Rockford IceHogs explained

Current:2023–24 AHL season
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Team:Rockford IceHogs
Logosize:230px
City:Rockford, Illinois
League:American Hockey League
Conference:Western
Division:Central
Founded:1995
Operated:2007–present
Arena:BMO Center
Colors:Red, black, white
Coach:Anders Sorensen
Gm:Mark Bernard (de facto)
Captain:Vacant
Media:WIFR 19.2(Antenna TV)
SportsFan 1330
AHL.TV (Internet)
Affiliates:Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Indy Fuel (ECHL)
Website:IceHogs.com
Name1:Baltimore Bandits
Dates1:1995–1997
Name2:Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Dates2:1997–2005
Name3:Rockford IceHogs
Dates3:2007–present

The Rockford IceHogs are a professional ice hockey team based in Rockford, Illinois. They are members of the American Hockey League (AHL), having begun play in the League starting in the 2007–08 season. The team plays their home games at the BMO Center, and they serve as the top minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Chicago Blackhawks.

History

The current Rockford IceHogs were founded in 1995 as the Baltimore Bandits and then relocated in 1997 to Cincinnati to become the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks suspended operations for the 2005–06 season due to the lack of an NHL affiliate after their previous affiliates, the Detroit Red Wings and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, signed new agreements with the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Portland Pirates, respectively. The franchise was later renamed the Cincinnati RailRaiders, but failed to reach a goal of 2,000 season tickets to re-enter the AHL for the 2006–07 season. On March 19, 2007, the AHL announced that the team had been purchased and relocated to Rockford to become the present-day Rockford IceHogs.

On April 7, 2021, the Blackhawks formally purchased the IceHogs. The Blackhawks also unveiled a $23 million multi-year project to renovate and modernize the BMO Harris Bank Center, which would keep the IceHogs in Rockford through 2036.[1]

Timeline

The franchise was previously known as:

The market was previously served by:

Season-by-season results

Rockford IceHogs season results
Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonGamesWonLostPointsGoals
for
Goals
against
StandingYearPrelims1st
round
2nd
round
3rd
round
Finals
2007–0880 44 26 4 6 98 .613 247 231 2nd, West
2008–0980 40 34 0 6 86 .538 229 220 4th, West
2009–1080 44 30 3 3 94 .588 226 226 3rd, West
2010–1180 38 33 4 5 85 .531 216 245 8th, West Did not qualify
2011–1276 35 32 2 7 79 .520 207 228 5th, Midwest Did not qualify
2012–1376 42 31 2 1 87 .572 246 225 3rd, Midwest Did not qualify
2013–1476 35 32 5 4 79 .520 234 262 4th, Midwest Did not qualify
2014–1576 46 23 5 2 99 .651 222 180 2nd, Midwest
2015–1676 40 22 10 4 94 .618 214 205 3rd, Central
2016–1776 25 39 9 3 62 .408 175 246 8th, Central Did not qualify
2017–1876 40 28 4 4 88 .579 239 234 4th, Central
2018–1976 35 31 4 6 80 .526 184 214 7th, Central Did not qualify
2019–2063 29 30 2 2 62 .492 156 187 5th, Central 2020 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–2132 12 19 1 0 25 .391 89 115 6th, Central 2021 No playoffs were held
2021–2272 37 30 4 1 79 .549 223 221 4th, Central L, 0–3, CHI
2022–2372 35 28 5 4 79 .549 214 232 5th, Central L, 0–3, TEX
2023–2472 39 26 5 2 85 .590 215 208 3rd, Central BYE

Players

Current roster

Updated August 19, 2024.[2] [3]

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Team captains

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. News: RELEASE: Blackhawks Announce Purchase of Rockford IceHogs . Chicago Blackhawks . 2021-04-07 . 2021-04-07 .
  2. Web site: Rockford IceHogs – Team roster . Rockford IceHogs . 2024-08-19.
  3. Web site: Rockford IceHogs Roster . . 2024-08-19.
  4. Web site: Garrett Mitchell Named 13th Captain in Rockford IceHogs History . OurSports Central . February 5, 2021.