04/25/2012 2:18 PM
By: Amy Spivey
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Wednesday, April 25, 2012
YOUDS RE-SIGNS WITH ROCKFORD FOR 2012-13 SEASON
Monday, April 23, 2012
CONNELLY, HUTTON AMONG ICEHOGS RECORD BREAKERS IN 2011-12
04/23/2012 2:05 PM
By: Amy Spivey
Hutton set a new AHL record for lowest goals against average, garnering a 2.35 GAA on the campaign. The Thunder Bay, Ontario native also matched five IceHogs AHL records this season, including number of shutouts (three) and highest save percentage (.917). In addition, Hutton tied the high mark for number of power-play points (one) and short-handed points (one) by an IceHogs goaltender during the AHL era. Connelly established four franchise records and three AHL records during his time with Rockford before being traded by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Calgary Flames on Jan. 27. The Bloomington, Minnesota native set an IceHogs all-time record for number of assists with 105. Connelly also established franchise marks for Rockford defensemen, including number of games played (211), points (226) and assists (105). In addition, Connelly set IceHogs AHL records for number of goals by a defenseman with 21 and number of power-play assists with 44. Before being traded to Calgary, he played in 127 consecutive contests with Rockford, also an AHL record. The IceHogs matched the franchise high mark for most wins versus an opponent in one season after they notched 10 victories against Midwest Division rival Milwaukee in 2011-12. Rockford also tied a franchise record for consecutive home losses when the Hogs failed to score a win on home ice for six straight games from 10/22/11 to 11/18/11. Below is a complete list of the records set by the IceHogs in 2011-12: Team Single Season Least Wins – 35 Lowest Winning Percentage – .520 Least Home Wins – 18 Least Road Wins – 17 Least Standings Points – 79 Fewest Goals – 207 Fewest Power-Play Goals – 52 Least Power-Play Opportunities – 346 Fewest Short-Handed Goals – 3 Lowest Penalty Kill – 80.5% Fewest Penalty Minutes – 1,391* Most Wins vs. Opponent – 10 vs. Milwaukee*+ Most Wins/Month – 9 (March)+ 9 (January)+ Individual Single Season Highest Shooting Percentage – 18.1%, Ben Smith Most Power-Play Goals/Defenseman – 4, Brian Fahey+ Multi-Goal Games – 4, Peter LeBlanc+ Lowest Goals Against Average – 2.35, Carter Hutton Most Shutouts – 3, Carter Hutton+ Most PP Points/Goalie – 1, Carter Hutton (1a)+ Most PP Assists/Goalie – 1, Carter Hutton+ Most Short-Handed Points/Goalie – 1, Carter Hutton (1a)+ Most Penalty Minutes/Goalie – 17, Carter Hutton Most Shootout Losses/Rookie – 1, Kent Simpson+ Team Single Game Most Goals Combined – 13, 11/11/11 at PEO, 6-7 SOL+ Most Shots/Game – 49, 12/4/11 at PEO, 2-5 L Most Shots Against/Game – 50, 11/18/11 at CHA , 3-2 SOW Most Shots Combined/Game – 90, 12/4/11 at PEO, 2-5 L, RFD-49, PEO-41 Fewest Shots/Game – 13, 10/16/11 at ABB, 3-2 W* Fewest Shots Against/Game – 13, 2/15/12 vs. PEO, 0-1 L Fewest PIMs/Opponent – 2, 1/6/12 at HOU, 4-1 W+ Individual Single Game Most Saves/Win – 48, Alec Richards at CHA 11/18/11, 3-2 SOW Most Saves/Period – 21, Alec Richards at CHA 11/18/11, 3-2 SOW Most Shots Faced – 50, Alec Richards at CHA 11/18/11, 3-2 SOW Most Saves in a Loss/Rookie – 38, Kent Simpson vs. CHA 4/14/12, 3-4 SOL Most Saves in a Period/Rookie – 17, Kent Simpson vs. CHA 4/14/12, 3-4 SOL Most Assists – 4, Brian Connelly vs. SAN, 11/23/11 Most Assists/Defenseman – 4, Brian Connelly vs. SAN, 11/23/11*+ Points/Defenseman – 4, Brian Connelly vs. SAN, 11/23/11+ Career Records Assists – 105, Brian Connelly* Defenseman Games – 211, Brian Connelly* Defenseman Points – 126, Brian Connelly* Defenseman Goals – 21, Brian Connelly Defenseman Assists – 105, Brian Connelly* Defenseman PIMs – 208, Ryan Stanton Shootout Goals – 12, Brandon Pirri Overtime Game-Winning Goals – 2, Ben Smith *+ Power-Play Assists – 44, Brian Connelly Save Percentage – .917, Carter Hutton+ Goals Against Average – 2.35, Carter Hutton+ Streaks Consecutive Games Played – 127, Brian Connelly Losing Streak/Home – 6, 10/22/11 to 11/18/11*+ All records are IceHogs AHL records unless indicated otherwise + -Ties AHL record * -IceHogs franchise record *+ -Ties IceHogs franchise record Season Tickets for 2012-13 Now on Sale: Season ticket packages for the IceHogs 14th season of professional hockey in Rockford, including sixth as the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, are now on sale. Call (815) 847-6399 to reserve your seats or visit icehogs.com for more information. |
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
2012 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS: WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
04/18/2012 3:47 PM
By: Stephen Nelson
The Western Conference bracket is spearheaded by the Oklahoma City Barons, who have paced the pack for nearly the entire season. They won a West Division that saw four of five teams clinch postseason births. Sneaking into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season was the Houston Aeros, the defending Western Conference champions. Houston is the only team from last year’s Calder Cup playoffs “final four” to return to the “second season.” Here is a preview of the four series in the Western Conference: Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “E” (best-of-5) 1-Oklahoma City Barons vs. 8-Houston Aeros The Barons come into the series as heavy favorites as the top team in the Western Conference and second-best team in the entire American Hockey League, having finished the year with 99 points. In goal they start the winner of the 2011-12 Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award, Yann Danis. Houston won their last two games of the regular season to sneak into the playoffs as they try to defend their Western Conference crown. Second-year goaltender Matt Hackett backstopped the Aeros to points in seven of their last nine games. Oklahoma City won seven of the eight regular season meetings against Houston and earned a point in the other contest. Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Oklahoma City at Houston, 8:05 Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Oklahoma City at Houston, 8:35 Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 22 – Houston at Oklahoma City, 8:00 *Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 24 – Houston at Oklahoma City, 8:00 *Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Houston at Oklahoma City, 8:00 Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “F” (best-of-5) 2-Toronto Marlies vs. 7-Rochester Americans Toronto and Rochester lock horns in a series between the North Division playoff teams. The Marlies have the AHL’s top penalty kill (88.1%) and one of the top goaltenders in Ben Scrivens, who led the league in goals against average (2.07) during the regular season. Rochester used a 13-5-4-1 run over their final 23 games, including a 4-0-2-0 streak over their last six, to vault into the seventh spot in the West. Their 224 goals for during the regular season pace the eight Western conference playoff teams. The Marlies and Americans met ten times this season with Toronto winning seven, but every contest was decided by one goal. Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Rochester at Toronto, 7:00 Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Rochester at Toronto, 3:00 Game 3 – Mon., Apr. 23 – Toronto at Rochester, 7:05 *Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Toronto at Rochester, 7:05 *Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Rochester at Toronto, 3:00 Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “G” (best-of-5) 3-Chicago Wolves vs. 6-San Antonio Rampage The Wolves started the year 2-6, but clawed back to win the Midwest Division with 91 points. Chicago will make their 15th postseason run in 18 seasons, and will do so with one of the top goaltending tandems in the AHL. Eddie Lack and Matt Climie combined for a 2.54 goals against average this season, good for fifth best in the league. San Antonio is back in the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time since 2008. The Rampage rattled off eight wins in their final 12 games to secure the postseason berth. The Rampage beat the Wolves in each of the four regular season meetings this season, with all four tilts being one-goal games. Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Chicago at San Antonio, 8:00 Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Chicago at San Antonio, 8:00 Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 24 – San Antonio at Chicago, 8:00 *Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – San Antonio at Chicago, 8:00 *Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 27 – San Antonio at Chicago, 8:30 Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “H” (best-of-5) 4-Abbotsford Heat vs. 5-Milwaukee Admirals The Abbotsford Heat are going into this year’s Calder Cup playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the entire American Hockey League. The Heat won seven in a row to close out the campaign and earned points in their last nine games (8-0-0-1). From January 28 to April 8, the Milwaukee Admirals were on the outside looking in at the Western Conference playoff picture. But the Ads claimed 23 out of a possible 32 points to finish the year, and earned their league best 10th consecutive postseason berth. Both clubs boast one of the AHL’s top-20 point-producers. Abbotsford’s Krys Kolanos was 14th in scoring with 61 points (30g-31a) in just 47 games, while Chris Mueller paced Milwaukee with 60 points (32g-28a) in 73 contests. The Ads went 3-0-0-1 against the Heat in the season set. Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Abbotsford at Milwaukee, 8:00 Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 22 – Abbotsford at Milwaukee, 6:00 Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Milwaukee at Abbotsford, 10:00 *Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 27 – Milwaukee at Abbotsford, 10:00 *Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Milwaukee at Abbotsford, 10:00 |
Monday, April 16, 2012
BLACKHAWKS CALL FOR FIVE FROM ICEHOGS
04/16/2012 2:36 PM
By: Nate Haeni
Goaltender Carter Hutton, defensemen Joe Lavin and Ryan Stanton, along with forwards Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri will join the Blackhawks squad. Hutton, 26, was named the team’s most valuable player and led the club with a 22-13-4 record to go with three shutouts. Hutton’s 2.35 goals against average was an IceHogs single-season AHL record and he matched a team record with a .917 save percentage. During the campaign, Hutton was rewarded with two Reebok/AHL Player of the Week awards (Week 17 and 22), the first time during the team’s AHL era that a player has multiple honors. Lavin, 22, finished his first professional season with three goals and 14 assists in 71 games for the IceHogs. The rookie d-man ranked third among defensemen on the club with 102 shots. Chicago’s fifth round selection (#126 overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft earned the IceHogs Rookie of the Year honors. Stanton, 22, was the only IceHogs skater to play in all 76 contests and finished the season with 17 points (3g-14a). The St. Albert, Alberta native ranked second on the team with 130 penalty minutes. After missing the majority of his rookie campaign with an upper body injury, Morin registered 40 points (18g-22a) and 121 penalty minutes in 69 games with the IceHogs this season. The second-year winger tied for the team lead in plus/minus with a rating of +9. Morin also recorded two shots on goal in three games with the Blackhawks in 2011-12. Pirri, 21, led Rockford in scoring with 56 points (23g-33a), and his 33 assists, plus/minus rating of +9, 17 multi-point games, 17 power-play points and 213 shots on goal also paced the IceHogs. In five tilts with Chicago, the second-year center tallied two assists and five shots on goal. Chicago’s second round selection (#59 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft was also named to his first AHL All-Star game. The Blackhawks continue the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 17 at 8 p.m. against the Phoenix Coyotes at the United Center. The best-of-seven series is tied at 1-1 |
Saturday, April 14, 2012
HOGS RALLY LATE IN THIRD, BUT FALL 4-3 IN A SHOOTOUT
04/14/2012 7:05 PM
By: Amy Spivey
Down 3-2 with less than two minutes to go in regulation, Rockford pulled goalie Kent Simpson, who was making his AHL debut, in favor of a 6-on-4 advantage as Justin Krueger sat in the box for a delay of game penalty. Rockford wasn’t able to convert on the two-man advantage, but with less than a minute to go in the third and the IceHogs still with the extra attacker, Brandon Svendsen capitalized to tie the game. Rob Flick put a shot on goal that Justin Peters blocked down, but Svendsen was there to clean up the rebound as he knocked home his fourth goal of the season to make it 3-3 with 43 seconds left on the scoreboard. After a scoreless overtime session, the IceHogs found themselves in a shootout for the second straight night. Brandon Pirri scored the only goal for the Hogs while Justin Shugg, Chris Terry and Matthew Pistilli all notched markers for Charlotte as they scored the win. In the first period, Peter LeBlanc gave Rockford an early advantage with his team-leading 24th goal of the season at the 6:26 mark. Svendsen put a shot on goal from the top of the right faceoff circle that Peters stopped, but LeBlanc picked up the rebound and flipped the puck behind Peters to give the IceHogs a 1-0 lead. Charlotte then tied the contest at the 12:54 mark of the opening frame. Chris Durno fed a pass to Nicolas Blanchard behind the Rockford net, and the winger stuffed a wrap-around attempt past Simpson to make it a 1-1 game. The IceHogs started the middle stanza on the man advantage after Mathieu Roy was tagged with a high-sticking penalty at the end of the first, and Rockford reclaimed the lead with a power-play tally just one minute into the frame. Ryan Stanton and Ben Youds set up Jeremy Morin, who was waiting on the doorstep and tipped his 18th tally on the campaign past Peters to give Rockford a 2-1 advantage. Later in the frame, Charlotte garnered a power-play marker of their own to even the score again. Bobby Sanguinetti fired a shot from the blue line that Zach Boychuk redirected past Simpson to make it 2-2 at the 8:41 mark of the second period. Evgenii Dadonov put Charlotte on top at 12:58 of the final stanza. The winger let go of a slapshot from the left faceoff circle and beat the IceHogs netminder top-shelf on his blocker side, giving the Checkers a 3-2 lead. Brett Sutter and Boychuck earned helpers on the play. Simpson made 38 saves in his AHL debut but was tagged with the shootout loss. Peters turned away 34 Rockford shots to earn the win. Rockford went 1-for-5 on the man advantage while Charlotte tallied once on four opportunities. |
CARTER HUTTON NAMED ROCKFORD’S TEAM MVP
04/14/2012 1:35 PM
By: Mike Peck
Goalie Carter Hutton was named the IceHogs Most Valuable Player. In his first season with Rockford and second overall at the professional level, Hutton compiled a record of 22-13-4 with a 2.35 goals against average and .917 save percentage. The Thunder Bay, Ontario’s 2.35 GAA is an IceHogs AHL single season record while his .917 SPCT matches the modern era mark. From Feb. 24 to April 10, Hutton started 20 of 21 games for Rockford, going 12-5-2 with a 1.74 goals against average and a .937 save percentage. Hutton was named the AHL’s Player of the Week award twice this season, becoming the first IceHogs skater to accomplish that feat. After beginning the season with the IceHogs’ ECHL affiliate Toledo Walleye, Hutton was recalled to Rockford on Dec 3. and never returned to the ECHL. From Dec. 3 to April 10, Hutton appeared in 43 of Rockford’s 54 contests. Excluding his first two starts and final three starts of the season with Rockford, which all resulted in losses, Hutton went 22-8-4. Brandon Pirri was given the team’s Leading Scorer award as the second-year center paces Rockford with 55 points, including 23 goals and 32 assists. Pirri also leads the team in multi-point games, shots, plus/minus and power play points. Ryan Stanton garnered the team’s Top Defenseman award. The steady blueliner was the only IceHogs player to appear in every game in 2011-12. Stanton is the current active team-leader with 128 penalty minutes and has totaled 3g-13a-16pts in his second pro season. Another defenseman picked up an IceHogs honor as Joe Lavin was named the IceHogs Rookie of the Year. The first-year d-man totaled 3g-14a-17pts during his first pro season. The University of Notre Dame alumnus helped anchor down a young IceHogs blueline that featured three rookies, two second year skaters and one veteran down the stretch. Peter LeBlanc was awarded with Rockford’s Unsung Hero award. Also in his second season, LeBlanc nearly doubled his goal production from his rookie season as he is tied with Pirri for the team lead in tallies with 23, up from 12 from a season ago. The Hamilton, Ont. native topped his rookie totals in assists (20) and points (43) as well, ranking second on the IceHogs in overall scoring. Rookie winger Philippe Paradis was named the IceHogs Heavy Hitter for 2011-12. The 6-2, 212-pound winger has been a consistent physical presence during his first full professional season. Paradis has 5g-11a-16pts with 39 PIMs during his rookie campaign. Recognized by the AHL last week, winger Ben Smith was saluted as Rockford’s Man of the Year as well on Saturday. Smith was given the award for his leadership and commitment to the Rockford community. Thank You IceHogs Fans! The Rockford IceHogs thank all of their fans for another memorable season of hockey in the Forest City. Season ticket packages for the IceHogs 14th season of professional hockey in Rockford, including sixth as the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, are now on sale. Call (815) 847-6399 to reserve your seats or for more information visit icehogs.com. |
Friday, April 13, 2012
HOGS TAKE TENTH WIN AGAINST ADMIRALS
04/13/2012 7:05 PM
By: Amy Spivey
Rockford, Ill.- If there has been one constant in the Rockford IceHogs series with the Milwaukee Admirals, it’s been shootouts. And the IceHogs have come away with four wins out of the five games that went to the extra, extra session against the Admirals, including a 2-1 victory on Friday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Trailing 1-0 going into the final frame, Rob Flick converted at the 4:30 mark of the third period to tie the game. Brandon Pirri corralled the puck on a breakaway chance, but Jeremy Smith denied the second-year center with a huge save. However, the Admirals goaltender couldn’t cover the puck, and after Phillip Danault failed to get the puck past Smith, Flick found it loose in front of the net and hammered home his seventh goal of the season to even the score. After neither team found the back of the net during a five-minute overtime frame, Rockford and Milwaukee played in their fifth shootout in the 12 game series. Kyle Wilson tallied in the first round for Milwaukee, but Alexander Salak turned away the next four shooters. Matt Fornataro and Peter LeBlanc marked goals for the IceHogs to give Rockford the win and their ninth straight over the Admirals. Friday’s contest was scoreless for nearly 40 minutes before Milwaukee got on the board at the 18:01 mark of the middle frame. Ryan Thang carried the puck into the Rockford zone and stopped at the faceoff circle to the right of Salak. Thang found Michael Latta open in the slot and sent the puck to the centerman, and Latta redirected the pass behind Salak to give the Admirals a 1-0 lead. Salak earned his sixth win on the campaign on 15 saves. Smith turned away 34 IceHogs shots in the shootout loss. Both teams earned four power play opportunities on the night, but neither club converted on the man advantage. For the full box score, click here. Next Home Game: Saturday, April 14 vs. Charlotte Checkers. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs conclude the 2011-12 regular season against the Checkers. Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 5,000 fans through the doors will receive an IceHogs team photo sponsored by the Rockford Register Star, plus all fans will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes including Blackhawks playoff tickets. After each whistle, the IceHogs will give away gift certificates and special offers from local businesses. In addition, fans will have the chance to win a jersey off the back of a current IceHogs skater following Saturday’s game. |
BLACKHAWKS AGREE TO TERMS WITH LEBLANC
04/13/2012 11:39 AM
LeBlanc, 24, shares the team lead with 23 goals, and ranks second on the club with 43 points (23G, 20A) in 70 regular-season games for the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs this year in his first full AHL campaign. His 70 tilts in a Rockford uniform are tops among team forwards. LeBlanc also accrued a club-leading 12 penalty minutes in three 2011 preseason contests with the Blackhawks. The Hamilton, Ontario, native has registered 35 goals, 38 assists and 26 penalty minutes in 127 career AHL regular-season tilts with the IceHogs, and last season tallied 22 points (8G, 14A) in 22 games with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. LeBlanc was selected by Chicago in the seventh round (186th overall) of the 2006 National Hockey League Entry Draft, and played four seasons at the University of New Hampshire before making his pro debut in 2010-11. Next Home Game: Saturday, April 14 vs. Charlotte Checkers. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. The IceHogs conclude the 2011-12 regular season against the Checkers. Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 5,000 fans through the doors will receive an IceHogs team photo sponsored by the Rockford Register Star, plus all fans will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes including Blackhawks playoff tickets. After each whistle, the IceHogs will give away gift certificates and special offers from local businesses. In addition, fans will have the chance to win a jersey off the back of a current IceHogs skater following Saturday’s game. |
Thursday, April 12, 2012
LEBLANC SUCCEEDS WITH WINNING ATTITUDE
04/12/2012 3:20 PM
By: Amy Spivey
The center participated in the Chicago Blackhawks training camp as an invitee on an AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs and played in three preseason games with Chicago, including their final contest on Oct. 2 against the Washington Capitals. LeBlanc then returned to the IceHogs for the beginning of the American Hockey League’s regular season, but the forward couldn’t carry over the momentum from his strong preseason. Despite notching three assists in the first four games of the 2011-12 campaign, LeBlanc stalled out, notching just one helper in his next five appearances between late October and early November, even sitting out a few games. But IceHogs head coach Ted Dent knew LeBlanc would fight his way back into the lineup. “He was just finding his groove and getting some confidence,” Dent said. “Not that he lacked confidence, because he had a good training camp in Chicago, a really good training camp. “[He] was a healthy scratch a few games, which I think woke him up a little bit. Then he found his game and just took off.” The Hamilton, Ont. native’s season hit full speed after a three-point effort (2g-1a) against Oklahoma City on Nov. 16, his first game in the lineup after being scratched for three consecutive contests. Now, LeBlanc is second overall in points for the IceHogs this season, one of the leaders in power-play points and has nearly a dozen multi-point games on the campaign. According to LeBlanc, the key to his success is relatively simple. “It’s just a comfort thing,” he said. “Last year was my first year playing that many games in a season. This year I’m use to it…the three-in-three’s and back-to-back games. I’ve gotten use to that and have been able to handle the grind of the season a lot better.” The 24-year-old has found success at every level he’s played at, adapting to increased expectations and higher demands on his time and body as he made his way to the professional ranks. Click here for LeBlanc's video profile KEEPING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK The summer after completing his final season with the University of New Hampshire Wildcats, LeBlanc signed an AHL contract with Rockford and prepared to make the jump to the pro game. He started off on a positive note, garnering a helper in his professional debut on Oct. 9, 2010. But like many rookies, the 5-11, 200 pound forward wasn’t playing many minutes, so the IceHogs loaned him to the Toledo Walleye, their ECHL affiliate, after the first three games of the season. Though LeBlanc would have preferred to stay in Rockford, he took advantage of the time he spent in Toledo. “It was disappointing at first,” LeBlanc said. “But when I went down I just tried to improve my game and get my confidence high. “I played in every situation. I had tons of minutes. I had a lot of points there. It helped my confidence so when I came back here I could be effective.” In 22 appearances with the Walleye, LeBlanc totaled 8g-14a-22pts. Rockford recalled the centerman in early December and LeBlanc tallied six points (5g-1a) in his next eight games with the Hogs, including a stretch where he notched a goal in four-straight contests. “It worked out really well for me,” said LeBlanc. “When I came back to Rockford I was able to make an impact and stay here for the rest of the year.” In all, the forward earned 12g-18a-30pts in 57 games with the IceHogs during his rookie season and tied for the team lead with four game-winning goals. The positive attitude that kept LeBlanc on track during his first professional campaign also helped him endure a challenging season during his junior hockey days. Growing up, LeBlanc played for the Hamilton Red Wings, a Junior A club in his hometown. The local rink was just a two minute drive from his house and he often walked to practice. “I played since I was five years old until I was 17,” LeBlanc said. “I really enjoyed playing there. A lot of friends and family got to come see me play.” Unfortunately, no one saw LeBlanc play very much during his final season with the Red Wings. “I had mono. I missed 30-something games,” he said. Thirty-plus games equaled approximately two-and-a-half months that LeBlanc wasn’t able to suit up. What made the situation worse was that, for the most part, LeBlanc felt fine. But an enlarged spleen kept him off the ice longer than he anticipated. “I had to wait for that to go back to normal,” LeBlanc said. “That’s why it took so long. I was still going to school. I just couldn’t get hit because of my spleen. It was frustrating.” By the time the forward was cleared to play, only three games remained in Hamilton’s regular season schedule. LeBlanc knew it would be rough, but he jumped back in so he could prepare for a playoff run. “When I came back, it was tough to put the weight back on,” LeBlanc said. “The worst part was getting my legs back. After a couple of games, though, I felt pretty good.” LeBlanc made it through the postseason and then spent the summer preparing for his freshman year at the University of New Hampshire. Before he packed up for school, though, the Hamilton native was rewarded for his hard work. The Chicago Blackhawks made LeBlanc their 186th overall selection (Round 7) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. “I knew it was my draft year, but I didn’t know if anything was going to happen,” said LeBlanc. “I found out from my mom that I got drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks. I was ecstatic.” The door opened for a potential career as a professional hockey player, but before LeBlanc could test his skills with the big boys, he took his talents to the NCAA where he built a strong resume both on and off the ice. WINNING WAYS As a teenager, LeBlanc watched many of his friends move on from Junior A in Hamilton to play hockey elsewhere. Some decided to play Major Junior in Canada, while others choose the college route. “When I was 15, I didn’t really know much about college hockey,” LeBlanc said. “My dad exposed me to it and said I should take a look at it.” There were two schools that LeBlanc looked at with regards to both hockey and academics — Michigan State University and the University of New Hampshire. He took trips to see both schools, but after a stop in New England, LeBlanc knew exactly where he wanted to go. “I went to visit New Hampshire when I was 16, and I fell in love with the place. I thought it was unreal. I really wanted to play there,” said LeBlanc. “I liked the way New Hampshire was set up. [It’s] a nice, perfect sized school, a lot of fan support. I just really liked the atmosphere.” The forward did consider playing Major Junior in Canada, but when it came down to it, LeBlanc wanted to be prepared for a career outside of hockey. He graduated from New Hampshire with a degree in political science, and while LeBlanc is currently focused on playing professional hockey, he’s happy that he has something to fall back on. “It was about having a back-up plan, never knowing what’s going to happen with hockey. I definitely wanted to get an education,” said LeBlanc. LeBlanc skated four seasons with the Wildcats and was nearly a point-per-game player during his junior and senior campaigns. In 153 total games at New Hampshire, the forward notched 34g-51a-85pts. “Every year I was there we were competing for the NCAA tournament, and we made it every year,” LeBlanc said. “We won three league championships, and in Hockey East that’s tough to do.” During two of LeBlanc’s NCAA tournament runs, the Wildcats had the opportunity to play at the Verizon Wireless Arena, home of the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs. Manchester is less than an hour from the UNH campus in Durham, and fans spared no expense to come cheer on LeBlanc and the Wildcats. “It was packed, and it was unbelievable,” LeBlanc said. It’s just really exciting when it comes down to one game and your school is really supportive.” “We definitely learned how to win there, and we had a winning attitude. It’s something that stays with you.” SUCCESS AT THE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL One of the most frustrating aspects about Rockford’s 2011-12 season is that the team wasn’t winning consistently in the first half of the campaign. It certainly wasn’t for lack of effort, but the IceHogs endured some rough losing stretches that would get any team down. “I think we lost a lot of games that we could have won, and it just didn’t happen for us,” LeBlanc said. “For the most part, we were playing pretty well through the stretches where we were losing games. It was frustrating.” Then, as the calendar turned to 2012, Rockford’s season also started to turn. The Hogs had a record of 9-3-0-1 in January after a dismal December when they only won three times. In February they hit a rough patch, but won four games in a row to end the month and went on to garner another 9-3-0-1 record in March. LeBlanc credits a more defensive-minded approach as part of the IceHogs’ success. “We’ve stuck to it. We’re playing better defense as far as not giving up so many odd-man rushes. In this league, if you give up a lot of odd-man rushes, [the puck is] going to end up in the back of the net. We’ve definitely gotten better at that and that’s helped our overall game,” LeBlanc said. The most significant aspect of a solid defense is goaltending, and LeBlanc points to Carter Hutton, who joined the IceHogs in December after spending the first two months of the season backstopping in Toledo, as having as big an impact as anyone. “Hutton has really helped,” he said. “We got him and he started playing very well, and he’s continued that throughout the season. He plays the puck really well and gets the puck out of our zone quickly. He’s a big help.” But LeBlanc has contributed to the turnaround, too. He has spent much of the season centering a line that includes Rostislav Olesz at left wing. The two forwards developed a strong chemistry, which resulted in goals and assists. “Playing with Olesz is great,” LeBlanc said. “He’s a super strong guy, an unbelievable playmaker. It’s been pretty fun playing with him.” But like everyone on the IceHogs roster, LeBlanc has seen his line change, sometimes on a daily basis, due to injuries, call-ups and trades. “It’s difficult, but it’s one thing you have to learn with pro hockey,” said LeBlanc. “People move, things happen and you have to adapt to it.” Regardless of who LeBlanc is playing with, Coach Dent knows that he can count on the forward to contribute under any circumstances. “Peter penalty kills for us, he’s on the power play, he takes some important face-offs. He’s in all situations,” Dent said. Not only does LeBlanc play in all situations, but he also brings a solid work ethic and positive attitude to the rink every day. That effort has resulted in LeBlanc becoming one of Rockford’s leading scorers in just his second professional campaign. “I like the pro game,” LeBlanc said. “I like playing more. It’s nice to get into a good rhythm. I like the style of the game.” The 24-year-old also likes the city where he has gotten his start in the American Hockey League. “Rockford’s a really fun place to play. [There’s] great fan support and great support by the city.” |
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
PRIZES GALORE SET FOR FAN APPRECIATION WEEKEND
04/11/2012 3:06 PM
By: Nate Haeni
Rockford, Ill.- Only two games remain on the 2011-12 regular season schedule for the Rockford IceHogs as they close out the campaign with a pair of home games this Friday and Saturday at the BMO Harris Bank Center. It’s fan appreciation weekend as the Hogs are giving back to the fans that have supported the team all season long with thousands of prizes and giveaways throughout the weekend. As the IceHogs battle the Milwaukee Admirals for the final time this season on Friday, the first 5,000 fans through the doors will receive a 2011-12 IceHogs team photo courtesy of the Rockford Register Star. The puck hits the ice at 7:05 p.m. Before the contest, glow sticks will be handed out upon entry for a special pregame ceremony with the American Cancer Society. Then, Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night as the IceHogs close out their regular season slate against the Charlotte Checkers at 7:05 p.m. Another 5,000 IceHogs team photos will be given away thanks to the Rockford Register Star. Plus, all fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes after every whistle during the game. Premium prizes include Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup playoff tickets, Allegiant Airline vouchers, a weekend stay at Hilton Garden Inn, a golf bag and cooler from LaMonica Beverages, and much more. In addition, random season ticket holders and general fans will win a jersey off the back of a current IceHogs skater following Saturday’s game. Prior to Saturday’s tilt, the IceHogs will also present numerous player awards. The club will name its most valuable player, rookie of the year, most improved player, best defenseman, hardest hitter, man of the year, unsung hero, and leading scorer. Also during the pregame festivities, Jamie Lono from NBC’s “The Voice” will perform the National Anthem. To purchase tickets for the game, call 815-968-5222, visit icehogs.com or stop by the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office. Next Home Game: Friday, April 13 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. Midwest Division rivals Rockford and Milwaukee faceoff for the 12th and final time this season and for the sixth matchup at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive an IceHogs team photo courtesy of the Rockford Register Star. |
Monday, April 9, 2012
HOGS CAN'T TOP LAKE ERIE IN WEEK 27
04/09/2012 10:39 AM
By: Amy Spivey
|
FINAL BUD LIGHT HOG TALK TONIGHT WITH DANAULT AND SIMPSON
04/09/2012 10:00 AM
By: Amy Spivey
Tonight's show features IceHogs assistant coach Steve Poapst, along with forward Phillip Danault and goalie Kent Simpson as the guests. Mike Peck will host the finale and he’ll recap last week’s action, preview the week ahead and chat some non-things hockey with his guests. If you can’t make it to the show, tune into 100.5 NTA FM or listen on the Web through wnta.fm or on Comcast Cable Channel-57. Fans can take advantage of food and Bud Light specials at Granite City and can register to win some great prizes courtesy of the IceHogs, including tickets to upcoming IceHogs games. For a complete list of Bud Light Hog Talk dates at Granite City Food and Brewery, visit icehogs.com. |
Saturday, April 7, 2012
HOGS PLAYOFF HOPES TAKE A HIT, BLOW A 3-0 LEAD
04/07/2012 9:13 AM
By: Mike Peck
Rockford stumbles in Lake Erie for a second straight night
Cleveland, Ohio-A two-goal third period lead with Carter Hutton in goal seemed to be a perfect scenario for the Rockford IceHogs to get back into the Western Conference playoff picture. Instead, inept special teams coughed up three third period tallies and the IceHogs fell 4-3 to the Lake Erie Monsters at the Quicken Loans Arena. Rockford failed to pick up any points in the standings during their two-game set in Lake Erie and remain in the 12th spot in the Western Conference with just three games remaining. With Rockford up 3-0 late in the second Lake Erie began their comeback while on the power play. David van der Gulik’s third attempt in front of Hutton slipped past the IceHogs goalie and in at 17:57 to make it 3-1 at the second intermission. Rockford’s lead was reduced to a goal with a shorthanded goal from the Monsters early in the third. Justin Mercier picked off a Ben Youds pass at the Rockford blueline and fired his 14th marker of the season over the glove of Hutton at 3:54. A costly five-minute boarding penalty by Mark McNeill gave the Monsters a lengthy power play midway through third period and they would tally twice. Brad Malone tied the game when Ryan Stoa fed him the puck on the right face-off and he buried the equalizer past Hutton at 12:30. Later on the same power play, Dean Stong would put Lake Erie in front for the first time on Saturday. Strong tapped in an Evan Brophey feed on the weak side of the Rockford goal at 14:29 for the game-winning tally. After a scoreless first frame, Rockford’s power play put them up 1-0 in the second. Phillip Danault picked up a Brandon Pirri rebound and fed Jeremy Morin on the backdoor where the winger banged in his 17th goal of the season at 3:44 of the middle stanza. Later in the frame Rockford struck twice more to extend their lead to 3-0. Ryan Stanton one-timed a Brandon Svendsen centering pass from in between the face-off circles to beat Cedrick Desjardins five-hole at 11:07 for his third goal of the season. Then 1:19 later, Peter LeBlanc extended the IceHogs lead to 3-0. LeBlanc picked up a pass from Connor Goggin and blasted his 23rd tally of the season over the shoulder of Desjardins from the right circle at 12:26. Rockford was outshot 29-24 in the game and the IceHogs went 1-4 on the power play while Lake Erie finished 3-7. Lake Erie swept the four-game season series with Rockford and Rockford dropped their record against the AHL’s North Division to 3-7-1-1. Next Home Game: Tuesday, April 10 vs. Charlotte Checkers. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. It's the last Taco Bell Dollar Day at the BMO Harris Bank Center as the IceHogs welcome the Checkers. Fans can get hot dogs, beers, sodas and companion tickets for just one dollar a piece. For every goal that the Rockford IceHogs score in 2011-12, IceHogs head coach Ted Dent will make a donation to children’s cancer research. BMO Harris Bank will also make a donation for every goal to the “BMO Harris Bank Goals For Grades” |
Friday, April 6, 2012
GOALIE BATTLE GOES LAKE ERIE’S WAY
04/06/2012 9:00 AM
By: Mike Peck
Cleveland, Ohio- Statistically speaking, Carter Hutton and Cedrick Desjardins are two of the top eight goalies in the American Hockey League. They didn’t disappoint on Friday, but unfortunately for Rockford, Dejardins out did Hutton leading the Monsters to a 2-1 win over the IceHogs. Rockford and Lake Erie both came up empty in the first period on Friday night. The IceHogs peppered Desjardins with 15 shots while Hutton faced 12 on the Rockford side. Second period, same story as the goalies were the story. Hutton was on the busier end of the ice as he knocked away 14 Lake Erie shots. Rockford tallied nine attempts in on Dejardins. After a failed Rockford power play to begin the third period, Ryan Stoa hopped out of the penalty box and gave the Monsters the 1-0 lead with a breakaway goal. The winger banked the marker off the inside of Hutton’s left pad and in at 1:56 for his 14th goal of the season. Rockford responded at 5:50 of the final frame to tie the game at 1-1. Brian Fahey picked up a Jeremy Morin pass on the right face-off circle and beat Desjardins under the blocker for his sixth goal of the season. But a smooth transition rush put Lake Erie back on top for good. Dean Strong fed Greg Malone in the slot and the winger sniped his tenth goal of the season over the glove of Hutton at 10:45. The IceHogs couldn’t find the equalizer and Lake Erie held on to take the crucial two points to keep in the playoff picture. Hutton and Desjardins both finished the night with 34 saves. Next Home Game: Tuesday, April 10 vs. Charlotte Checkers. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. It's the last Taco Bell Dollar Day at the BMO Harris Bank Center as the IceHogs welcome the Checkers. Fans can get hot dogs, beers, sodas and companion tickets for just one dollar a piece. For every goal that the Rockford IceHogs score in 2011-12, IceHogs head coach Ted Dent will make a donation to children’s cancer research. BMO Harris Bank will also make a donation for every goal to the “BMO Harris Bank Goals For Grades” Next Home Game: Tuesday, April 10 vs. Charlotte Checkers. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. It's the last Taco Bell Dollar Day at the BMO Harris Bank Center as the IceHogs welcome the Checkers. Fans can get hot dogs, beers, sodas and companion tickets for just one dollar a piece. For every goal that the Rockford IceHogs score in 2011-12, IceHogs head coach Ted Dent will make a donation to children’s cancer research. BMO Harris Bank will also make a donation for every goal to the “BMO Harris Bank Goals For Grades” |
Thursday, April 5, 2012
ICEHOGS SALUTE FANS DURING FINAL WEEKEND OF THE REGULAR SEASON
04/05/2012 4:03 PM
By: Amy Spivey
On Friday, April 13, Rockford squares off against the Milwaukee Admirals for the 12th and final time this season at 7:05 p.m. The first 5,000 fans through the doors will receive a 2011-12 IceHogs team photo courtesy of the Rockford Register Star. Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night as the IceHogs close out their regular season slate against the Charlotte Checkers at 7:05 p.m. Another 5,000 IceHogs team photos will be given away, plus all fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes. After every whistle during Saturday’s contest, gift certificates and special offers will be given away from the following businesses: -Johnny Pamcakes -Gene’s Place -Mancuso’s -SuperSuds Car Care Center -Great Clips -Cherry Bowl -Buffalo Wild Wings -Chili’s -Olive Garden -Allegiant Air -Broadway Florist -Bove’s Auto & Truck Service -Corner Market -Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall -Jersey Mike’s Subs -Culver’s -Taco Bell -Papa John’s -Roly Poly In addition, fans will have the chance to win a jersey off the back of a current IceHogs skater following Saturday’s game. The team will also present numerous player awards before Saturday's tilt. The club will name its most valuable player, rookie of the year, most improved player, best defenseman, hardest hitter and man of the year. To purchase tickets for any remaining IceHogs home game, call 815-968-5222, visit icehogs.com or stop by the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office, which is open from 12-5 p.m. |
FORMER HOGS D-MAN NAMED SECOND TEAM ALL-STAR
04/05/2012 2:24 PM
By: Nate Haeni
Connelly, 25, spent parts of the last four seasons manning the IceHogs blue line before he was traded to the Calgary Flames on Jan. 27, 2012. The Bloomington, Minnesota native tallied 126 points (21g-105a) in 211 regular-season games. Connelly is Rockford's all-time leader for assists and points by a defenseman and was selected to his second-straight AHL All-Star Game in 2011-12. 2011-12 AHL First All-Star Team G Yann Danis, Oklahoma City Barons (40gp, 25-12-2, 2.11gaa, .924sv%, 5so) D Mark Barberio, Norfolk Admirals (69gp, 12+47=59pts., +23, 37 PP pts.) D Paul Postma, St. John’s IceCaps (55gp, 13+31=44pts., 24 PP pts., 3 GWG) LW Chris Bourque, Hershey Bears (67gp, 26+64=90pts., 50 PP pts.) C Keith Aucoin, Hershey Bears (43gp, 11+59=70pts., 38 PP pts.) RW Kyle Palmieri, Syracuse Crunch (46gp, 32+23=55pts., +11, 7 GWG) 2011-12 AHL Second All-Star Team G Ben Bishop, Peoria Rivermen/Binghamton Senators (41gp, 26-15-0, 2.27gaa, .930sv%, 6so) D Brian Connelly, Rockford IceHogs/Abbotsford Heat (69gp, 6+43=49pts., 20 PP pts.) D Clay Wilson, Abbotsford Heat (63gp, 15+26=41pts., +4, 3 GWG) LW Cory Conacher, Norfolk Admirals (70gp, 34+39=73pts., +11, 7 GWG) C T.J. Hensick, Peoria Rivermen (61gp, 21+46=67pts., 26 PP pts., 4 GWG) RW Jon DiSalvatore, Houston Aeros (70gp, 26+31=57pts., 27 PP pts., 3 GWG) Each All-Star Team member will receive a custom-designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2011-12 AHL First and Second All-Star Teams. |
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
ICEHOGS SHUTOUT 3-0 ON HOME ICE
04/10/2012 7:05 PM
By: Amy Spivey
Rockford, Ill.- Charlotte has been a tough team for the Rockford IceHogs to contend with on home ice this season. On Tuesday, a shutout performance from Checkers' goaltender Justin Peters kept the Hogs off the scoresheet as Charlotte took a 3-0 victory at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Brody Sutter got the scoring started for the Checkers at the 5:46 mark of the opening frame. Bobby Sanguinetti dropped a pass back to an open Sutter in the slot and the centerman put a slapper past Carter Hutton for his first career professional goal, giving the Checkers a 1-0 lead. Charlotte then garnered a two-goal lead early in the second period. Mathieu Roy fired a shot from the right faceoff circle that Hutton partially blocked, but the puck went off the tip of his glove and bounced behind the netminder’s shoulder at 3:32 of the middle frame. Rasums Rissanen sealed the game for Charlotte with a tally late in the third period. Evgenii Dadonov and Justin Krueger set up the defenseman, who sent a slapshot from the left point past Hutton to increase the Checkers lead to 3-0 and put away the IceHogs. Peters turned away all 22 shots he faced to earn the shutout while Hutton made 21 saves in the loss. Rockford was not able to convert on five power play chances on the night. Charlotte went 0-for-3 on their man advantage opportunities. Next Home Game: Friday, April 13 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. Midwest Division rivals Rockford and Milwaukee faceoff for the 12th and final time this season and for the sixth matchup at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive an IceHogs team photo courtesy of the Rockford Register Star. For every goal that the Rockford IceHogs score in 2011-12, IceHogs head coach Ted Dent will make a donation to children’s cancer research. BMO Harris Bank will also make a donation for every goal to the “BMO Harris Bank Goals For Grades” |
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE ANNOUNCES SUSPENSIONS
04/03/2012 1:41 PM
By: Mike Peck
Rockford center Rob Flick has been suspended three (3) games, Rockford defenseman Shawn Lalonde has been suspended three (3) games, Milwaukee center Michael Latta has been suspended three (3) games and Milwaukee goaltender Jeremy Smith has been suspended one (1) game for their actions. In addition, Rockford head coach Ted Dent, Milwaukee head coach Ian Herbers and both teams have all been fined an undisclosed amount. Flick and Lalonde will miss Rockford’s games on Friday (Apr. 6) and Saturday (Apr. 7) at Lake Erie, and Apr. 10 vs. Charlotte. Latta will miss Milwaukee’s games tonight (Apr. 3) and Thursday (Apr. 5) at Charlotte, and Saturday (Apr. 7) at San Antonio. Smith will miss Milwaukee’s game Thursday (Apr. 5) at Charlotte. The American Hockey League has also announced that Lake Erie Monsters left wing Patrick Bordeleau has been suspended for two (2) games as a consequence of an elbowing incident in a game at Texas on Apr. 1. Bordeleau will miss Lake Erie’s games Friday (Apr. 6) and Saturday (Apr. 7) vs. Rockford. |
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