Chicago Blackhawks return to the ice as “Phase 2” workouts begin
The Chicago Blackhawks ARE BACK. At the practice rink. As the NHL creeps closer to the return to action, what is being called “Phase 2” of the return to play… Read more »
Category Archives: Mario Tirabassi
‘Black Aces’ considerations for the Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks will eventually be playing meaningful games to close the 2019-20 season. After the NHL announced the league’s return to play format, centered around a 24-team “playoff” with… Read more »
NHL makes 24-team return to play format official, lays out draft lottery process
In a news conference on Tuesday afternoon, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the official NHL return to play format, the long-awaited and much-debated 24-team straight-to-playoffs format to conclude the 2019–20… Read more »
NHLPA authorizes further negotiations on NHL 24-team return to play format
Hockey is (almost) back. The NHLPA Executive Board authorized further negotiations with the NHL on the league’s “return to play” plan late Friday night. The plan’s format would be an… Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 3, Episode 19 – Blackhawks Fantasy Draft-a-palooza
The-Rink.com writers led by RHL (Rink Hockey League) Commissioner Mario Tirabassi and RHL General Managers Jeff Osborn (1st overall), Ron Luce (2nd), Eric Andrews (3rd), Aaron Goldschmidt (4th), John Jaeckel… Read more »
Report: Blackhawks not expected to sign goaltenders Gravel, Peeters
The Chicago Blackhawks’ future in net has been a point of discussion for some time now. It began with the signing of Robin Lehner last summer as a free agent… Read more »
IceHogs head coach Derek King, captain Tyler Sikura recap 2019–20 season
The 2019–20 AHL season came to a bitter end on Monday, as the league made the decision to shut down the remainder of the season, including the 2020 Calder Cup… Read more »
AHL announces cancellation of 2019-20 season and playoffs
It’s official. The 2019-20 AHL regular season and 2020 Calder Cup Playoffs have been canceled. In a statement released Monday morning, the league announced its decision to end the season… Read more »
Sikura, IceHogs start fund for healthcare workers during COVID-19
Wednesday, May 6 is National Nurses Day in the United States. It marks the start of Nurses Week, which runs until May 12. As we know, the global COVID-19 pandemic… Read more »
Rockford IceHogs postseason awards (if this is the end)
“We’ve played every season. We’ve had the good fortune that this league has never stopped playing. There’s a lot of firsts happening. I don’t really see, at this point, how… Read more »
Jacob Nilsson signs two-year contract with Färjestad BK
While the NHL and AHL seasons are on pause, players are not waiting to make their next moves. On Sunday afternoon, it was announced that Rockford IceHogs forward Jacob Nilsson… Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 3, Episode 17 – Video Roundtable Pt 2
The-Rink.com writers John Jaeckel, Jeff “El Gatekeeper” Osborn, Mario Tirabassi, Juliana Nikac, Lucas Rozell, Marie Sexton, Eric Andrews, Matt Csakai and Sean Fitzgerald get together again on Facebook live to… Read more »
Two-time Stanley Cup champion Kris Versteeg announces retirement
Following a 15-year career, 643 NHL games and two Stanley Cup championships, former Chicago Blackhawks winger Kris Versteeg officially announced his retirement from hockey on Tuesday morning. A former fifth-round… Read more »
Blackhawks, Ian Mitchell agree to terms on entry-level contract
While the NHL season continues to be on pause, the Chicago Blackhawks are making moves with prospect contracts. Coming off the heels of signing Michal Teply on Friday, the Blackhawks… Read more »
Blackhawks Rinkcast – Season 3, Episode 16 – Video Roundtable
The-Rink.com writers John Jaeckel, Jeff “El Gatekeeper” Osborn, Mario Tirabassi, Aaron Goldschmidt, Ron Luce, Eric Andrews, Eric Johnson, and Sean Fitzgerald get together to lightheartedly discuss the lack of hockey… Read more »
Collin Delia named Rockford IceHogs 2019–20 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year
For the second time in three seasons since joining the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization, goaltender Collin Delia has been named the Rockford IceHogs IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. It… Read more »
Blackhawks agree to extensions with Highmore and Lankinen, sign Barratt and Altybarmakyan
There was actual hockey news on Thursday afternoon, as the Chicago Blackhawks announced four contract agreements. The team reached contract extensions with Matthew Highmore and Kevin Lankinen and signed 2017 draft… Read more »
Jonathan Toews donates to Chicago COVID-19 Response Fund
It is a difficult time in the world. There is no hockey. There are no sports. The news is no fun. We are stuck inside. We need good news and… Read more »
Rockford IceHogs living in limbo during AHL season suspension
March 11, 2020 will forever be remembered by sports fan around the world. Heck, even non-sports fans will remember the day that the world seemed to grind to a halt…. Read more »
Blackhawks and IceHogs taking precautions over Coronavirus concerns
Following the joint statement from the MLB, NBA, MLS and NHL on Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs are taking procedures to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. Teams… Read more »
War Pigs Report: IceHogs doing just enough to stay in postseason hunt
The Rockford IceHogs are not going away easy. I’ll save you the poetry this week. With just 13 games remaining on the schedule, the IceHogs currently sit in a tie… Read more »
War Pigs Report: IceHogs sticking around in Calder Cup playoff hunt
The Rockford IceHogs will not go gently into that good night. They will continue to rage, rage against the dying light that is their slim Calder Cup playoff hopes. After… Read more »
Blackhawks acquire T.J. Brennan, will report to IceHogs
It was a rather underwhelming trade deadline for the Chicago Blackhawks in the eyes of the fan community. After the trades of defenseman Erik Gustafsson and goaltender Robin Lehner, Chicago… Read more »
Ryan Shea cementing legacy at Northeastern as Blackhawks future awaits
The Chicago Blackhawks have a relatively robust defensive prospect pipeline in their farm system. Adam Boqvist and Dennis Gilbert have developed into NHL-caliber players, Lucas Carlsson has shown consistency with… Read more »
War Pigs report: IceHogs climb back into the playoff hunt
Like I was saying in the last War Pigs report, everything is fine! The IceHogs are still alive in the Calder Cup Playoff hunt and nothing is wrong with the… Read more »