Hogs Host Griffins for Friday Night Action
February 2, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
ROCKFORD, Ill.-Tonight is the first of eight straight weekend games at home for the Rockford IceHogs as they get set to take on the Grand Rapids Griffins at the BMO Center. The Hogs will play inside the friendly confines of the BMO Center on every Friday and Saturday in the month of February, starting tonight.
Hockey Is For Everyone Night & $2 Beer Friday
Hockey Is For Everyone Night will be a night of pride and inclusivity! It's also a $2 Beer Friday with $2 Bud Light, Budweiser, and Busch Light cans available at most concession stands through the second intermission.
2023-24 Season Records
Rockford: 16-19-3-1, 36 points (4th, Central Division)
Grand Rapids: 19-15-4-1, 43 points (3rd, Central Division)
Last Time Out vs. Griffins (Jan. 24 - L 3-1)
The Griffins kept the IceHogs in check during a 3-1 decision the last time the two clubs met on Jan. 24 in Grand Rapids. Rockford scored first, but Grand Rapids pieced together three goals in the third period to take control. The Griffins only committed two minor penalties and Rockford did not have a single power play in the game.
January 30, 2024
GAME PREVIEW: 1/30/24 vs. Manitoba
Last Game vs. Moose (Jan. 30 - L 4-1)
The IceHogs dropped their fourth straight game in a 4-1 contest against the Manitoba Moose at the BMO Center on Tuesday night. Manitoba scored twice in the first three minutes of the first period and never relinquished the lead.
Brad Lambert and Dawson Barteaux scored the first two goals of the game just over two minutes apart. Three minutes later, Anders Bjork scored his eighth of the season for Rockford to cut the Manitoba lead in half.
Barteaux scored his second of the game in the third period after Jeffrey Viel lit the lamp in the second. Rockford was outshot 29-23 in the game. Brandon Baddock fought Tyrel Bauer and Logan Nijhoff dropped the gloves with Parker Ford.
Front Runners
To no surprise, scoring first and scoring early has been critical to Rockford's success this season. The IceHogs are the only team in the AHL with a perfect record (9-0-0-0) when leading after the first period. It should also be noted that the Hogs are tied for the fewest leads after one period this season with nine. Rockford is a sturdy 15-2-1-1 when scoring first in a game, but is also just 1-17-2-0 when allowing the first goal. The Hogs' .842 points percentage when scoring first ranks seventh in the AHL, but Rockford's 19 first goals ranks back at 20th in the AHL. The IceHogs have overcome deficits in the third period of four games this season to at least force overtime.
Sorensen Inducted into Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame
IceHogs Head Coach Anders Sorensen was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on Sunday evening at the Belvedere Banquet Hall in Elk Grove. Sorensen's inclusion in the 19th Class of Illinois Hall of Fame Inductees spurred from his contributions to the game across the state. Sorensen has served as a key part of the Blackhawks and IceHogs family since 2014 when he joined the organization as a development coach. The Sodertalje, Sweden native spent five seasons in that role before stepping onto the IceHogs bench as an assistant coach from 2018-19 to 2020-21. Since 2018 when Sorensen was hired as an assistant coach, 28 IceHogs players have gone on to make their debuts in the NHL. In addition to his time in Rockford, Sorensen spent several years with the Chicago Mission, one of the top AAA teams in the Chicagoland area, and helped develop NHL talents such as Ryan Hartman, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Nick Schmaltz.
Roster Moves
The IceHogs received two players from the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in the forms of defenseman Louis Crevier and forward Cole Guttman. Crevier has appeared in just three of Rockford's last 22 games after making his return to the Hogs' lineup on Tuesday against Manitoba. Since his NHL debut on Dec. 3 against Minnesota, the defenseman has spent a majority of his time with the Blackhawks. Guttman last played with Rockford on Nov. 22 against Manitoba and posted a goal and two assists in that contest. The center has nine points (3G, 6A) in 13 games with Rockford so far this season, and he also has three multi-point efforts in his previous stint with the IceHogs. Guttman was voted as Rockford's Rookie of the Year by hockey staff at end of last season following his 30 points (16G, 14A) in 39 games. He picked up eight points (4G, 4A) in 27 games with the Blackhawks this season.
Feb. 3 - Fleece Blanket Giveaway
The first 2,500 fans to Saturday's game will receive an IceHogs 25th season logo fleece blanket presented by BMO!
Tune In LIVE on the IceHogs Broadcast Network Presented by BMO
Watch and listen to every game this season on the IceHogs Broadcast Network presented by BMO! Listen from your favorite device, at home, or on the road at IceHogs.com and on the IceHogs app and watch LIVE on AHLTV and selected games in High Definition on 19.2 Circle TV! Fans can also tune in on all of Mid-West Family's local stations including 104.9 The X, B103, 95.3 The Bull, and Rockford Greatest Hits 100.5 and featured on Rock River Current, the Stateline's premiere source for local events, news and culture.
2023-24 Head-to-Head Schedule (All Times Central)
Oct. 28 vs. Grand Rapids - W 3-0 - Recap, Highlights
Dec. 27 vs. Grand Rapids - L 4-2 - Recap, Highlights
Jan. 12 @ Grand Rapids - W 2-0 - Recap, Highlights
Jan. 13 @ Grand Rapids - OTW 3-2 - Recap, Highlights
Jan. 24 @ Grand Rapids - L 3-1 - Recap, Highlights
Feb. 2 vs. Grand Rapids 7 p.m.
Feb. 17 vs. Grand Rapids 7 p.m.
Mar. 2 @ Grand Rapids 6 p.m.
Mar. 23 vs. Grand Rapids 7 p.m.
Apr. 12 @ Grand Rapids 6 p.m.
IceHogs vs Griffins, All-time
66-53-6-4
American Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2024
- Hardman Ties Game Late in Third Period, Falls in Shootout - Rockford IceHogs
- Amerks Drop First of Two in Laval - Rochester Americans
- Admirals Make It an Even Dozen - Milwaukee Admirals
- Phantoms Erupt in Third to Halt Hershey - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Brett Berard's Overtime Heroics Push Wolf Pack to Win 5-4 Overtime Victory Over Penguins - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Islanders Top Thunderbirds, 5-1 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Condors Hold off Stars to Win Weekend Opener - Texas Stars
- Providence Pulls Away in Third to Defeat Checkers 4-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Wolves Maul Monsters 5-0 for Sixth Consecutive Road Win - Chicago Wolves
- Third Period Offense Lifts P-Bruins Past Checkers - Providence Bruins
- Skinner Scores, But T-Birds Stumble in Bridgeport - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Comets Shut Out By Marlies, 4-0 - Utica Comets
- Condors Shrug off Deficits, Mess with Texas - Bakersfield Condors
- Point Streak Snapped in 4-1 Bears Loss to Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Pens Come Back to Force OT, Lose to Wolf Pack, 5-4 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Monsters Blanked 5-0 by Wolves - Cleveland Monsters
- Crunch Fall to Senators, 3-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- San Jose Barracuda Name Radim Simek as Team's Captain - San Jose Barracuda
- San Diego Gulls Reassign Anthony Costantini to Tulsa - San Diego Gulls
- The Abbotsford Shuttle: Taking Advantage of Alignment and Location to Win at the NHL and AHL Level - Abbotsford Canucks
- Morning Skate Report: February 2, 2024 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Josh Doan Added to the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic Roster - Tucson Roadrunners
- Kyle Capobianco Added to 2024 AHL All-Star Classic Presented by Tech CU - Manitoba Moose
- Doan, Capobianco Added to Rosters for 2024 AHL All-Star Classic Presented by Tech CU - AHL
- Four Theme Nights, Six Home Games Highlight Amerks Busy February Schedule - Rochester Americans
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild at Henderson Silver Knights - Iowa Wild
- Wolf Pack Welcome Penguins to Town with Eye Toward Revenge - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Hogs Host Griffins for Friday Night Action - Rockford IceHogs
- Bojangles Game Preview: February 2 vs. Providence - Charlotte Checkers
- T-Birds Recall D Marc-Andre Gaudet from Orlando - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Wranglers Foiled by Firebirds - Calgary Wranglers
- Game Preview: Bears at Phantom, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Game Preview: Condors at Stars, 5 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Bridgeport Islanders Host Springfield for Second Time in Three Nights - Bridgeport Islanders
- Firebirds Extend Point Streak With 5-2 Win Over Wranglers - Coachella Valley Firebirds
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