Brad Mills has been a solid addition for the IceHogs this season. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Week 25 brought about three games for the IceHogs. To keep in close contention with the rest of the Western Conference for a playoff spot, the Hogs needed to take at least 4 out of 6 points. Could the boys from RockVegas do it? Find out after the jump.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: Week 25 Could Have Been Better”

Jeremy Morin waits for the Brandon Pirri feed that will lead to him scoring the game winning, shorthanded goal on Friday night against the Chicago Wolves. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

For the second straight weekend, the IceHogs faced a three-games-in-three-nights situation. This time in week 23, they faced the Chicago Wolves twice and the Peoria Rivermen. With these big Midwest Division games, the Hogs needed to take, at the bare minimum, 4 out of the 6 points to be right on the cusp of making it into the playoffs; with 6 out of 6 points, they could be in the top 8.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: Fiery Week 23 For Rockford”

IceHogs forward Brandon Svendsen, who has been a key component to the penalty kill, wins a faceoff on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

The IceHogs faced their first 3-games-in-3-nights set since December 7th – 9th. In that set of 3 games, the Hogs went 1-2-0-0 against the Milwaukee Admirals, Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins. The playoff-pushing Hogs looked to do better in week 22′s 3-in-3 set as they took on the Oklahoma City Barons and the Wolves.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: Hat Tip To The Hogs”

Ben Smith scores his first goal of the night during Friday’s tilt against the Rivs. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Don’t look now, folks, but the IceHogs have strung some wins together and are smack-dab in the middle of a legitimate push for the playoffs. *Knocks on wood* Week 21 brought two more gargantuan Midwest Division games to the BMO Harris Bank Center in which the Hogs needed all of the points that they could get.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: Back In The Hunt”

IceHogs captain Martin St. Pierre brings the puck into the Wolves’ zone during Sunday’s contest. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Week 20 brought three games for the IceHogs. All three were against Midwest Division rivals. In order to catch up in the playoff race, they needed to take all six points at stake–and they did.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: A Winning Week”

Shawn Lalonde celebrates his shorthanded goal on Saturday with Brandon Pirri, Jeremy Morin, and Joe Lavin. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

The IceHogs broke out into a much needed offensive explosion in week 19 that propelled them into some favorable results against some extremely tough opponents.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: They’re On A Roll”

Joe Lavin directs traffic, just like he directed the game tying goal tonight. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

The fall down the slippery slope continued for the IceHogs in week 17 as they took on some Texas teams. The Hogs set a new franchise record for consecutive losses with their tilts down South. Guess it only makes sense since everything’s bigger in Texas, right? That also makes a win just as big.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: There Are No Words”

Shawn Lalonde provided one of Rockford’s bright spots in week 16. (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Week  16 wasn’t kind to the IceHogs as they played their last two games before the AHL All Star Break. They had to take on their I-90 rival Chicago Wolves and a team they had yet to see this season in the Oklahoma City Barons.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: Free-Fallin’ Bacon”

Weelllll, about that… (Photo Credit: Kim Wrona)

Week 15 was essentially another must-win week for the IceHogs. Two divisional games (surprise, surprise) were on tap for Rockford, along with a Monday matinee with an opponent from the South to start week 16. These three games in four nights featured events that everyone loves:  many goals and a bench-clearing brawl.

I mean what.

» Continue reading “IceHogs Tuesday: Post-Brawl Hangover”

WHAT IS GOING ON

Are you worried that hockey has become too staid? Too gentlemanly? Too concerned with skill over grit? Overrun with soft Europeans who would rather score goals and skate really fast instead of drop the gloves?

Well, if this is you — thanks for reading my blog, Don Cherry. Also, never fear: old-time hockey is alive and well, thriving in Rockford, Illinois (unlike many of its citizens).

The Rockford IceHogs and the Grand Rapids Griffins don’t like each other very much. It’s not just a forced rivalry between the farm team of the Chicago Blackhawks and the farm team of the Detroit Red Wings — there is a genuine, burning hatred between these two teams that leaks from every pore of every player that steps on the ice every time these two teams are forced to play each other.

That hatred boiled over during Saturday night’s game, resulting in the following videos.

» Continue reading “Meanwhile, In Rockford”