It's Hockey Time in Rockford!

The leaves on the trees have starting to turn in Rockford, that must mean Hockey is soon to follow. The IceHogs hosted a Open House this past Friday September 18, 2009 at the Rockford MetroCentre. It featured guided tours of the facility & locker rooms, open skating, Season Tickets Sales booth, assorted IceHogs items for sale and a Q & A in a Town Hall setting with GM Mark Bernard.

The IceHogs then officially opened their Training Camp Sunday September 20, 2009 with 19 contracted players and 19 invitees. Returning from their Rookie season are standouts: Pete MacArthur, Dan Bertram, Mike Brennan, and Nathan Davis. Also returning to the IceHogs is Blackhawk prospect, Akim Aliu. The Blackhawks assigned Aliu to Rockford last week during their Training Camp in Chicago. A welcome addition to the IceHogs this season will be winger Derek Nesbitt. Nesbitt, as you may remember, was a late addition to the Hogs during the 2007-2008 season. He spent last season playing for several AHL teams.
















But, the big mystery right now is: "Who will be in Goal to start the season for the IceHogs?" Both Corey Crawford and Antti Niemi have returned to the Blackhawks organization this year, but they are both still committed to the Blackhawks while they fight for the #2 spot behind starter Cristobal Huet. Apparently both Crawford & Niemi will be traveling with the Hawks when they leave for Finland next week for the team's scheduled pre-season games there. That leaves Rockford with three eager prospects to fill their skates...Joe Fallon, Joe Palmer and Alec Richards. Fallon was the IceHogs #3 man last season and filled in a few times while either Crawford or Niemi were on recall to Chicago. Fallon was based with the Blackhawks' ECHL affiliates, while Palmer and Richards were playing for their College teams last season.














The first Pre-Season Game is scheduled for tomorrow night, September 23, 2009 at the Carlson Ice Arena in Rockford. It's pits the dreaded rival team of the Chicago Wolves against the IceHogs. Tickets go on sale to the public at 12noon the day of game, only $5. All seats are general admission. Buy your tickets early, as it is a small venue. The second pre-season game is slated for Friday September 24, 2009 against the Peoria Rivermen at Peoria. On Saturday, September 25, 2009 the IceHogs will host the Rivermen at the MetroCentre for the last scheduled pre-season game. Tickets are on sale now at the Box Office and at the IceHogs store in CherryVale Mall for Saturday's game.