The Rockford Icehogs Official Discussion Thread

[DewsSox79]

All things with the hogs discussed right here.

Major contributer for Ice Hogs is Icehogfan08 as he follows them closer than most.

 

[DewsSox79]

Icehog you got any good updates?

 

[icehogfan08]

Nothing really, usually there's about 4-5 signings but just St.Pierre and Brookbank. Probably because of our deep prospects, but I like the moves so that way everyone gets some playing time and there's not 4 guys in the press box

 

[DewsSox79]

so who wants to start watching a ton of IceHog games? damn lockout

 

[icehogfan08]

I do...

 

[icehogfan08]

Icehogs Sign Lebda, Release Training Camp Roster

Rockford, Ill.- Chicago Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard announced on Friday that the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs have signed veteran defenseman Brett Lebda to a Professional Try Out (PTO).

The IceHogs also announced the team’s training camp roster, which includes 34 players. Training camp opens on Sunday, Sept. 30 at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

Lebda, 30, has appeared in 397 career NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets, totaling 20g-56a-76pts. The Buffalo Grove, Ill. native, was a member of the 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings, skating in 65 regular season and 23 postseason contests.

The blueliner has also participated in 137 AHL tilts with the Grand Rapids Griffins and Springfield Falcons, amassing 7g-52a-59pts. Last season, Lebda split time between Springfield (26gms, 1g-9a-10pts) and Columbus (30gms, 1g-3a-4pts).

Joining Lebda on a tryout basis for Rockford’s 14th training camp include forwards Chris DeSousa, Travis Novak and Jake Trask.

Forwards (21): Kyle Beach, Brandon Bollig, Terry Broadhurst, Wade Brookbank, Chris DeSousa, Rob Flick, Byron Froese, David Gilbert, Jimmy Hayes, Marcus Kruger, Peter LeBlanc, Jeremy Morin, Travis Novak, Philippe Paradis, Brandon Pirri, Brandon Saad, Andrew Shaw, Ben Smith, Martin St. Pierre, Brandon Svendsen and Jake Trask

Defensemen (9): Adam Clendening, Klas Dahlbeck, Shawn Lalonde, Joe Lavin, Brett Lebda, Nick Leddy, Dylan Olsen, Ryan Stanton and Ben Youds

Goalies (4): Mac Carruth, Carter Hutton, Alec Richards and Kent Simpson

 

[nickofypres]

Dad and I thinking about driving to Rockford for a game this year since no NHL seems likely.

 

[icehogfan08]

Q, Kitchen, Stan and Scotty among some of the guys at icehogs training camp today.

 

[icehogfan08]

Ben smith update

“@ChrisKuc: #Blackhawks' Ben Smith, who is coming off hip and hernia surgery, says "I feel great" and is at full strength.”

Lol

“@shawz15er: "@bsac11: @shawz15er beat the shit out of beach while you're down in Rockford for the sake of all hawks fans. #bust" @KBeachy12 #ouch”

 

[icehogfan08]

Day 2 Training Camp Review

 

[icehogfan08]

Heading to the pre-season game tonight. Leddy & Bollig are rumored to be dressed tonight for game action

 

[DewsSox79]

thats awesome. keep us posted

 

[dabynsky]

I probably ought to try to make it to a game or two since this is my neck of the woods. Actually the last time I went was during the last work stoppage.

 

[icehogfan08]

Icehogs win 3-2 in shoot out. Goals from Kruger and Shaw. Shoot out goals came from Leddy, Pirri, Bollig

 

[icehogfan08]

Line match ups were

Shaw-Pirri-Smith
Hayes-St.Pierre-Leblanc
Bollig-Kruger-Froese
Brookbank-Daboussa-Paradis

Lalonde-Leddy
Lebda-Clendening
Lavin-Youds

Hutton and Carruth each played about 30 minutes

 

[zack54attack]

CCS will have IceHog coverage now..

 

[icehogfan08]

Chicago transplants help Rockford IceHogs to shootout victory

ROCKFORD – The Chicago Blackhawks, er, Rockford IceHogs knocked off the Milwaukee Admirals Thursday night.

Well, everyone who scored for Rockford in a 3-2 shootout victory played exclusively or partially with the parent NHL team last season.

It was Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith in regulation, and then Nick Leddy, Brandon Pirri and Brandon Bollig as the first three shooters in the five-round shootout.

“They’re here and we’re going to utilize them as much as possible,” said assistant Rockford coach Steve Poapst.

“They’re tremendous players and bring a definite game-changing element to our lineup.”

For the second straight exhibition, Rockford endured a rough start. It trailed 5-0 before bowing 6-1 Wednesday on the road against the Chicago Wolves. This time before an estimated 2,500 fans at BMO Harris Bank Center, the IceHogs were down 2-0 after the first period.

Jani Lajunen and Daniel Bang beat goalie Carter Hutton to his left.

Kruger scored at 6:23 of the second period, with Smith knocking in a 5-on-3 power play rebound to tie it 2-2 at 18:12.

“We finally got our legs going,” Rockford’s Andrew Shaw said of the second and third periods. “The team felt better and better as the game went on.

“The team really wanted it. You could tell how badly we wanted it there in the last five minutes, how hard we went to the net. It’s great to get a win at home. We have to carry that into the regular season.”

Rockford ended up outshooting Milwaukee 38-21 through overtime. Then came the three straight shootout successes, and goalie Mac Carruth stopped three of the Admirals’ shooters to assure the win.

“It matters,” Poapst said of winning in preseason. “You want to win. You want to set some kind of standard and some sort of level with some structure, and have good play going through into the season here.”

Thursday certainly was improvement over Rockford’s preseason opener.

“It’s always hard in the beginning to find that chemistry,” Kruger said. “All four lines did a good job tonight. The timing can be better, of course, and it will get better when we play more games.”

 

[icehogfan08]

IceHogs winger Ben Smith proclaims himself 100%

ROCKFORD — After going under the knife, Ben Smith wants to carve his niche again with the Rockford IceHogs.

That is, until he has a chance to sharpen his skills to get another crack with the Chicago Blackhawks when and if the National Hockey League settles its contract issues with its players’ association.

Smith had to cut short last season, undergoing hernia and hip surgery in mid-March. When IceHogs’ camp began Sunday, he was with no limitations physically.

“It’s been quite a long time,” said Smith, who signed a two-year contract extension in June. “Obviously, I had a lot of time (nearly five months) to rehab over the summer and get back into skating shape.”

Rockford hopes to see the Ben Smith that was such a power-play force, leading Rockford with eight such goals despite playing only 38 games (15 goals, 16 assists).

Smith pronounces himself “100 percent” now, which means he can do more than ride a stationary bike.

“It was pretty much just the waiting game and doing whatever I could at the time,” he said of rehab. “Luckily, we had the time for me to wait and be patient.

“I’ve been able to go full bore since August 1. I’ve definitely had enough time to get prepared. I’ve spent a lot of time putting strength back into my core and lower body, and after that I could do full body training for hockey-specific stuff.”

Rockford coach Ted Dent likes what he’s seen of Smith so far.

“He works tremendously hard off the ice to get back into shape,” Dent said. “I expect the same ol’ Smitty – working hard at both ends of the ice, going hard to the net, getting those garbage goals in front of the net like he always does, and bringing it every day.”

 

[icehogfan08]

Kruger, Hayes, Saad lift Hogs in pre season finale

 

[DewsSox79]

good old st pierre