AHL Rockford IceHogs

Celebrity Coaches Set for Heritage Night

Published on November 2, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release


Rockford, Ill.- With the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs alumni rosters already set for Heritage Night, the IceHogs announced both squads' celebrity coaches for the Nov. 12 tilt.

The Alumni game will take place at 4 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Saturday, Nov. 12, before the IceHogs take on the Peoria Rivermen later that night.

Rockford Icemen Head Coach Tim Mattila will be joined by local radio personalities Jim Stone and Double T behind the bench on the IceHogs alumni. At the helm for the Blackhawks side, Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard will be joined by longtime Blackhawks equipment manager Lou Varga.

A guest color commentator on the IceHogs Broadcasting Network, Mattila is familiar with serving as a bench boss in Rockford after acting as interim head coach in March 2004. And there will be some familiar faces on the IceHogs roster for Mattila, as Steve Cygan, Kenzie Homer and Dan Davies all played for the 2003-04 UHL IceHogs team. Mattila currently serves as coordinator for the Rockford Hockey Club and Varsity Head Coach for the Icemen, where he has accumulated 15 straight Illinois Combined State Titles.

Jim Stone and Double T of the weekday afternoon "Stone and Double T" show on WXRX in Rockford will round out the IceHogs alumni coaches.

Bernard is also familiar with the head coaching job in Rockford after serving as the IceHogs coach during the 2003-04 season, but this time the job will put him in charge of the Blackhawks alumni. The Hamilton, Ontario, native played 13 overall seasons of professional hockey at goalie.

A former Blackhawks equipment manager, Varga will join Bernard behind the Blackhawks alumni bench for the contest.

The current IceHogs squad, along with the Alumni, will wear special throwback jerseys which will be auctioned off. Fans can submit bids on their favorite jerseys during a blind-silent auction on the main concourse. Proceeds will help provide youth hockey scholarships.

Fans with tickets to the IceHogs contest at 7:05 p.m. can gain early admission to the Alumni Game. For questions about Heritage Night or for tickets to the game, call the IceHogs office at (815) 847-6399.

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