GET MAJOR DISCOUNTS ON ICEHOGS MERCH THROUGH AUG. 21

By: Chris Etheridge

Spend $50 or more and get entered to win a jersey

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs and Guerilla Graffix are holding a preseason merchandise blow-out sale starting Aug. 7 at the Guerilla Graffix location in Rockford.

All IceHogs merchandise will be up to 80% off starting Aug. 7 at the Guerilla Graffix headquarters, 1902 Broadway in Rockford. The store will be open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 7, Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 for this sale.

Discounted items include premium and authentic jerseys, t-shirts, sweatshirts, pucks, team cards, hats and jackets among many other items.

Spend $50 or more and you can enter to win an authentic IceHogs jersey. Spend $250 and get five vouchers for a 2010-11 IceHogs game. Spend $500 to get 10 vouchers for a 2010-11 IceHogs game.

Discounts are not available by phone or on-line.

Buy A Season Ticket Get A Jersey: For a limited time fans that purchase a new season ticket in section 117 or 118 will receive an IceHogs Premier Jersey! For more information call (815) 847-6399.

ICEHOGS INK GOALIE JOE PALMER, CENTER PETER LEBLANC

By: Kate Munson - Palmer returns for second season under IceHogs contract

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs, members of the American Hockey League, have signed goaltender Joe Palmer and center Peter LeBlanc to AHL/ECHL contracts, Chicago Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard announced Monday.

Palmer competed in his first season of professional hockey with the Texas Brahmas (CHL) in 2009-10. The Yorkville, New York, native appeared in 32 contests, finishing the season 13-10-4 with 2.75 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.

“We are thrilled to have Joe back for a second season as we felt he made great progress last year,” Bernard said. “We are very excited to follow his development during this season.”

The goalie played three seasons of NCAA hockey at Ohio State University (NCAA), where he appeared in 71 games and compiled a career record of 25-36-9 to go along with 3.04 goals against average and a .889 save percentage. Palmer also represented the USA in the 2008 IIHF World Championship.

The 6-foot, 1-inch, 205 pound net minder was selected 96th overall (Round 4) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

LeBlanc joins the IceHogs after skating four seasons at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA). In 2009-10, the 5-foot, 10-inch, 175 pound center tallied 14 goals and posted career highs in assists (21) and points (35).

“Peter is taking his next step after a successful collegiate career,” Bernard said. “We are looking forward to working with him over the next season and assessing his development over this time.”

A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Leblanc appeared in 153 college contests, tallying 32 goals and 51 assists.

LeBlanc was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks 186th overall (Round 7) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

“Both are great young men that are not only good hockey players but have high character, which we look for first and foremost in our IceHogs players,” Bernard said.

Buy A Season Ticket Get A Jersey: For a limited time fans that purchase a new season ticket in section 117 or 118 will receive an IceHogs Premier Jersey! For more information call (815) 847-6399.

BLACKHAWKS ACQUIRE JEFF TAFFE FROM FLORIDA

By: Brandon Faber

07/22/2010 1:03 PM - The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired center Jeff Taffe (TAYF) from the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Marty Reasoner.

Taffe, 29, recorded two points (1g-1a) and four penalty minutes in 21 regular-season games with Florida during the 2009-10 campaign. The Hastings, Minnesota, native also tallied 56 points (28g-28a) in 61 regular-season contests, and added seven points (1g-6a) in seven postseason tilts last season with the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans.

Originally selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (30th overall) of the 2000 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Taffe has registered 21 goals and 23 assists in 174 career regular-season NHL contests over parts of seven seasons with the Phoenix Coyotes (2002-04, 2005, 2006-07), New York Rangers (2005), Pittsburgh Penguins (2007-09) and Florida (2009-10).

Taffe has also notched 309 points (137g-172a) in 389 regular-season games in the AHL with Springfield, Utah, Hartford, San Antonio, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Rochester, as well as 21 points (6g-15a) in 24 career AHL postseason tilts.

Reasoner, 33, was originally acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Thrashers on June 24, 2010.

OLSEN NOT AFRAID OF DEVELOPMENT

By: Mike Peck

07/22/2010 8:51 AM - Getting selected in the first round of the National Hockey League Entry Draft comes with a lot of pressures.

Once a player walks on stage after his new boss has announced to the world the name of his first professional organization, he dons a brand new ball cap and hockey jersey featuring the new team’s logo and then gets inundated with media requests, interviews and appearances.

Expectations are immediately set for first round picks and usually they are lofty.

What frequently gets lost in all the hoopla is the development that these 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds still have to go through to reach their goal of playing in the National Hockey League.

Dylan Olsen was the Chicago Blackhawks first round choice (#28 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and is going through that progression now.

“Coming off the draft and being at an all-time high because that is something you dream of as a kid,” said Olsen at the Blackhawks recent Prospect Camp. “You come in here and everything is new and everything’s exciting. You’re just a young kid playing against all these grown men and it’s such a faster game at a faster pace.”

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Olsen recently completed his first season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA). Prior to skating at UMD, Olsen spent two full seasons with the Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL).

Despite getting drafted by the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League, a major junior league, Olsen elected to play in Camrose in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, a junior “A” league, so he could keep his NCAA eligibility.

During his freshman campaign he notched a goal and 10 assists from the blueline for the Bulldogs.

As a defenseman, though, his development can’t be judged by his offensive numbers. Before making the transition to the professional game, Olsen has had to evolve into the college game from the junior level.

“After my year in college I’ve developed a lot, I’ve gotten a lot bigger,” said Olsen. “My first year in college was unreal. One of the best years I’ve had so far. The jump from junior to college was a pretty big jump.

“The speed is a lot faster, the players are a lot bigger. You have a different mindset, totally focused on hockey and you have to take care of school. It helped me developed more into a pro hockey player so that’s why I’m here now to see what Chicago has to say.”

The scrutiny that a first-round will pick face is more than likely going to come from the fans before it will from the hockey operations side. Fans are always eager to see their team’s first round selections make an impact at the NHL level.

Olsen, however, is in a great situation with the Blackhawks, as the team already has several key pieces in place with its defensive core and are coming off of a Stanley Cup Championship.

Players selected later in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft are not typically expected to play in the NHL right away. Olsen knows the path he needs to take during his own development process and despite the desire to play in the NHL soon, knows there is still a lot of work to be done.

“You go in the first round and you still need a couple years to develop,” commented Olsen on most first round draft picks. “I consider myself one of those guys. I have a couple years here to develop.

“I spend my time in college at UMD to develop and become a bigger and better player, work on my skill and come back to Chicago in a couple years to see if I can play pro.”

After one season at UMD, Olsen became comfortable on the defensive side of the puck at the collegiate level, but would like to improve on his offense. At 6’ 2” and just 19 years, Olsen still has time to grow in stature as well, and the Blackhawks were already sold on his size when they drafted him last summer.

Big, physical defenseman can wear a team down and Olsen already has the make up of a backend player who can fit that mold, but would also like to get in the mix offensively.

“I’d like to improve more my offensive skill,” said Olsen. “I kind of shied away from that last season and I’d like to get back to that where I’m rushing the puck and making plays happen in the offensive zone.”

Considered a little thin on defensive prospects prior to the 2009-10 season, Olsen’s name is now on a list with Shawn Lalonde, Brian Connelly, Ryan Stanton, Ivan Vishnevskiy, and Simon Danis-Pepin as potential future Hawks d-men.

Chicago has Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson and John Scott all locked up for at least the next two seasons. And with Brent Seabrook and potentially Jordan Hendry and Jassen Cullimore still in the mix for 2010-11, the need for an NHL ready defenseman isn’t extremely high, leaving these young prospects some time to return depth to that position throughout the organization.

This month’s Prospect Camp marked the second straight summer that Olsen had an opportunity to skate in Chicago with fellow prospects and draft picks. As a wide-eyed rookie last summer, Olsen was better prepared for his 2010 experience at the camp.

“Coming into this year you know what to expect,” said Olsen. “The game is still the same pace, but it’s a lot better this year for me.

“You’ve been through it all already and you know what to expect. You come in here and have a different mentality. You have the mentality that you want to show them that you’ve developed more into a pro player and hopefully get a shot at playing pro soon.”

Defense or forward, the Blackhawks haven’t been biased the last couple of drafts in selecting size. Including Olsen, Chicago’s last three first round picks are all well over six-feet tall (Kyle Beach-6’ 3” and Kevin Hayes-6’ 2”). Chicago also picked up Kevin’s older brother Jimmy (6’ 5”) during last months draft in a trade and selected five skaters that stand over six-feet tall.

“You got the small guys running around they can dangle, they can move,” said Olsen. “Then you have the big guys here that like to throw the body around, but can also make plays and stuff happen. Seeing their first-round draft pick they took this year (Kevin Hayes), he’s a big kid, but he scored a pretty good goal today.”

Time will only tell where Dylan Olsen’s development will take him. As a first-round draft pick, rest assured that the Blackhawks will give him every opportunity to succeed.

ICEHOGS SIGN FORWARD WADE BROOKBANK

By: Chris Etheridge

07/21/2010 8:35 AM - Veteran of 656 professional games played for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2008-09

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs, members of the American Hockey League, have signed veteran forward Wade Brookbank to an AHL contract, Chicago Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard announced on Wednesday.

The native of Lanigan, Saskatchewan (6-foot, 4-inch, 225 lbs.) has played professionally for 13 seasons. Most recently he skated in 68 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2009-10, recording three goals, four assists and 168 penalty minutes.

"We are very excited about adding a player like Wade Brookbank for the upcoming season," Bernard said. "He brings a lot of experience at both the National and American Hockey League level to our team. Wade will be a very versatile player for us as he can play both forward and defense. He will bring a lot of experience to our locker room and also bring an element of toughness to Rockford. We are thrilled that he has chosen the IceHogs organization for the upcoming season."

The winger has appeared in 127 games in the National Hockey League between the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes, making his NHL debut in 2003-04 with Nashville.

He has skated in 323 games in the AHL, recording five goals, 23 assists and 1,072 penalty minutes. In 656 career professional games spanning the West Coast Hockey League, Central Hockey League, International Hockey League, AHL and NHL, Brookbank has 15 goals, 53 assists and 2,543 penalty minutes.

Buy A Season Ticket Get A Jersey: For a limited time fans that purchase a new season ticket in section 117 or 118 will receive an IceHogs Premier Jersey! For more information call (815) 847-6399.

TASTE OF SUCCESS LEAVES BEACH HUNGRY FOR MORE

By: Kate Munson

07/19/2010 10:59 AM - Kyle Beach had a front row seat for the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship run.

The left winger was one of nine Rockford IceHogs recalled to the Blackhawks to serve on the reserve squad during the march to the championship.

Beach took advantage of the opportunity to watch the Hawks players closely and came away from the experience with new insight into a Stanley Cup Champion NHL athlete’s approach to the game both at home and on the road.

“The guys are in bed by 10 o’clock, in the rooms, you don’t see anybody in the hotel. They’re eating healthy. They’re not out, they’re not goofing around, they’re not relaxing on days off —they’re preparing,” Beach said.

But Beach saw more than just the routines of the Blackhawk skaters. He also observed their reactions.

“Watching them prepare, watching them win, watching them right after they win — it’s unbelievable,” Beach said. “Watching them right after they lose, it’s just as unbelievable. They’re already looking at what they did wrong and they’re already thinking about the next one.

“I mean, just having been there, that’s an experience that I wouldn’t want to trade for anything, it’s a chance of a lifetime.”

At Prospect Camp in Chicago on Friday, July 9, Beach was already looking to build on his experiences with the Hawks.

“Everybody’s here. Everybody’s watching right now and it’s a great chance to show them where I’m at right now,” Beach said. “It’s not going to get any easier from here, from the end of September all the way through until next July, the end of next season. It’s very important for me. I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to get this opportunity.”

That opportunity does come with a certain amount of responsibility, though. At 20 years old, Beach was already one of the veterans in the 2010 Prospect Camp. And he did not take the position lightly.

“Hopefully as much as I’m here for myself to get better and to show the Blackhawks I’m ready, I can help some of the young guys and kind of bring them through the steps that I’ve come through already,” Beach said.

But with the Blackhawks trimming the roster to accommodate the salary cap, Beach acknowledged that Prospect Camp was not all about helping each other improve. Roster spots may be up for grabs, and the skaters in line for them are taking any opportunity to showcase their skills seriously.

“Everybody knows there are spots. There are about five to 10 guys who are wanting those spots. We knew who we are and they know who they are,” Beach said. “Everybody’s going to come to camp wanting to fill the spots.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to do that and I know they’re going to do everything they can to do that.”

Though Beach may have ended the 2009-10 campaign with Chicago, his season began with the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL. There, the Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada native led the WHL and Spokane in goals with 52 in 68 games. He tied the team lead with nine points in the postseason and lead Spokane with seven playoff goals.

For his efforts, Beach was named to the WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team.
Beach made his IceHogs season debut in April and scored his first professional goal in Rockford’s 3-1 loss the Texas in Game 2 of the West Division semifinals. He tallied two more goals in Game 4 of the series.

With the IceHogs knocked out in the first round of the playoffs, Beach headed to Chicago where he saw first hand what it takes to win a Stanley Cup.

And while his ultimate goal is to do just that in the NHL, the winger knows his path to get there might make another stop in Rockford.

“Obviously I’d love to be in the NHL, but if I have to spend a couple years or a year in Rockford first, it’s only going to help my development,” Beach said. “It’s a great city. They’ve got a great coach in Bill Peters, a great assistant coach in Ted Dent, and I think they have a great team, they have great systems. They expect and demand the best out of you night in and night out.”

With the juniors behind him, Beach is focusing on hockey like a full time job. Hockey is still fun for Beach, but it’s no longer “fun and games.”

“This is how people make their living and I want to make my living doing this as well,” Beach said. “In order to do that you’re going to have to grow up, you’re going to have to mature, and you’re going to have to handle yourself as a professional on and off the ice.

“That’s really what I tried to focus on this year as far as off the ice, and I think I’ve made good strides in doing that.”

More from Beach at Prospect Camp:

Does your approach to Prospect Camp change knowing that there are open roster spots in Chicago?

“Obviously it’s in the back of your mind. It’s an exciting time, a little bit more motivation. But at the same time, all I can do is work my hardest, be in the best shape possible come September, do everything I can to prepare myself, and hopefully everything else will take of itself as long as I take care of business.”

Is this camp an opportunity?

“Absolutely it is. I mean, I’m here right now. I’m one of the older kids here now. That gives me a chance to help the young guys, a chance to prove myself, and that’s going to motivate me even more. I know some of the college kids came in here and absolutely dominated the testing. You know, come September, I want to be the one dominating the testing. It’s good to be here, good to see the guys, good competition, see what we have in the system.”

What are your thoughts on the new guys in camp?

“A lot of the young guys look really good. They’re in great shape, they’re working hard. Some of them did really well in fitness testing. On the ice, guys are wheeling around, guys are making plays, hitting. It’s good to see. The scouting staff always does a great job here in Chicago, and to see the draft picks that they brought in, it’s a great opportunity.”

What is it like to come to Prospect Camp and put on the jersey of the team that just won the Stanley Cup?

“It’s obviously a great honor for everybody here, especially myself. I was able to be a part of it, be around the team for the whole run and that was a great opportunity for me. As much as it’s just another camp, it is that much more special. The prospect shirts we got said 2010 with a Stanley Cup on it. We all got a Stanley Cup Champions hat. It’s pretty exciting. For the young guys who just got drafted, for the guys that are here as free agents, it’s a great opportunity. You know, all the changes made, there’s going to be room in this organization in Rockford and in Chicago. And we’re all here to earn a spot at mini camp and hopefully when you get there you can make your impression and hopefully stick around. So obviously with the Blackhawks being the Stanley Cup Champions, it’s that much more exciting to be here. And the city, the stands were full here for day one of Prospect Camp. I bet you don’t see that everywhere else, so it’s pretty exciting and it’s nice to see the way the city is backing us.”

What are your impressions of Rockford and the IceHogs?

They’ve got a great coach in Bill Peters, a great assistant coach in Ted Dent, and I think they have a great team, they have great systems. They expect and demand the best out of you night in and night out. They’re there to help you improve. I know Bill Peters a little bit from earlier on in my junior career, played against him all the time. He always demands the best out of his players. That’s the type of coach you need to have if you want to get better.”

IT'S SPORTS WEEKEND FOR HAMMY AND THE FIRE & ICE GIRLS

By: Chris Etheridge

07/16/2010 2:18 PM - Rockford, Ill.- Hammy and the Fire & Ice Girls will be visiting several sporting events this weekend.

Hammy is headed to the Rockford Speedway on Saturday night to pose for pictures with fans at Kodee Busekros’ racecar. The IceHogs are a sponsor of Busekros Racing. It’s also Christmas in July at the Rockford Speedway so Santa is going to let Hammy know if he has been naughty or nice.

The Fire & Ice Girls are going to be at the Beloit Snappers game at Pohlman Field on Saturday. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Bring a box of Mac N' Cheese and get $1 off a regular priced adult admission ticket. Stop at your local Woodman's Market and bring in a box of Shur Fine Mac N' Cheese to be entered into a season long drawing for a Snappers prize package. The Snappers will donate the food to the local Salvation Army Food Bank.

On Monday, Hammy and the Street Hockey team will be heading to Our Saviors Lutheran Church on Rural Street in Rockford at 3 p.m. for another Street Hockey Clinic. The team will be showing kids how to make a slap shot, wrist shot and pass the puck.

To request that Hammy, the Fire & Ice Girls or any of the members of the IceHogs team to appear at your event, call (815) 986-6465. For a full list of the IceHogs’ community events, visit the IceHogs Community Calendar on icehogs.com.

Buy A Season Ticket Get A Jersey: For a limited time fans that purchase a new season ticket in section 117 or 118 will receive an IceHogs Premier Jersey! For more information call (815) 847-6399.

TWO-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION BEN SMITH READY FOR THE NEXT BIG CHALLENGE

By: Curtis Prolic

07/15/2010 9:58 AM - As a 22-year old hockey player, Ben Smith has already felt the thrill of victory in the college level, and he hopes the thrills will only get bigger at the professional level.

Smith, the 169th overall pick (Round 6) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, is making his transition to the professional ranks slow and smooth, and he has experience on his side.

The Avon, Connecticut native spent four seasons at Boston College and during that time helped the Eagles win two National Championships. Smith was named the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player during last spring’s championship run before joining the Rockford IceHogs for three playoff games.

Smith played his first professional game with the IceHogs in Game Two of the West Division Semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs, and it didn’t take him long to make his presence felt. Smith netted his first professional goal on April 21 in Game Three against the Texas Stars.

“I think to be in the Frozen Four, the pace of those games, the intensity is huge, and for me to go right from the Frozen Four to Rockford, it definitely helped me a lot,” Smith said.

Smith certainly knows he has his work cut out for him at the next level. The 5’-11” right winger has seen the differences between college and the professional level already. Smith is making adjustments to the way he plays the game to give himself a better shot at success.

“I think in college you only played 40 games so it was more run-and-gun,” Smith said. “In the pros it’s a little more reserved.”

It’s not just the style of play either that he says has changed.

“The guys are a lot bigger,” Smith said. “I think everyone was over six-foot, so that was different for me.”

Prospect Camp has been a big help for Smith’s move from the college game to the AHL and he hopes someday to the NHL. Smith has attended the Blackhawks’ prospect camp three years in a row, and he understands the benefits of being there.

“It has really helped just getting to know the coaching staff and the management,” the forward said on July 9 at the Blackhawks’ practice facility. “Just getting to know and see familiar faces in the Blackhawks organization.”

With the recent moves by the Hawks to get more young prospects, Smith knows he has to compete for a spot on the team, while still developing into the best player he can be. Smith only uses this challenge as motivation though.

“Well you’re always worried about your own development,” Smith said. “But you do watch and you do see the spots opening up, and it does push you to work a little harder.”

And hard work is the nature of Ben’s game. When asked what fans can expect out of him, Smith described himself as “a guy who’s solid in all three zones.”

“I’m not going to flash you with my speed or with my hands,” he remarked. “I’m just a guy who competes every day and tries to be solid in all areas of the game.”

Ultimately, Smith’s biggest help in his transition to the professional level will be his motivation. He is taking things step by step to get ready for what he hopes will be a long and successful career.

“My goals right now are really just to focus on the summer, and to focus on putting myself in the best spot for the fall,” Smith said at Prospect Camp, “I feel like if I do that for myself the rest will just take care of itself.

“That motivation to win, that’s what you play for,” he added. “And you play to win the Calder Cup or the Stanley Cup.”

ICEHOGS TO FACE RIVERMEN TWICE IN 2010 PRESEASON

07/14/2010 3:30 PM - By: Chris Etheridge

Photo by Greg Hamil
07/14/2010 3:30 PM - Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs, in conjunction with the Peoria Rivermen, have set two dates for the 2010 exhibition schedule, Chicago Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard announced on Wednesday.

Rockford will take on Peoria at the Rockford MetroCentre to kick off the preseason slate on Tuesday, Sept. 28. The puck drops at 6:30 p.m.

Then on Saturday, Oct. 2, the IceHogs will head to Carver Arena in Peoria to play the Rivermen in the final contest of the preseason at 7 p.m.

Additional preseason games will be announced later this summer. Ticket prices and an on-sale date for all preseason home games will also be announced at a later date.

Buy A Season Ticket Get A Jersey: For a limited time fans that purchase a new season ticket in section 117 or 118 will receive an IceHogs Premier Jersey! For more information call (815) 847-6399.

BLACKHAWKS, HAYES BROTHERS KEEP WINNING IN THE FAMILY

07/14/2010 8:27 AM - By: Kate Munson
For many 18 year olds, summer is a chance to take a break and catch up on some sleep. That has not been the case for Kevin Hayes, the Chicago Blackhawks’ first round pick (24th overall) in the 2010 entry draft.

The Massachusetts native spent last weekend at Blackhawks’ Prospect Camp in Chicago with other skaters vying for attention from the executives in the organization.

“It’s a dream come true. Growing up, it’s all I wanted is to play in the NHL and this is just a stepping stone to get there,” Hayes said Friday. “It’s pretty unbelievable to be out there.”

But last weekend was not the first time this summer when the left winger’s schedule has been different from his peers.

While many people Hayes’ age were wrapping up the tour of graduation parties in May, the Blackhawks draft pick was at the NHL Scouting Combine. And in June, when summer was officially underway for many, Hayes was waiting to see what the draft would tell him about his future.

“Going into the combine, that was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been,” Hayes said. “After the combine, it was a relief. It was kind of out of my hands. Once draft day came, I said I wasn’t going to be nervous. But I wasn’t nervous until I actually got to Los Angeles.”

But Hayes didn’t have to wait long to find out which team would make his dreams of playing in the NHL a step closer to reality. Before the first day of the draft was over, Hayes knew he would be a part of the Blackhawks organization, as Chicago drafted him in the first round (24th overall).

Donning the Blackhawks jersey did not come as a complete surprise to Hayes, though. Director of Player Recruitment Ron Anderson and Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Kelley were already familiar faces to Hayes.

“They were the first team ever to talk to me, actually about a year back,” Hayes said. “They came to a few of my games. I got to know Mr. Anderson and Mr. Kelley really good.”

For Hayes, who skates with Blackhawks skating coach Paul Vincent at home, Chicago was the team of choice.

“I was actually hoping to go to the Hawks,” Hayes said. “I told my dad about two months ago, he asked me where I wanted to go. I said it was bad luck if I told him. I said either the Hawks or the Bruins.”

The good news for the Hayes family did not end on Friday, though.

Kevin and his older brother, Jimmy, returned to the Staples Center on Saturday to support Kevin’s friend who was still waiting to hear his name. Jimmy, a second round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, got some news of his own while they were there.

“I was sitting there and they announced ‘the Blackhawks trade the 43rd pick to Toronto for an unnamed, unsigned prospect,’” Jimmy said. “So I was looking around, going that could be me.

“And then like five minutes later I got a phone call saying I was traded. It was a pretty cool experience. It was a little shocking at first, and then I couldn’t have been more excited. It’s just a dream come true to play with him.”

By the time Prospect Camp rolled around last weekend, the Hayes brothers, who will skate together at Boston College next season, were getting a taste of what the future may hold.

“I love it,” Jimmy said. “We get along, we’re really close. It’s really fun.”

Kevin has his older brother to thank for making it possible for him to head to Boston College in the fall. With Jimmy already on campus, Kevin and Jimmy’s father was willing to let his younger son accelerate through his senior year of high school to join the collegiate ranks a year sooner.

But Jimmy is not bothered by the idea of spending so much time with his younger brother.

“It’s funny because my dad wasn’t going to let him accelerate in school unless I was there. So now I’m there and he’s coming in next year,” Jimmy said. “He was a junior this year in high school and he’s taking a couple summer courses to accelerate. So that’s pretty exciting that we’re both going to be playing with one another.”

Jimmy Hayes has already blazed a trail at Boston College for Kevin to follow. The right winger tallied 13 goals and 22 assists in his sophomore season, as the Eagles won the National Championship.

According to Boston College teammate and fellow Hawks prospect Ben Smith, Jimmy Hayes was a major factor in the playoffs.

“He really came on strong for us, I’d say January, February, March, in the college season and he was a big part of us going to the championship game and eventually winning,” Smith said.

Smith, who played on two National Champion teams at Boston College, was excited when he learned Jimmy Hayes would be joining him in the Blackhawks organization. The two were line mates for the last few months of the college season, and expect to bring their winning ways with them to the Hawks.

“We’re all close at school and it’s always nice to have familiar faces,” Smith. “When I was first at Prospect Camp we had Mike Brennan and Dan Bertram a couple years who were Boston College guys, and so the line continues with Jimmy and now Kevin.

“Coach (Mike) York is doing a great job there at BC,” Smith added. “We seem to always be in the Frozen Four and NCAA tournaments, so hopefully we’re winners and we bring that to the program.”

While the Hayes brothers may be looking to bring another National Championship to Boston College, their hockey goals do not end there. Both have their sights set on the NHL.

“We both want to make it. I hope he makes it, he hopes I make it,” Kevin Hayes said. “Hopefully we get to do it together.”

Jimmy and Kevin Hayes talk to the media at 2010 Prospect Camp:

ICEHOGS ANNOUNCE 2010-11 OPPONENTS

07/13/2010 10:05 AM - Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs, in conjunction with the American Hockey league, announced their list of opponents for the 2010-11 season on Tuesday.

The IceHogs are set to play all seven West Division opponents at least six times each, including the new Oklahoma City Barons. Overall, Rockford will face every team in the Western Conference, with the exception of the Rochester Americans.

Fans will see tough competition in the Midwest again as the Hogs face-off against Peoria, Milwaukee, and Chicago ten times each, splitting the games evenly between cities.

Rockford will travel to the newly renovated Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City three times throughout the year, and play the Texas Stars and the San Antonio Rampage six overall times as well, two less games each than in 2009-10. To round out the West, the IceHogs will meet Houston eight times in 2010-11.

Outside of the West Division the IceHogs have four games against Abbotsford, six against Grand Rapids, two against Hamilton, six against Lake Erie, four against Manitoba, and two against Toronto. This is a familiar schedule for Rockford as those numbers were the same last year, with the exception of two less contests against Grand Rapids compared to last year. Rockford does not play anyone outside of the Western Conference for the second year in a row.

Below is a full list of home dates against each team (all teams have the same number of home and road dates against each opponent):

North Division
Abbotsford Heat – 2
Grand Rapids Griffins – 3
Hamilton Bulldogs – 1
Lake Erie Monsters – 3
Manitoba Moose – 2
Toronto Marlies – 1

West Division
Chicago Wolves – 5
Houston Aeros – 4
Milwaukee Admirals – 5
Oklahoma City Barons - 3
Peoria Rivermen – 5
San Antonio Rampage – 3
Texas Stars – 3

The IceHogs will open the 2010-11 season on Oct. 9. The complete schedule will be announced later this summer.

In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams.

Buy A Season Ticket Get A Jersey: For a limited time fans that purchase a new season ticket in section 117 or 118 will receive an IceHogs Premier Jersey! For more information call (815) 847-6399.

BLACKHAWKS RE-SIGN FORMER ICEHOGS HEAD COACH MIKE HAVILAND

07/13/2010 9:03 AM - The Chicago Blackhawks announced today the addition of Mike Kitchen as an assistant coach on Joel Quenneville’s staff. In addition, the Blackhawks have re-signed Mike Haviland as an assistant coach.

“Adding Mike Kitchen and bringing back Mike Haviland bolster what is already a tremendous coaching staff under Joel’s guidance,” Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman said. “Mike Kitchen and Joel have a great track record of working together and Mike Haviland has had a major impact on our organization’s success based on his work over the last five years.”

Kitchen, 54, spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers after being named to the position in August 2007. The Newmarket, Ontario, native served as the Head Coach of the St. Louis Blues for parts of three seasons from 2003 to 2006, racking up a 38-70-23 record while leading the club to a postseason berth in 2004. Prior to that, Kitchen served as an assistant coach with the Blues from 1998 to 2003, all of which were with Quenneville as the head coach. Together the two have never missed the playoffs and captured the 1999-2000 President’s Cup after leading the Blues to a franchise record 114 points.

Kitchen also spent eight seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1990 to 1998, helping the club reach the postseason five times, which includes two appearances in the conference finals. He played eight seasons in the National Hockey League as a defenseman, collecting 74 points (12G, 62A) and 370 penalty minutes in 474 regular-season games with the Colorado Rockies (1976-82) and New Jersey Devils (1982-84). Kitchen and Quenneville were teammates in Colorado and New Jersey from 1979 to 1983. Mike and his wife Jill have two daughters, Amy and Megan.

Haviland, 43, enters his third season as an assistant coach for the Blackhawks in 2010-11 after being named to the coaching staff on July 23, 2008. The Middletown, New Jersey native came to the Blackhawks after spending the three seasons as the head coach of the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate in Norfolk (2005-07) and Rockford (2007-08). His teams have never missed the playoffs during his nine years behind the bench, which includes his seven-year minor league coaching career.

In addition to being a member of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks, Haviland has also captured the East Coast Hockey League’s Kelly Cup in 2003 with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and in 2005 with the Trenton Titans. In 2007-08, Haviland guided the IceHogs to a 44-26-4-6 regular-season record (.613) before taking the squad to the second round of the playoffs. Haviland posted a .600 or better winning percentage in six of his seven seasons as a head coach and never finished with a winning percentage lower than .588.

Haviland began his professional coaching career as an assistant for Trenton in 1999 before becoming head coach of the Boardwalk Bullies in 2001. After a one-year stop as the head coach of the Titans (2004-05), he joined the Blackhawks organization when he was named head coach of the Norfolk Admirals in 2005-06. Haviland earned the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award, given annually to the AHL’s most outstanding coach, following Norfolk’s 2006-07 campaign. He played two years of professional hockey, including four games with the AHL’s Binghamton Whalers in 1989-90 and the ECHL’s Richmond Renegades and Winston-Salem Thunderbirds in 1990- 91 before an injury cut his career short.

ICEHOGS WANT YOU TO JOIN THE TEAM

By: Mike Peck

07/08/2010 8:52 AM - New season ticket promo includes an IceHogs jersey

Rockford, Ill.- There is no better time than now to join the Rockford IceHogs team. The IceHogs want you to be a part of the IceHogs 2010-11 season with the “Join The Team” season ticket promotion.

Fans that agree to join the IceHogs for the fast approaching season will receive an IceHogs full season ticket, a premier IceHogs jersey of their choice (while supplies last) and an officially signed IceHogs Season Ticket Holder contract in the IceHogs locker room from Team President Mark Bernard stating that you are an official member of the IceHogs team in 2010-11.

The full season tickets can be purchased in either section 117 ($567) or 118 ($651). Each ticket purchased will include an IceHogs premier jersey.

Each fan that signs on with the IceHogs for the team’s 12th season of professional hockey in Rockford will sign their contract in the IceHogs locker room with a member of the IceHogs ticket staff and will receive their jersey personally from Bernard.

Fans can “Join The Team” starting immediately and the promotion ends on Friday, August 6 at 5 p.m. Offer cannot be combined with any other ticket promotion and jerseys are available while supplies last. A $100 per seat deposit is required in order to reserve your seat and for you to receive your jersey. The promotion is good for new season ticket holders only and applies to full season tickets.

To join the IceHogs team for the 2010-11 season or for more information, contact a member of the IceHogs Season Ticket Team at (815) 847-6399. To check out all of the IceHogs season ticket packages, visit www.icehogs.com/tickets/season.

Head Coach Nick Vitucci to Return for 2010-11 Toledo Walleye Season

07/08/2010 8:26 AM - Coach Returns for his Sixth Year in Toledo

Toledo, Ohio – The Toledo Walleye are pleased to announce that Head Coach Nick Vitucci will return as Toledo’s bench boss for the 2010-11 season.

Vitucci, a native of Welland, Ontario, will be starting his fifth full season as a Head Coach in Toledo when the Walleye commence the regular season on October 15th at Wheeling. On December 11, 2009, Vitucci won his 150th regular season game as a Head Coach.

"I am extremely excited to continue the work that we started a year ago with the Walleye,” said Vitucci. “I was pleased as to what we were able to accomplish last year with the exciting product we had on the ice for our fans in the first season of Walleye hockey. With a terrific organization in place, I believe we can be successful for years to come.”

In 335 games as a Head Coach, Vitucci has a regular season record of 175-132-28. Vitucci was named ECHL Coach of the Year in 2004-05 and has a 9-15 mark in the postseason with a trip to the Conference Finals in 2006. Prior to his work with Toledo, Vitucci was an Assistant Coach with the Greenville Grrrowl in the ECHL from 2000-2003.

Vitucci has won a record five ECHL championships (four as a player and one as an assistant coach) and has been involved with the league as a player and coach every season since the league’s inception. Named the post-season Most Valuable Player twice (1989 & 1996), he played 14 seasons and is the ECHL career leader among goaltenders in games (479), minutes (27,291), wins (265), 20-win seasons (7), consecutive 30-win seasons (2), and consecutive 20-win seasons (4). Nick is also the ECHL post-season record holder in games among goaltenders (80), minutes (4,841), and wins (43).

“My family and I have looked at Toledo as our home community for a number of years now,” said Vitucci. “This city is loaded with passionate fans and great people.

Nick Vitucci was named to the ECHL 15th Anniversary Team in 2003. Vitucci played in two ECHL All-Star Games and was named First Team All-ECHL in 1991-92 and 1997-98. Nick was named ECHL Goaltender of the Year in 1997-98, and he was officially inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame on January 23, 2008 in Stockton, CA in conjunction with the ECHL All-Star Game. It was the Hall-of-Fame’s inaugural class.

ICEHOGS SIGN HAGEL TO AHL CONTRACT

By: Mike Peck
07/07/2010 9:04 AM

Photo by Jim Orlando
07/07/2010 9:04 AM - Winger returns to Rockford after a stint in ’09-10

Rockford, Ill.- Chicago Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard announced on Tuesday that the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League have signed left wing Kyle Hagel for the upcoming 2010-11 season.

Hagel appeared in nine games with the IceHogs during the 2009-10 season racking up 36 penalty minutes. Entering his third professional season, the Hamilton, Ont. native also played three games with the AHL’s Rochester Americans in 2008-09.

“We’re very excited about getting Kyle Hagel signed for the 2010-11 season,” said Bernard. “He’s a player that joined us late last season and really impressed us. Kyle brings energy and toughness to our squad and can also contribute offensively.

“He is a player that our fans will easily be able to identify with through his hard work and dedication to his craft.”

The 25-year old winger skated in 42 games with the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL) last season totaling seven goal and eight assists while getting whistled for 77 penalty minutes. Hagel tied for the team lead in postseason scoring (four points) and goals (three).

After playing four seasons at Princeton University, Hagel made his professional debut with the Fresno Falcons (ECHL) in 2008-09. After the Falcons folded mid-season, Hagel joined the Reading Royals (ECHL) and accumulated 7g-6a and 143 PIMs in 38 overall games during his rookie campaign in the ECHL.

Season Ticket Now On Sale: Did the Blackhawks hook you into hockey? Call the IceHogs at (815) 847-6399 and speak to an IceHogs ticket representative on how to quench your hockey fix in 2010-11. Ticket packages start as low as $100.