Central Division Leaders Battle in Rockford
January 3, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill. - The Rockford IceHogs return to the BMO Harris Bank Center tonight at 4 p.m. to meet their neighbor to the north, the Milwaukee Admirals, for another top Central Division matchup.
Fans will be able to enter the BMO starting at 3 p.m., and hour before the puck drops. The first 2,500 fans through the doors will receive Rockford IceHogs trading cards courtesy of the Rockford Register Star.
After the game fans will have the opportunity to skate with the Hogs in the second of three post-game skates this season. Participants must provide their own skates. No rentals will be available at the arena.
For tickets, purchase online at IceHogs.com, at phone number (815) 968-5222, in person at the BMO?Harris Bank Center Box Office in downtown Rockford, or any Ticketmaster outlet, including Walmart.
The game will be broadcast on WIFR's "Justice Network" on 23.3 starting with IceHogs Warm Up at 3:30 p.m., as well as Comcast Cable channel 434, Charter Cable channel 194 or Mediacom Channel 102 in the Rockford market, and online through AHLLive.com. Fans can also listen for free online at WXRX.com or by using the IceHogs mobile app. Follow along on Twitter (@goIceHogs) for live updates throughout the game.
Rockford (19-9-2-3) comes in to tonight's matchup against Milwaukee (23-10-1-0) after suffering a 2-0 shutout loss to Chicago last night. Milwaukee, however, is coming to the BMO with a 3-1 win over Lake Erie the previous night and have won six of their last seven games.
The Admirals currently have the upper-hand in this Central Division rivalry, defeating the IceHogs five out of seven times, with three of those wins occurring post-regulation. They have recently swapped spots with Rockford on the Central Division leader board, hanging on to the first place spot with .691 win percentage (47 pts) in contrast to second place Rockford's .652 win percentage (43 pts).
In order to deliver a win to the home crowd the IceHogs will look to quiet Max Gortz who has recorded 15 points (6g-9a) within the past ten games for the Admirals. Gortz is tied for eighth on the AHL rookie scorers leader board with 9g-14a (23 pts) this season.
On the flip side, Rockford has its own rookie scoring-power punch to bring to the table as Vince Hinostroza leads the Hogs in points against the Admirals (2g-3a-5pts). Hinostroza's first professional goal was netted in Milwaukee on Dec. 18, just moments after assisting on a goal from P.C. Labrie.
Next Home Game: Jan. 12 vs. Chicago Wolves at 7 p.m. The Illinois Lottery Cup contest is also another "Winning Weekday." If the IceHogs win, every fan in attendance will receive a free ticket of equal or lesser value to the next weekday game. Fans can also enjoy $2 beers, sodas, hot dogs, and companion tickets. The first 1,500 fans who enter through the doors will receive a slice of pizza from Papa Johns.
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