HOGS CONTINUE TO ROLL WITH A 3-2 WIN

HOGS CONTINUE TO ROLL WITH A 3-2 WIN

By: Matt Cashen

Rockford, Ill.- Stringing together their fourth-straight win at home and third-straight overall, the Rockford IceHogs finished off the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2 in overtime in front of 5,455 fans at the Rockford MetroCentre. Goalie Hannu Toivonen kept Rockford in the game with 44 saves, before the IceHogs finished it off in overtime As overtime began to whittle down, Jassen Cullimore moved the puck over to Brian Connelly and with space he skated down close from the point and found the five-hole opening on Engren for the 3-2 game-winning goal. After holding off the IceHogs attack early, Brandon Pirri opened up the scoring. A shot by Jeff Taffe deflected back behind the net where a Milwaukee defenseman gathered it in but lost control to Pirri just to the left of the net.  Pirri quickly wrapped the puck around on his backhand just beating Atte Engren to give Rockford a 1-0 lead at 8:10 in the first period. Picking up the additional assist on the play was Rob Klinkhammer. With a man advantage the Admirals evened up the score at 1-1. After a few shots were fought off by Hannu Toivonen, a puck deflected up high and was gloved down by Kelsey Wilson.  Wilson immediately shot the puck back to the goal, Toivonen kicked the save out and Andreas Thuresson finished with quick snapshot at 9:34 in the opening frame. Rockford opened the second period with a marker to take a 2-1 lead.  A break out pass by Dylan Olsen went to the stick of Brandon Pirri.  Pirri made one quick deke in front of the Admirals defensemen and netted a high hard wrister past the glove-hand of Engren at 3:47, giving Pirri his second goal of the night. Rockford continued to hold onto their lead through the third period while being vastly outshot but Milwaukee got their break to tie the contest at 2-2 in the latter stage of the game.  A shot by Wilson got caught up in a group of IceHogs right in front of the net and while the puck was batted back and forth in the crease, Thuresson slid in the free puck at 11:41.  Picking up the second assist was Aaron Johnson. Notes: Engren made his professional debut tonight stopping 20 of 23 shots, while Toivonen recorded his 17th win stopping 44 shots while facing a season-high 46 shots. The Admirals went 1-4 on the power play, while Rockford finished the game 0-3. Milwaukee hasn’t lost in regulation since Jan.17.  Rockford’s win improved their overtime record at home to 5-2. Next Home Game: Friday, April 8 vs. Lake Erie Monsters: The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. Rockford returns home after a five-game, 12-day road swing to take on the Lake Erie Monsters for the sixth and final time this season. The IceHogs will be celebrating Hammy’s birthday with several area mascots as the team opens the final weekend of the 2010-11 season.

ICEHOGS FINISH OFF BULLDOGS 4-3 IN OVERTIME

By: Nate Haeni

Photo by Kris Gray Rockford, Ill.- In a game that saw everything from heavy hits to deficits erased, the Rockford IceHogs beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-3 in overtime on Friday night to win their third-straight home contest for the first time this season. In the third frame, the Bulldogs erased a two-goal deficit to send the game into the overtime session. Nigel Dawes redirected a Frederic St. Danis shot from the blue line under Hannu Toivonen's pads to make it 3-2 at 14:09. Just 43 seconds later Hamilton tied the game at 3-3. Dustin Boyd intercepted the Hogs clear out attempt and put a puck in on Toivonen. Andreas Engquist, standing in the slot, tipped the rebound through traffic to beat Toivonen top-shelf at 14:52. After seeing the momentum swing the opposite way, the IceHogs found a way to finish Hamilton off. Under two minutes into overtime, Peter LeBlanc fed Jeff Taffe and he slipped the game-winning tally under Drew MacIntyre to give Rockford a 4-3 win at 1:46 of the OT. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Neil Petruic buried his first goal of the season. Alex Henry sent a cross-ice pass to Petruic and he blasted a shot through traffic to the back of the net at 5:52 in the first period. Olivier Fortier also chipped in on the play with an assist. Rockford got the equalizer to tie the contest up at 1-1. Evan Brophey worked the puck around to Kyle Hagel and he threw it in on the Bulldogs net. Igor Makarov read the play and raced towards the net to chip it past Drew MacIntyre at 7:30 in the middle frame. Then, the IceHogs took the lead as Rob Klinkhammer tickled the twine at 18:53 in the second period. Taffe dished the puck to Klinkhammer racing into the Bulldogs zone. The puck got caught in Klinkhammer's skates but he corralled it and ripped in his 13th goal of the season and 50th of his professional career to put the score at 2-1. The IceHogs extended their lead with a short-handed marker coming off a hustle play by Makarov. With the Hogs down a man, the IceHogs cleared the puck to the Bulldogs zone. Makarov raced it down, beating a Bulldogs skater and fed a wide open Brophey who slapped in his 10th of the season. Jassen Cullimore also factored in with an assist, his second of the night. Toivonen picked up his 16th win on the campaign turning away 28 of 31 Hamilton shots, meanwhile MacIntyre stopped 29 of 33 Rockford shots. Neither team converted on a powerplay opportunity.  The IceHogs went 0-for-3 and held the Bulldogs off the board on six chances. Next Home Game: Saturday, March 26 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. The first 2,500 fans to the game will receive an IceHogs dry erase board courtesy of Rock Valley College, FOX 39 and BOB FM.

ICEHOGS PICK UP FIVE OF EIGHT POINTS IN WEEK 23

By: Nate Haeni

Photo by Jeff Hanisch
Rockford has a three-game weekend on tap in Week 24

Week 23 Recap
The IceHogs finished off a season-long seven-game road trip in Week 23, finishing with a record of 4-1-1-1. The Hogs dropped a 3-2 shootout contest in Toronto on Tuesday but came back the next night and took a 2-1 win in Hamilton in shootout fashion. The IceHogs concluded the road trip on Friday by blanking the Milwaukee Admirals 2-0 at the Bradley Center. Overall, the Hogs picked up five of eight points in Week 23. Rockford has three-games on the slate for Week 24.

Week 23 Results
Tuesday, Mar. 8: Rockford 2 at Toronto 3 SO
Wednesday, Mar. 9: Rockford 2 at Hamilton 1 SO
Friday, Mar. 11: Rockford 2 at Milwaukee 0
Sunday, Mar. 13: Chicago 5 vs. Rockford 1

Week 24 Schedule
Friday, Mar. 18 vs. Oklahoma City, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 19 vs. Peoria, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 20 at Grand Rapids, 3 p.m.

Bacon Bits:
-Rockford completed a season-long seven-game road trip on Friday with a 4-1-1-1 record

-Puckstopper Hannu Toivonen picked up his 20th career professional shutout, stopping all 28 shots faced on Friday in Milwaukee

-Toivonen appeared in all seven of Rockford’s games during their recent road swing and went 4-0-1-1 with a 1.69 goals against average and a .954 save percentage

-Toivonen has appeared in a season-high eight-straight games

-Ben Smith tallied goals in four straight games for the IceHogs from 3/4/11 to 3/9/11, tying Peter LeBlanc’s season-high mark

-Smith also scored on Sunday and now leads all Rockford rookies with 15 goals on the campaign, including five in his last five games

-Rockford found themselves in back-to-back shootouts on Tuesday and Wednesday for the first extra, extra hockey session in nearly three months

-The IceHogs last finished a game in a shootout on Dec. 10, 2010 in which they dropped the contest 4-3 to Milwaukee

-The IceHogs held their 12th Annual Jersey Auction on Sunday and raised $34,156 for the IceHogs Charitable Foundation

-In 12 auctions, the IceHogs, along with their generous fans, have helped raise $613,759

-Defenseman Brian Connelly set a new IceHogs single-season AHL record with 41 points on the season, breaking Danny Groulx’s mark of 40 points by a defenseman set in 2008-09

-Connelly now has 6g-36a-42 through 66 games this season

Hot Hog: Week 23
Hannu Toivonen Goaltender

Goaltender Hannu Toivonen was very strong as the IceHogs finished off their season-long seven-game road trip in Week 23. Overall in Week 23, Toivonen had a record of 2-1-0-1 with a .945 save percentage and a 1.92 goals against average. The Hattula, Finland native faced a season-high 43 shots on goal and made 41 saves in a shootout loss on Tuesday in Toronto. Toivonen came right back the following night in Hamilton and stopped 44 pucks to earn a 2-1 shootout win. Then, the 26-year-old capped off the road trip by shutting out the Milwaukee Admirals at the Bradley Center on Friday to pick up his 14th win of the season, stopping all 28 shots faced.

Upcoming Games:
Friday, March 18 vs. Oklahoma City: The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs welcome the Oklahoma City Barons to the MetroCentre for the last time in 2010-11. The first 1,000 fans into the building will pickup an IceHogs poster courtesy of Comcast and Medicine Man.

Saturday, March 19 vs. Peoria: Game starts at 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs take on the Peoria Rivermen for the tenth and final time on the campaign. The Hogs are 3-5-0-1 against the Rivermen on the season, including 2-2-0-0 at home. The first 2,500 fans through the gates will get a Niklas Hjalmarsson Bobblehead compliments of U.S. Cellular, WIFR and 97-ZOK.

Sunday, March 20 at Grand Rapids: The puck gets on the ice at 3 p.m. Rockford travles to Grand Rapids for a Sunday afternoon affair with the Griffins. The game is the fifth of six meetings between the two clubs on the season. The Hogs close out the season series with the Griffins on April 9 at the MetroCentre.

ICEHOGS OFFER 2011-12 SEASON TICKET PROMOTION

By: Adam Weil

Photo by Adam Weil Rockford, Ill.- New season ticket holders who purchase a full season ticket package for 2011-12 can get an early start with the Lucky 7's package. Fans that take advantage of Lucky 7's offer get seven 2010-11 IceHogs games for free (includes all home games from 3/18-4/9), seven months free financing (first payment due before March 18, 2011) and seven free Chuck-a-Pucks (redeemable in 2010-11 season only). Other benefits for new and returning season ticket holders includes a free season ticket holder jersey, unlimited unused ticket exchange, season-long discount at Oink Outfitters, private meet and greet with the team, pre-purchase discounted parking, Blackhawks and IceHogs roadtrips, early entry to the MetroCentre, watch warm-ups from the penalty box, Plus many more! Full season ticket plans start at just $36 a month.  For more information call (815) 847-6399.  Offer valid through March 17.

POTULNY DEALT TO OTTAWA

By: Adam Rogowin

Photo courtesy of Greg Hamil Chicago, Ill.- The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired defenseman Chris Campoli and a conditional seventh-round draft pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Ryan Potulny and a conditional second-round draft pick. Potulny, 26, was scoreless in three NHL games with Chicago this season and posted 41 points (18G, 23A) in 58 games with the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs in his first campaign in the Blackhawks organization. Campoli, 26, has recorded three goals and 11 assists in 58 games with Ottawa this season. He ranks third on the club with 70 blocked shots and second among team blueliners with 73 hits. The Mississauga, Ontario, native has registered 128 points (32G, 96A) and 190 penalty minutes in 378 career regular-season games, and four points (G, 3A) in 11 postseason tilts over parts of seven NHL seasons with Ottawa (2009-11) and the New York Islanders (2005-09). Originally selected by the Islanders in the seventh round (227th overall) in the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Campoli was honored as the 2004 Canadian Major Junior Humanitarian Player of the Year as a member of the OHL’s Erie Otters. Next Home Game: Sunday, March 13, vs. Chicago Wolves. Puck drop is at 4:05 p.m. It’s the IceHogs 12th  Annual Jersey Auction game. The Hogs will be wearing special jerseys commemorating first responders. After the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off to fans. Also, the first 2,500 fans to the game will receive a Jersey Auction T-Shirt compliments of WXRX.

HOGS FINISH STRONG IN WEEK 21, SWEEP WEEKEND

By: Adam Weil

Photo by Greg Hamil Rockford continues on franchise long 13 day road trip in Week 22 Week 21 Recap With just two wins in 16 days entering a three-game weekend against the West Divisions’ top three teams, the outlook wasn’t very bright for the Rockford IceHogs. But three days later Rockford skated out of the Toyota Center with their third straight win, capping the weekend with a 3-2 victory over the Houston Aeros on the road to kick off a seven-game road swing. Week 21 Results Monday, Feb. 21: Peoria 6 vs. Rockford 3 Wednesday, Feb. 23: Rockford 3 at Chicago 4 Friday, Feb. 25: Rockford 4 at Peoria 2    Saturday, Feb. 26: Milwaukee 3 vs. Rockford 4 OT Sunday, Feb. 27: Rockford 3 at Houston 2 Week 22 Schedule Wednesday, Mar. 2 at Houston, 7:05 p.m. Friday, Mar. 4 at Lake Erie, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 5 at Lake Erie, 6:30 p.m. Bacon Bits: -Jeff Taffe tied an IceHogs franchise record with a point in his 15-straight game on Sunday -During his streak he has 10g-12a-22pts -He matched Martin St. Pierre’s 15 -game stretch from 11/30/07-1/4/08 when he totaled 5g-17a-22pts during his point streak -Rockford has won three straight games for the second time this season after winning just twice in their prior 16 contests -Defenseman Garnet Exelby has points in three of his last four games totaling 1g-2a -Rob Klinkhammer has goals in three-straight contests and shows 4g-1a over that time span -Rockford has scored three or more goals in seven straight games, a season high -Hannu Toivonen ended a personal five-game losing streak on Sunday dating back to 1/17/11 after making 36 saves in Rockford’s 3-2 win in Houston -Winger Kyle Hagel has 185 PIMs on the campaign, the most in a single season by any IceHogs skater during the AHL era -Hagel broke Kris Versteeg’s mark of 174 penalty minutes set in 2007-08 -Defenseman Brian Connelly chipped in three assists in Rockford’s 4-2 win in Peoria on Friday night -Connelly’s 33 helpers on the campaign are tied for second in the AHL among defensemen Hot Hog: Week 21 Jeff Taffe Left Wing Winger Jeff Taffe tallied points in all five of Rockford’s contests in Week 21 to extend his AHL best and season-long point streak to 15 straight games. The veteran forward figured in on 41% of Rockford’s goals in Week 21. The Hastings, Minn. native began the week with goals in the Hogs first two games against Peoria and Chicago. Then, Taffe recorded his first multi-goal game of the season, including the game-winning marker, in Rockford’s 4-2 win at Peoria. Taffe also added an assist to go with the two goals, giving him his third three-point night of the season and an IceHogs best 10th multi-point game. The 30 year-old finished the week with an assist against Milwaukee on Saturday and a goal in the IceHogs 3-2 win on Sunday in Houston. Upcoming Games: Wednesday, Mar. 2 at Houston: The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. Rockford finishes up at the Toyota Center with their eighth and final game between the two clubs in 2010-11. The IceHogs are 3-3-0-1 against the Aeros on the season. Friday, Mar. 4 at Lake Erie: Game starts at 6:30 p.m. Rockford visits the Quicken Loans arena for the first time in 2010-11 to take on the Monsters in back-to-back nights.  The IceHogs are 1-1-0-0 with the Monsters this season. Saturday, Mar. 5 at Lake Erie: The puck gets on the ice at 6:30 p.m. Rockford again stays in Cleveland to take on the Monsters. This game marks the fourth of six meetings between the two teams this season. No Bud Light Hog Talk Tonight: No Bud Light Hog Talk this week at Swilligan’s Pub because of the team’s seven game road trip. Swillgan’s Pub is located in downtown Rockford at 200 North Church St. and fans can join Mike Peck or Matt Prefontaine as they chat hockey with IceHogs players and coaches. Hog Talk returns on Monday, March 14. Once again this season, all fans that show up at Hog Talk will have an opportunity to sign-up to win some great prizes courtesy of the IceHogs. The IceHogs Broadcasting Network: Rockford IceHogs fans can catch all of the IceHogs regular-and post-season games on the Hogs’ flagship radio station, Rockford’s Voice, WNTA-AM 1330 and 30 regular season games on ESPN Radio 1380-AM, WTJK.  Fans can also watch and listen to the Hogs on the World Wide Web with AHL Live!  Visit the IceHogs Web site (icehogs.com) and click on the “click here to watch the AHL Live” icon, and for just $7 you can catch all of the IceHogs action on your computer.  Also, fans with Comcast Cable television in Rockford can tune in to Channel 57 for all the IceHogs hockey action at the MetroCentre this season. All Saturday home game will also be televised on My Network TV digital subchannel 17.2 along with Comcast and Charter Cable channel 16. The broadcast begins with the U.S. Cellular Pregame Show 30 minutes before the puck drops. Make sure to give your opinion during the Comcast Post-Game Call-In Show following each game at (815) 874-8255. Tickets Now On Sale! IceHogs individual game tickets are now on sale! Call (815) 968-5222 to reserve your seats for any IceHogs regular season game during the 2010-11 season. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Rockford MetroCentre Box Office in downtown Rockford or on the Web at www.metrocentre.com. Tickets start at just $7.

HOGS HANG ON IN HOUSTON, WIN THIRD STRAIGHT

By: Mike Peck

Taffe ties franchise mark with a 15-game point streak Houston, Tex.- With just two wins in 16 days entering a three-game weekend against the West Divisions’ top three teams, the outlook wasn’t very bright for the Rockford IceHogs. But three days later Rockford skated out of the Toyota Center with their third straight win, capping the weekend with a 3-2 victory over the Houston Aeros on the road to kick off a seven game road swing. Up 3-1 in late in the third period, Rockford had a golden opportunity to ice the game with a 5-on-3 power play.  It was Houston, though, that capitalized. Colton Gillies blocked a Jeff Taffe shot and went back the other way on a breakaway. Gillies was able to slipped his ninth goal of the campaign under Hannu Toivonen at 14:30. Then Houston received their chance on a 5-on-3 power play with 1:46 left in regulation. Toivonen and the IceHogs penalty kill dug in, however, and held the Aeros off the board to preserve the 3-2 win. Taffe gave Rockford the lead just 11-seconds into the middle period. Off the opening draw, Rockford penetrated the Houston zone and Taffe knocked in a Ryan Potulny rebound for his 22nd goal of the season, extending his point streak to 15-straight games, tying Martin St. Pierre for the longest in franchise history. Rob Klinkhammer later extended Rockford’s lead to 2-0 at 9:01 of the middle period. Garnet Exelby held in a Houston clear out pass and fired a shot in on Matt Hackett. Klinkhammer was camped out in front and swiped the rebound around the rookie goaltender and in for his 11th goal of the season. Houston cut the deficit in half with a power-play goal later in the stanza. Casey Wellman snuck a puck through traffic and under Toivonen at 14:15 for his 11th goal of the season. In the third period Igor Makarov restored Rockford’s two-goal advantage. The winger picked off an Aeros pass in the slot and sniped his seventh goal of the season over the glove shoulder of Hackett at 2:23 of the final frame, the eventual game-winning tally. Toivonen finished the night with 36 saves and earned the win for Rockford while Hackett was tagged with the loss after making 18 saves. After dropping their first two games in Week 21, Rockford rebounded to earn just their second three-game winning streak of the season and finish the five-game week 3-2-0-0. Next Home Game: Sunday, March 13, vs. Chicago Wolves. Puck drop is at 4:05 p.m. It’s the IceHogs 12th  Annual Jersey Auction game. The Hogs will be wearing special jerseys commemorating first responders. After the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off to fans. Also, the first 2,500 fans to the game will receive a Jersey Auction T-Shirt compliments of WXRX.

HOGS OUTDUEL ADMIRALS 4-3

By: Nate Haeni

Rockford, Ill- In a back-and-forth affair, the Rockford IceHogs outdueled the Milwaukee Admirals in overtime, 4-3, in front of a sold out crowd at the Rockford MetroCentre on Saturday night. With the IceHogs leading 3-2 midway through the final stanza Mike Bartlett knotted it up for Milwaukee. Ryan Flynn fed the puck to Bartlett and he tapped in his fifth goal of the season at 10:53 to eventually send the game into overtime. In the extra session, the IceHogs took advantage of a Teemu Laakso penalty to send Milwaukee packing. Peter LeBlanc sent the puck to the blueline where Shawn Lalonde blasted one at the Milwaukee net. Ben Smith was amongst the crowd in front of the net and redirected the puck to light the lamp and give the IceHogs a 4-3 win. It was Rockford getting on the board first to take a 1-0 lead as Evan Brophey sent his eighth goal of the season to the back of the net. Garnet Exelby fired a shot in on Anders Lindback and Brophey was there to clean up the rebound 42 seconds into the contest. Dylan Olsen also factored in on the play. Midway through the opening frame, the Admirals responded on the power play to tie it up at 1-1. Aaron Johnson blasted a shot that slipped past Alec Richards and Kelsey Wilson shoveled it to the back of the net at 10:34. Laakso registered an assist on the play. Then, the IceHogs regained the lead when Rob Klinkhammer finished a breakaway to make it 2-1 at 9:28 in the middle frame. Milwaukee got the equalizer less than three minutes later. Positioned behind the net, Bartlett moved the puck out to Flynn in the right faceoff circle and he backhanded it past Richards at 12:27 in the second period to tie the game at 2-2. Klinkhammer opened the third period with his second goal of the game to give Rockford a 3-2 lead. Lalonde dished the puck for Jeff Taffe to fire a shot on the Milwaukee net. Lindback knocked it down but left it on the door step and Klinkhammer flipped it in at 4:19 in the third period. Richards picked up the win after stopping 33 shots. Linback was handed the loss turning away 26-of-30 attempts. Both power play units converted on one opportunity. Taffe's assist in the final frame extended his point streak to a league-long and IceHogs season-long 14 games. Next Home Game: Sunday, March 13, vs. Chicago Wolves. Puck drop is at 4:05 p.m. It’s the IceHogs 12th  Annual Jersey Auction game. The Hogs will be wearing special jerseys commemorating first responders. After the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off to fans. Also, the first 2,500 fans to the game will receive a Jersey Auction T-Shirt compliments of WXRX.