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Rockford IceHogs

Hogs nab four veterans in dispersal draft

June 15, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release


Rockford, Ill.- For the second time in two weeks, the United Hockey League held a dispersal draft and the Rockford IceHogs acquired the rights of five players. Players in the most recent dispersal draft skated for the Adirondack Frostbite and Danbury Trashers, both of who suspended operations for the 2006-07 season on Monday.

Overall, Rockford picked up three former Trashers and two former Frostbite players. Rockford picked seventh in each of the drafts' five rounds and the Hogs chose Danbury winger Shawn Collymore with its first pick. The 2005-06 campaign was Collymore's second in the pro ranks and he made a big impact for Danbury netting 23g-26a-49pts in 61 games. Collymore had success against Rockford as well, as the Lasalle, Quebec native notched a pair of goals and added an assist in the Trashers 6-4 win over the Hogs on March 11 in Danbury.

In Round Two, the IceHogs grabbed Trashers veteran defenseman Dave MacIsaac. MacIsaac has 467 games of American and International Hockey League experience and has appeared in 600 overall games at the professional level. In 53 games with Danbury last year, MacIsaac tallied 15g-25a-40pts and accumulated 130 penalty minutes.

The first Adirondack skater picked up by Rockford was veteran winger Blue Bennefield. The Calgary, Alberta native split his sixth full pro season between the Frostbite and the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters. Overall, Bennefield scored 12g-14a-26pts in 65 games while racking up 308 PIM's. Last season marked Bennefield's second with Adirondack.

Rockford took Danbury veteran center Mike Omicioli in Round Four of the Dispersal Draft. The 5'-5" Omicioli completed his seventh full pro season in '05-06. The centerman notched 19g-46a-65pts in 61 games with the Trashers and appeared in four games with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers helping with a goal and five assists in four games. During his seven-year career, the West Warwick, RI native has 48 games of AHL experience.

In the fifth and final round of the Dispersal Draft, the IceHogs selected Danbury veteran winger Jamie Thompson. Thompson completed his third season in the UHL in '05-06 and 10th pro season overall. Last season the Framingham, Mass. native accumulated 8g-10a-18pts in 39 games. His top professional season came in 1997-98 with the El Paso Buzzards (WPHL) when the winger scored 71g-51a-122pts and was named the Western Professional Hockey League's Most Valuable Player and Man of the Year.

Season Tickets Now Available: The Rockford IceHogs just wrapped up its most successful campaign in club history and we want you along for the ride in 2006-07. Season ticket packages are now available for the Hogs' 8th season in Rockford by calling (815) 986-6465. Ticket packages start as low as $95!

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from June 15, 2006


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