It’s finally opening night. The 2018-19 Rockford IceHogs season is upon us. After one of the most successful years in franchise AHL history, the IceHogs hit the ice with high expectations and a roster that just may exceed them in the 20th year of professional Hockey in Rockford.
Rockford IceHogs Look To Build Off Successful 2017-18
Last year did not end the way the IceHogs would have wanted to, losing in Game Six of the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals against the Texas Stars. But, the changes in the coaching staff and roster turnover from 2016-17 to 2017-18 took Rockford from the bottom of the Central Division to the AHL’s version of the Final Four.
The Rockford IceHogs celebrate their overtime win over the Texas Stars in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals. (Courtesy: Rockford IceHogs)
Not Bad.
Now second-year Head Coach Jeremy Colliton is tasked with living up to the expectations that last year’s team set. While the departures of high-production players like Cody Franson, Chris DiDomenico, Adam Clendening, and veteran net-minder Jeff Glass left holes in the Rockford lineup, this year’s squad has more than enough talent to fill the gaps and then some.
Meet The IceHogs
Earlier this summer, The-Rink came out with a WAY TOO EARLY IceHogs roster prediction for what the 2018-19 roster would look like in Rockford. It was pretty close to what the team will look like when they take the ice Friday night in Cleveland against the Monsters.
My Predictions (from July 24):
Forwards
- Tyler Sikura
- Anthony Louis
Luke JohnsonAndreas Martinsen- Nathan Noel
- Henrik Samuelsson
- Graham Knott
- William Pelletier
- Matheson Iacopelli
- Jacob Nilsson
- Alexandre Fortin
- Matthew Highmore
- Jordan Schroeder
Defensemen/Goalies
- Carl Dahlstrom
- Blake Hillman
- Dennis Gilbert
- Lucas Carlsson
- Joni Tuulola
- Darren Raddysh
- Andrew Campbell
- Collin Delia
- Kevin Lankinen
Rockford IceHogs 2018-19 Season Opening Forwards
Rockford IceHogs 2018-19 Season Opening Defensemen and Goalies
Roster Breakdown
A few wrong guesses in there with Luke Johnson and Andreas Martinsen making the Chicago Blackhawks roster out of training camp, but those players are off-set by the addition of Victor Ejdsell and Dylan Sikura to the IceHogs lineup.
Ejdsell and Sikura were penciled into the Blackhawks’ top-nine forwards rotation by most to begin the summer. Both had a small sample size of NHL action with the Blackhawks last Spring and Ejdsell made a name for himself within the organization with his play in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Both ended up not impressing the Blackhawks staff enough during their play this Summer and find themselves as top priorities in Rockford this season.
Needless to say, having Dylan Sikura join his brother Tyler Sikura to begin the year will be a treat.
You have to call me Dragon.
…You have to call me Nighthawk. pic.twitter.com/AMMEHmCSut
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 3, 2018
The IceHogs ended up having 14 rookies make their professional hockey debuts last season and each one of them returns to this year’s opening roster. The second-year “veterans” are highlighted by the return of last season’s points leader in Anthony Louis (who cut his hair, by the way), last season’s top two goal-scoring leaders in Matthew Highmore (24G) and Tyler Sikura (23G), and last season’s breakout goaltender and Rockford IceHogs ‘Man of The Year’ recipient, Collin Delia.
With the second-year players coming back, the IceHogs roster would already be in great shape to contend in the Central Division again in 2018-19, but Rockford is benefiting from another high-caliber first year professional group of player coming in this season. Highlighted by Jacob Nilsson, Blake Hillman, Dennis Gilbert, Joni Tuulola, and goaltender Kevin Lankinen, the IceHogs rookie class looks to live up to the production standards set by the 2017-18 group.
Matthew Highmore of the Rockford IceHogs. (Courtesy: Todd Reicher)
Additionally, the IceHogs added a number of true veterans to the roster this season. On defense, Rockford welcomes 10-year pro Andrew Campbell to the team with 9-year pro Jordan Schroeder and 6-year pro Terry Broadhurst joining the forwards group.
Campbell is the most seasoned veteran player on the Rockford roster coming into this season with 42 NHL games and 655 AHL games under his belt. Campbell has been named a Captain for three different AHL teams in his career, most recently serving as the Tucson Roadrunners Captain last season. Schroeder joins the IceHogs with 165 games of NHL experience and 340 AHL games played in his career, scoring 88 points in his last 113 AHL games over the last three years.
Orland Park native Terry Broadhurst returns to the IceHogs after playing 112 games with Rockford from 2012-2014. Broadhurst has 219 games of AHL experience, finishing second in scoring with the Cleveland Monsters last season with 41 points in 66 games.
What’s Next?
WHAT’s NEXT, YOU ASK? HOCKEY!
The Rockford IceHogs open the 2018-19 regular season on Friday night as they take on the Cleveland Monsters in Cleveland. Puck drop is set for 7pm ET/6pm CT. They follow-up Friday night’s game with a Saturday afternoon contest again the same Cleveland Monsters in Cleveland, puck drop will be 1pm ET/12pm CT.
After the road back-to-back, the IceHogs return home and take on Texas Stars on Saturday, October 13 at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Home opening puck drop will be 6pm CT in Rockford.
Happy Hockey Season!