn’t last long, though, as the IceHogs would get their third powerplay chance and Cody Franson would bury one on the man-advantage to cut the Chicago lead in half. Chris DiDomenico put it on a plate for Franson and he put it away on Max Lagace for his first goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

The momentum would completely swing in Rockford’s favor from there in the period as just minutes later, DiDomenico would tie the game with a great top-shelf goal. His second goal of the playoffs made it a 2-2 game, but even that score wouldn’t last long. Just moments later, Victor Ejdsell would make nifty move on Lagace, set up by Anthony Louis, and he would make it a 3-2 IceHogs lead on his first AHL goal with six minutes remaining in the period. Rockford’s three unanswered goals forced Chicago to take their timeout to try to regroup as the period would end with Rockford up by one goal.

20 minutes separated the IceHogs from sweeping the series against the Wolves, but Chicago was not going to go away easily. Just over three minutes into the third period, Wade Megan would stuff in a wraparound attempt and tie the game at 3-3. While the goal would go under review, the puck crossed just enough before Delia could make the save and we would be tied.

The Wolves found momentum after tying the game, but Rockford would regroup and weather the Chicago push as the third period progressed. Both teams would have solid chances down the stretch of the final period and the game would head to overtime tied 3-3. The Wolves entered the third period with 13 shots on goal and finished the period with 25. Rockford did what they had to do after the Chicago tying goal.

The next goal decided the game.

The Overtimes

We headed to overtime knotted up at 3-3 with the IceHogs leading the Wolves in shots on goal, 42-25. Lagace and Delia were doing enough to keep their teams alive through the first 60 minutes of action, Lagace by quantity and Delia by quality.

In overtime, The Wolves thought they had converted on a rebound chance, but the goal was waved off due to an IceHogs penalty. Rockford would kill the ensuing penalty and the game would continue on. With plenty of tense moments and quality chances in the first overtime period, the IceHogs had multiple opportunities to find the game-winner, but Lagace and Delia did their parts to send the game to a second overtime period.

In the second overtime period, the IceHogs would get a great opportunity to close the game on their fifth powerplay of the night, but couldn’t get the winner on the chance. The game would continue on long enough to become the longest game in Rockford’s franchise history, surpassing the mark set in 2008 against the Houston Areos. The Wolves would have to play on the back heel for much of the second overtime, with Rockford having the better of the chances to close the game out, including a Franson slap shot that rang off the post late in the period. But it would go to a third overtime period.

HIGHLIGHTS: Rockford IceHogs def. Chicago Wolves, 4-3 (3OT)

So, we would head to the third overtime period still in search of the game-winning goal. Much like the two overtime periods before it, the third period saw it’s fair share of back and forth, but with the tired legs on both sides of the ice, finishing plays was a hard task. With 4:30 to play in the third overtime, the IceHogs would get their sixth powerplay chance of the night. With just eight seconds remaining on the man-advantage, Victor Ejdsell would find the back of the net for the second time in the game and bring an end to the eight-longest game in AHL history, 4-3 for the IceHogs.

A few notes on the craziness that was this Game Three, series-clinching win for Rockford:

• 8th-longest game in AHL history (117:22)
• Longest game in both the Wolves and IceHogs franchise history.
• Max Lagace sets Chicago Wolves franchise record with 72 saves on 76 shots faced.
• Collin Delia saved all 30 shots he faced in the nearly three full overtime periods, 52 total saves in the game.
• 76 shots on goal is the most for the IceHogs in franchise history.
• IceHogs went 2-for-6 on the powerplay in Game Three, bringing their total to 7-for-18 in the series.
• The IceHogs also killed off all four penalties they took in the game, going 4-for-4 on the night and 12-for-14 in the series.
• With the win, Rockford gets its first series win over rival Chicago in the Calder Cup Playoffs and second-ever series sweep.

For both teams, whoever won this game was going to know they earned it. For Rockford to come out on top, they showed the kind of character and resilience a Championship caliber team needs to have this time of year.

Postgame Reaction

Following their sweep of the Wolves, hear from IceHogs head coach Jeremy Colliton, Chris DiDomenico, and game-winning goal-scorer Victor Ejdsell:

Head Coach Jeremy Colliton

Chris DiDomenico

Victor Ejdsell

What’s Next?

With the completion of the three-game sweep of the Chicago Wolves, the IceHogs advance to the Western Conference Semi-Finals for the third time in the club’s AHL history. Rockford will play the winner of the Manitoba Moose-Grand Rapids Griffins series, which plays Game Five on Monday, April 30.

Once the opponent is known, the AHL will release the schedule for the second-round series between the IceHogs and the Moose/Griffins. They will host, no matter the opponent, a game on Wednesday, May 9 in Rockford.

What a game. What a series. IceHogs adavnce.

The post Rockford IceHogs Sweep Chicago Wolves In Historic Game Three appeared first on The Rink.

With eight games remaining this season, four of which are against Divisional opponents, the IceHogs find themselves on the cusp of locking down a Calder Cup Playoff spot. But, will the ever-changing roster that Rockford is experiencing hinder their chances?

Central Division Standings

Heading into Wednesday night’s action, here are the Central Division standings (Games remaining):

1. Manitoba Moose – 39-21-8, 86 pts, .632 pts% (8)
2. Chicago Wolves – 37-21-9, 83 pts, .619 pts% (9)
3. Grand Rapids Griffins – 36-24-8, 80 pts, .588 pts% (8)
4. Rockford IceHogs – 35-25-8, 78 pts, .574 pts% (8)
5. Iowa Wild – 30-22-15, 75 pts, .560 pts% (9)
6. Milwaukee Admirals – 34-28-5, 73 pts, .545 pts% (9)
7. Cleveland Monsters – 21-35-10, 52 pts, .394 pts% (10)

IceHogs Playoff Push Coming To Fruition

As Rockford stared down the barrel of the AHL Central Division heading into a 10-game stretch against inter-Division opponents, they were teetering on the brink of falling out of the playoff race, sitting in sixth-place behind the Milwaukee Admirals, Iowa Wild, and Grand Rapids Griffins. Through nine of those games, Rockford has a 6-1-2 record and has jumped from sixth to fourth-place in the Division and currently holds a three-point lead over the Wild for the final Calder Cup Playoff spot, with Iowa having played just one fewer game than Rockford.

There are a few players who have factored majorly in the playoff push that the IceHogs have put together. In net, Collin Delia and Jeff Glass have been a solid one-two punch that is able to give Rockford a chance to win every night. Since January 6, Delia has a sizzling 13-2-4 record after starting the season 1-4-0 in the AHL. As for Glass, since he returned from his stint with the Blackhawks in February, he has gone 3-4-0 with a 1.99 GAA over his last four games (3-1-0). Both goalies give the IceHogs a shot to win moving into the final two and a half weeks of the season.

Collin Delia makes a save against the Chicago Wolves. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

On the blue-line, there is no telling where this Rockford squad would be down the stretch without the contributions of Cody Franson and Adam Clendening. Both joining the team later in the season (Franson by assignment, Clendening by trade), they have provided a huge amount of experience to a young IceHogs locker room and have been driving the production from the blue-line as of late. Clendening has 29 points (3G, 26A) this season, 24 of which have come in his 30 games with Rockford this year. For Franson, although he imagined himself as a full-time Chicago Blackhawk this season, he has taken the leadership role with Rockford and provided a big boost on defense. 20 points (6G, 14A) in 30 games played with Rockford this season, Franson ranks third on the current roster for point per game (.67) and is fourth on the active roster in points for defensemen, having played a fraction of the games.

Finally, up front for the IceHogs has been a mixture of  full-season efforts and a few mid-season finds that have pushed Rockford offensively. Anthony Louis and Tyler Sikura have been major drivers of the IceHogs offense with Louis leading the team with 38 points (12G, 26A), and Sikura not far behind in third on the active roster with 32 points (18G, 14A) and second in goals behind Matthew Highmore’s 21. Add in Lance Bouma and Chris DiDomenico, two players who joined the IceHogs around the NHL trade deadline, and Rockford’s offense has been buzzing over their last ten games, averaging 3.1 goals per contest. Bouma has nine points in his 12 games with Rockford this year and since joining the IceHogs in late February, DiDomenico has 16 points (5G, 11A) in 14 games this year.

For a team that has endured a myriad of changes this season, having those players involved in the changes be able to produce at the levels they have has been a key to the successful run that Rockford has put together.

Roster Moves

Speaking of roster changes, there have been quite a few to catch-up on over the last two weeks. Here are a few of note since the 10-game stretch against the Central Division began:

• March 10 – Matheson Iacopelli returned from assignment to the Indy Fuel (ECHL)
• March 10 – John Hayden recalled by the Chicago Blackhawks
• March 20 – Andreas Martinsen recalled by the Chicago Blackhawks
• March 21 – Victor Ejdsell assigned to Rockford IceHogs from HV71 (SHL)
• March 23 – Joni Tuulola signed PTO
• March 25 – Victor Ejdsell recalled by the Chicago Blackhawks
• March 26 – Matthew Highmore returned from recall to the Chicago Blackhawks
• March 27 – Matt Tomkins recalled from the Indy Fuel (ECHL)

Matthew Highmore of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)

The final roster move coming in response to the Blackhawks also placed goaltender J.F. Berube on waivers on Tuesday morning. The loses of Martinsen, Hayden, and the newly acquired Ejdsell would have potentially crippled a lesser squad. But this is not the old IceHogs. Rockford has been able to answer the bell all season, and with the Blackhawks season in flux for most of the time, Rockford has been able to keep pace and now find the right time to get hot and make their moves in the Calder Cup Playoff race.

The re-addition of Matthew Highmore from his 13-game stint with the Blackhawks may be the biggest return they could have at this point in the season. Highmore leads the team in goals with 21, a rookie record for the IceHogs as an AHL organization, and was the team-leader in points when he was recalled with 35 points (21G, 14A) in 56 games.

What’s Next?

The IceHogs return to action tomorrow night (Wednesday, March 28) when they take on the Manitoba Moose for the second of tow games between the teams in Manitoba. On MOnday, Rockford defeated the Moose, 4-2 with a 32-save performance from Delia and multi-point games from Clendening, DiDomenico, and Sikura. Wednesday’s puck drop is scheduled for 7pm Central Time. After Wednesday’s game, the IceHogs return home to close the month of March with a Saturday night contest against the San Jose Barracuda. The second of two meetings between the teams this season, Rockford defeated the Barracuda earlier this year on the road with a 4-2 win in January. Puck drop for Saturday night’s game at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford is set for 6pm Central Time.

The post IceHogs Holding On To Last Playoff Spot In Central Division appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks were limited to one more standard call up for the rest of the season, per the CBA, but can call up players on an emergency (injury) basis.

Ejdsell registered his first, and only, AHL assist in his first game since being loaned to the Rockford Icehogs on March 23rd. This latest stretch of AHL games are following the end of his season for HV71 of the Swedish Elite League.

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IceHogs On Cusp Of Playoff Position

After getting a win over Central Division foe Wild in Iowa, 5-2 on Monday, Rockford has a 4-0-2 record over the last six games against teams in the Central, 5-0-2 over their last seven games, and 7-1-2 over their last ten games, the best last ten game stretch of any team in the Central Division.

Starting back on March 10, the IceHogs began a ten-game stretch against inter-division opponents and have, so far, earned ten of a possible twelve points. With a weekend two-game homestand against the Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals on deck, followed by back-to-back games against the Manitoba Moose in Manitoba the following weekend, Rockford hopes to keep their current form rolling and create space between them and the Admirals, as well as jump the Wild and/or the Grand Rapids Griffins in the standings.

Goaltending Leading The Way

Probably the biggest credit to helping Rockford’s push is the production in net from Jeff Glass and Collin Delia. Over his last three starts, Glass has come back around to the form he had earlier in the season that earned him his first career NHL recall to the Blackhawks. After returning to Rockford with three losses and giving up 13 goals over that time, Glass has gone 3-0-0 in his last three starts with a 1.65 GAA and a .943 save-percentage. After and overtime win against the Wolves on March 11, Glass said he was finally starting to feel like himself again, and his play is evident that he is  back where the IceHogs need him to be.

For Delia, his development this season has been an interesting story, much like the goaltending situation that the Blackhawks organization as a whole is experience, but in a good way. Delia began the year as a free-agent signing out of Merrimack College and was with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel. After 10 appearances with Indy, Delia was a less than desirable 1-7-2, with a 4.12 GAA and a .887 save-percentage. That’s when the Blackhawks and IceHogs experienced a number of injury woes that would force the hand and give Delia his opportunity in the AHL.

The shakes continued into the AHL for Delia when he began the year 1-4-0, but since January 6, Delia has turned a corner (with one hiccup game) and has gone 11-2-3 to round out his 12-6-3 record this season. His save percentage had dipped to as low as .822 in the AHL this season, but has recovered to .901 and his GAA has dropped to a more than respectable 2.70. Over the IceHogs’ seven-game point-streak, Delia is 1-0-2.

Roster Turnover A Non-Issue In Rockford

Not to be overlooked, the production that the IceHogs have continued to receive even with the Blackhawks making a plethora of roster moves that would otherwise cripple a contending team, has been tremendous. Players like Anthony Louis, Cody Franson, Chris DiDomenico, and Tyler Sikura have all been key to Rockford’s success in the final few weeks of the season.

DiDomenico has been a welcomed veteran presence in the locker room and has been a point-per-game player since joining the IceHogs in January. Sikura has enjoyed a career year in his first full-time AHL season, leading the active roster in goals with 17 (Matthew Highmore has 21 but currently is with Chicago) and eventually earning himself an NHL contract with the Blackhawks.

Speaking of Matthew Highmore, when he was recalled to the Blackhawks, it marked the second time this season that Rockford’s active leading scorer would leave the team for an NHL spot. Enter Anthony Louis. One of the more under-the-radar players on the team behind Highmore and Vince Hinostroza earlier in the year, Louis has taken the team-lead in points with 37 (12G, 25A) in 61 games played in his first full-time AHL season this year.

Finally, Cody Franson’s addition to the Rockford blue-line has been pretty much what anyone could have expected. Although he wasn’t expecting to be playing in the AHL this season, Franson has taken his role with the IceHogs in stride and has been a driving force in their current form. Over the last six games against the Central Division, Franson has seven points (1G, 6A) and has been a key force in all situation’s. With the potential for a number of IceHog call-ups to return as the Blackhawks season winds down with no playoffs in sight, Rockford’s roster can only improve from here.

Martinsen Makes Blackhawks Debut, IceHogs Add Ejdsell

With roster shake-ups on the mind, the two most recent moves that Rockford has made have involved some sizable players. On Tuesday morning, the Blackhawks recalled forward Andreas Martinsen on an emergency basis. Martinsen, a veteran of 119 NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens, he became the first Norwegian-born player to play for the Blackhawks in Tuesday night’s loss to the Avalanche. Martinsen’s 26 points (12G, 14A) with Rockford this season rank him tied for fourth on the team and he has been a leader in a young locker room ever since joining the organization late in the Summer prior to the start of the season. With his physical game and hard-nosed approach around the net, he could very well earn himself another deal with the Blackhawks once the season ends.

Victor Ejdsell for HV71 in the SHL. (Courtesy: Mikael Fritzon)

Another sizable player that will factor into the final stretch of the season for the IceHogs is newly acquired forward Victor Ejdsell. A part of the trade that sent Ryan Hartman to the Nashville Predators, Ejdsell has finished his season with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and will be joining the IceHogs to make his North American Pro debut.

The-Rink Video: Victor Ejdsell Highlights

At 6’5″, 215-pounds, Ejdsell can provide a big body for Rockford that is able to have a scoring touch. In 71 career SHL games, Ejdsell has 36 points, but 34 of those came in 50 games this season with HV71. He led the team in goals (20) and finished third on the team in points (34). He will have to have a bit of a learning curve on the smaller ice in North America, but all signs point in the right direction for the 22-year old Ejdsell.

Playoff Race

Here is the AHL Central Standings as of Wednesday, March 21 (games remaining):

1. Manitoba Moose – 38-19-8, 84 pts, .646 pts % (11)
2. Chicago Wolves – 35-20-9, 79 pts, .617 pts % (12)
3. Iowa Wild – 30-20-14, 74 pts, .578 pts % (12)
4. Grand Rapids Griffins – 34-24-7, 75 pts, .577 pts % (11)
5. Rockford IceHogs – 33-24-8, 74 pts, .569 pts % (11)
6. Milwaukee Admirals – 32-28-5, 69 pts, .531 pts % (11)
7. Cleveland Monsters – 21-33-9, 51 pts, .405 pts % (13)

IceHogs Media Day: March 21

Watch: Head Coach Jeremy Colliton

Watch: Anthony Louis

Watch: Jeff Glass

Watch: Viktor Svedberg

What’s Next?

Rockford returns to action on Friday night as they host the team directly below them in the AHL Central Standings, the Milwaukee Admirals. Puck drop is set for 7pm Central Time at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford. Following that, the IceHogs host the Chicago Wolves, who sit in third place in the Central Division, on Saturday night in Rockford. Puck drop for Saturday’s Illinois Lottery Cup Rivalry game is scheduled for 6pm Central Time.

The post IceHogs Continue Point-Streak, Add Ejdsell As Playoff Push Intensifies appeared first on The Rink.

Today, The-Rink.com has a special video spotlight of Victor Ejdsell from his current season in the SHL with HV71 where he currently has 18G-13A-31PTS in 47 games. His regular season will wrap up this Sunday and the league playoffs will begin.

The post Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Spotlight – Victor Ejdsell (Video) appeared first on The Rink.

One thing I can safely assure you is that Victor Ejdsell is a real person and, by all accounts, a nice potential prospect for the Chicago Blackhawks. Beyond that, no one will truly know what the Blackhawks have until he comes to North America for prospect camp, in July.

Some facts are known, though, about Victor Ejdsell:

• Ejdsell is 22 years old, and listed at 6’5″ / 215lbs
• He is signed to a two-year entry level deal, with an annual cap hit of $833,750
• He is left handed and plays center/left wing
• He currently plays in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for HV71
• With just under two weeks left in his regular season, Ejdsell is ranked 22nd overall with 30 points (17G,13A) in 44 games.
• The Blackhawks tried to sign Ejdsell as a free agent last summer, but he chose to sign in Nashville instead.
• In his previous year, Ejdsell scored 57 points (25G, 32A) en route to being named the most valuable player, top scorer, and top forward with BIK Karlskoga in the Swedish Allsvenskan league. Allsvenskan is the Swedish equivalent of the AHL.

At first glance, to me, he looks like a younger, faster Artem Anisimov. He is reportedly better at the faceoff dot than Anisimov (who isn’t?). He also shows quick hands, and deceptive speed.

Again, though, nothing you are about to see is against anything greater than ECHL/AHL quality players, so take this with a grain of salt. That said, there is some potential in this kid worth looking forward to.

I was able to gather a few, year old, clips from an article by Bryan Fair at the Preds website, On The Forecheck:

Here is a really nice end-to-end type rush where Ejdsell makes the defender look like fool and cuts to the net:

Ejdsell decides to lock, load and beat the goalie from the top of the circle:

Ejdsell works a 2-on-1 and puts a nice, quick backhand move on the goalie:

Ejdsell draws coverage, then sends a nice backhand saucer pass to a teammate for a goal:

These are two very similar plays, in which Ejdsell makes soft backhand passes to teammates:

Ejdsell take a cross slot one-time pass and buries the goal:

Ejdsell whacks the puck out of mid air, with a nice display of hand/eye coordination:

This is a YouTube highlight reel from last season that I posted on Monday afternoon. Some of the clips above are from this video, but the entire reel is still worth checking out:

Lastly, the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) Roundtable website recently (January 16th) put together a piece that included an update on Victor Ejdsell:

Keeping Tabs on Victor Ejdsell

The post The Rink Examines Blackhawks’ Victor Ejdsell (Video) appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink.com co-hosts Jeff “Gatekeeper” Osborn and John “JJ” Jaeckel wrap up the Blackhawks trade deadline.

• Michal Kempny traded to Washington
• Ryan Hartman traded to Nashville
• Hawks acquire Victor Ejdsell
• Tommy Wingels traded to Boston
• JF Berube looked good in his one start, but the Blackhawks still need to shut Corey Crawford down
• Matthew Highmore called up from Rockford
• More, Laz in the box
• And, as always, some great listener questions.

Please subscribe, rate this episode, and even write us a review. Reviews will be read on the air.

Also, Please help spread the word to more #RinkRats and visit our sponsor www.PUCKHCKY.com. Use the discount code “THERINK” for 10% off all orders.

The post The Blackhawks Rinkcast – Episode 16 (Trade Deadline) appeared first on The Rink.

Part one addresses the trades:

Part two addresses the future, and Corey Crawford:

Part three addresses young talent:

The post Blackhawks Stan Bowman Addresses Trade Deadline (Video) appeared first on The Rink.

Hartman has had a rough year with the Blackhawks, and struggled for most of it after scoring 19 goals and amassing 31 points last season. It has been the worst kept secret in Chicago, lately, that Hartman could be on the move.

With Hartman, the Blackhawks sent their 5th round pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft to Nashville.

In return, the Blackhawks acquired big left-handed Swedish center Victor Ejdsell (6’5″, 214lbs), the Predators 1st round and 4th round picks in this year’s NHL Entry Draft.

Ejdsell has shown a scoring touch on top of his big physical frame. He could be the younger, faster version of Artem Amisimov, if the Blackhawks move on from the Russian center. The Blackhawks tried to sign the 22 year old Kjdsell this past summer and he decided to sign with Nashville instead.

Stay tuned for any more deals and visit our The-Rink.com trade tracker…

The post Chicago Blackhawks Trade Ryan Hartman to Nashville appeared first on The Rink.