On Wednesday afternoon, the American Hockey League announced the full 2019–20 regular season schedule for all 31 teams. For the Rockford IceHogs, they begin the season on the road on Oct. 4 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, against the Iowa Wild. Rockford’s home opener is Oct. 12 against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
IceHogs announce 2019–20 regular season schedule
The Rockford IceHogs are coming off of what some would call a disappointing season. After reaching the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals during the 2018 AHL playoffs under new head coach (at the time) Jeremy Colliton, the 2018–19 season had high expectations for the IceHogs. A combination of a coaching change and inconsistent offensive output led to the IceHogs falling just short of reaching the AHL playoffs last year with interim head coach Derek King.
Now, heading into the 2019–20 season, King returns as head coach with assistant coach Anders Sorensen to lead a young roster, hopefully, back to the postseason. It will all begin on Oct. 4 at the Wells Fargo Arena for the 2019–20 season opener against the Iowa Wild.
Here is the full 2019–20 Rockford IceHogs schedule:
The Rockford IceHogs 2019–20 Regular Season schedule
A few notes about the 2019–20 schedule for the IceHogs:
- Rockford takes on the AHL North Division this season 10 times
- Cleveland Monsters (four), Laval Rocket (two), Toronto Marlies (two) and Belleville Bulls (two)
- First meetings in team history against Laval and Belleville
- Rockford’s reamaining 66 games will come against the Central Division
- Chicago Wolves (12), Milwaukee Admirals (12), Grand Rapids Griffins (10), Texas Stars (eight), San Antonio Rampage (eight), Iowa Wild (eight) and Manitoba Moose (eight)
- Rockford will not play a game in the Pacific Time Zone this season
- The IceHogs will finish the final 23 games of the regular season against Central Division opponents
- Rockford’s longest road trip is five games from Feb. 22–March 1
- Rockford’s longest home-stretch is six games from Jan. 25–Feb. 8
- The IceHogs will celebrate New Year’s Eve on the road against the Manitoba Moose.
- THe IceHogs have a trio of three-in-three stretches
- Feb. 21–23, March 6–8 and March 27–29
- For the fifth year in a row, the IceHogs open the season on the road, with their last season-opening home game coming in the 2014–15 season.
- Rockford finishes the 2019–20 season with 14 road games in their last 21 games, but will see the season finale come at home against the Iowa Wild.