IceHogs Head to Michigan for Friday Night Match vs. Griffins
January 12, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Rockford IceHogs face off against the Grand Rapids Griffins tonight at Van Andel Arena for a 6 p.m. puck drop. Tonight's contest is the third of 10 scheduled meetings, and it's the first time the IceHogs have met the Griffins at Van Andel Arena this season. Rockford is 1-1-0-0 against Grand Rapids this season after a 3-0 win on Oct. 28 and a 4-2 loss on Dec. 27 at the BMO Center.
2023-24 Season Records
Rockford: 13-14-3-1, 30 points (4th, Central)
Grand Rapids: 14-13-3-1, 32 points (3rd, Central)
Last Time Out: 5-3 Win at Texas (Jan. 6)
The IceHogs topped the Texas Stars 5-3 on Jan. 6 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Down 2-1 after the first, Rockford scored two goals in the second and two goals in the third to claim victory. Anders Bjork provided two goals for the Hogs, including a shorthanded score to give Rockford a 3-2 lead in the second and another tally in the third to extend the advantage to 5-3.
Rockford came up empty on the power play, but the PK came through with a five-minute kill in the first period after Brandon Baddock was given a major penalty. Mitchell Weeks picked up his second win of the season for the Hogs with 28 saves on 31 shots.
Crevier & Seney Arrive from Chicago
Two reinforcements arrived from the Chicago Blackhawks this last week in the form of Brett Seney and Louis Crevier. Seney played in four games with the Hawks and has now appeared in the NHL for five out of his six full professional seasons. The only exception was the 2020-21 COVID-altered season. Crevier returns to Rockford after skating in his first 13 NHL contests and recording three assists in the process. Seney has missed Rockford's last two contests and Crevier has been in the NHL for the Hogs' last 14 games. The two were both pulled up to the NHL due in large part to Chicago's injuries at the NHL level. Heading into last weekend, nine Blackhawks players were on IR and eight of them were forwards.
Shorthanded Score
Ander's Bjork's first goal on Saturday against the Stars marked Rockford's third shorthanded goal of the season-the first of his professional career. Bryce Kindopp netted the IceHogs' first shortie of the campaign against the San Jose Barracuda on the 2023-24 season's opening night on Oct. 13. Jackson Cates tallied the second shorthanded goal of the season on Dec. 16 before Rockford signed him to a one-year AHL contract on an empty net against the Iowa Wild. The Laval Rocket lead the AHL in shorties with nine on the season.
Points Scramble
David Gust is Rockford's leading scorer (9G, 16A) and had two assists on Saturday against the Stars. Gust has three multi-point efforts in his last seven appearances, and he leads the team with eight multi-point games on the season. With four points (2G, 2A) in his last three contests, Anders Bjork now ranks second among active IceHogs with 19 points (6G, 13A) in 23 games after netting a pair of goals in Saturday's game against the Stars. With an assist in his last game on Saturday, rookie Antti Saarela has points in three straight games (2G, 1A) and now has five points (4G, 1A) for the season. Rookie Jalen Luypen had two apples against Texas on Saturday and now has eight points (1G, 7A) this season, including six points in his last eight appearances.
Mr. Consistent
Mike Hardman was one of four different IceHogs to score on Saturday against the Stars, pitching in with a goal and an assist. The Hanover, Massachusetts native has points in four of his last five games (2G, 3A) and is tied for third in scoring among active IceHogs with 17 points (7G, 10A). Hardman had 18 points (5G, 13A) in 58 games last season and is on track to surpass his total from the 2022-23 campaign.
Del Mastro To Represent Rockford At 2024 AHL All-Star Classic
Rookie defenseman Ethan Del Mastro has been selected to represent the Rockford IceHogs at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU in San Jose, California. Del Mastro earned All-Star honors after posting 17 points (4G, 13A) in his first 31 professional games. The defenseman recorded his first professional point with an assist on Oct. 27 against the Iowa Wild, and he scored his first pro goal on Oct. 28 against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Del Mastro is one of three IceHogs (Nolan Allan and Michal Teply the other two) to play in every game this season. Del Mastro is the first IceHogs defenseman selected as an All-Star since Andrew Campbell in 2019. At 20 years, 11 months, and 27 days old, he is also the youngest IceHog to be announced as an All-Star since Adam Clendening in 2013.
Next Home Game
The IceHogs' next home game is Friday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. against the Chicago Wolves on another $2 Beer Friday! Every Friday home game is a $2 Beer Friday, featuring $2 cans of Bud Light, Budweiser, and Busch Light available at numerous concession areas through the end of the second intermission. Not a beer drinker? You can get a 12-oz soft drink for just $2 every Friday as well!
13th Annual Autism Awareness Night & Jersey Auction
The Rockford IceHogs are proud to host their 13th annual Autism Awareness Night, presented by LawnCare By Walter, Inc., on Saturday, Jan. 20 against the Iowa Wild at 7 p.m. at the BMO Center. The IceHogs will wear specialty "Blackout" jerseys featuring a neon version of the IceHogs primary logo on the crest of an all black jersey adorned with blue and red Autism Awareness-themed puzzle pieces across the front and the sleeves. The jerseys will be auctioned off during and after the game.
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 (Changing from 19.2 to The 365 starting on Dec. 31)! 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 6 p.m.
Jan. 13 @ Grand Rapids 6 p.m.
Jan. 24 @ Grand Rapids 6 p.m.
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
64-52-6-4
American Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2024
- Askarov Nets Another Shutout - Milwaukee Admirals
- Wranglers Fall to Reign - Calgary Wranglers
- Griffins Shut Out 2-0 In Central Division Clash With Rockford - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Appert Reaches Milestone Win as Amerks Outlast Checkers, 3-2 - Rochester Americans
- Phantoms Pounce Past Wolf Pack 4-1 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Belleville Sens' Win Streak Ends at Seven After Penalty-Filled Affair in Toronto - Belleville Senators
- Wolf Pack Drop Road Trip Finale 4-1 to Phantoms - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Jakub Dobes Makes 29 Stops in Laval Home Victory - Manitoba Moose
- Monsters Fall Short in 5-4 Loss to Comets - Cleveland Monsters
- Penguins Lose to Bruins in Overtime, 3-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Weeks Blanks Griffins 2-0 in First Professional Shutout - Rockford IceHogs
- Subban Superb & Gaudette Tallies Hat Trick in Win at Syracuse - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Rochester Tops Checkers 3-2 in Outdoor Classic Warmup - Charlotte Checkers
- P-Bruins Complete Late Comeback, Top Penguins in Overtime - Providence Bruins
- Crunch Downed by Thunderbirds, 4-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Dowling's Heroics Late Leads Comets Over Monsters, Win 5-4 - Utica Comets
- Rangers Recall Forward Anton Blidh from Wolf Pack - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Morning Skate Report: January 12, 2024 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Game Notes - ONT vs CGY - 01.12.2024 - Calgary Wranglers
- Blues Loan F Jakub Vrana to T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Texas Stars Release Goaltender Jared Moe from Professional Tryout - Texas Stars
- Dennis Hildeby and Alex Steeves Named to AHL All-Star Classic - Toronto Marlies
- San Jose Barracuda Add Forward Mitchell Fossier to PTO - San Jose Barracuda
- Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Defenseman Max Crozier from Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Millman to Reading Royals - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Wolf Pack Conclude Road Trip in Allentown - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild at San Diego Gulls - Iowa Wild
- Game Preview: Condors at San Jose, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- IceHogs Head to Michigan for Friday Night Match vs. Griffins - Rockford IceHogs
- Providence Bruins Recall Kyle Keyser, Ryan Mast, and Adam Mechura from Maine Mariners - Providence Bruins
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