Weekly results
Friday, Oct. 27 — Rockford 6, Iowa 2
The Rockford IceHogs scored the first five goals of the game and Jaxson Stuaber stopped 22 shots in a contest that saw Rockford dominate the Iowa Wild in all three zones.
In the first period, Dave Gust, Ryder Rolston and Brett Seney all scored to put the game out of reach. Gust opened the scoring with after taking a nice pass and firing a shot past first-round pick Jesper Wallstedt early in the first period.
Bet you didn't see that one coming 😉 pic.twitter.com/wTvEWGKYfP
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 28, 2023
After a turnover in the Wild zone, Rolston fired a wrist shot past Wallstedt. Rolston has a nose for the net and can be a sneaky good shot when he has time.
NAILED IT https://t.co/KA5XyiAmZK pic.twitter.com/wsd1o3J9jv
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 28, 2023
Midway through the second period, Logan Nijhoff scored his first AHL career goal, assisted by defenseman Isaak Phillips.
First career AHL goal for Nijhoff 🥹 🥹
HOGS ARE COOKIN 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/2PKh9MabAY
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 28, 2023
Michal Teply and Joey Anderson would find the back of the net to finish off the IceHogs’ 5–2 victory.
Saturday, Oct. 28 — Rockford 3, Grand Rapids 0
Drew Commesso stopped all 18 shots he faced in the whitewashing of the Griffins in Rockford. Commesso has shown an excellent approach in net in his first three games this season. The former second-round pick is adjusting to the professional game quite well.
Rockford scored twice within a minute in the first period when defenseman Ethan Del Mastro scored his first AHL goal of the season and Seney fired his third of the season past Michael Hutchinson in net.
and what a goal it was 🤩🤩 https://t.co/HmnC2qW3h6 pic.twitter.com/Rn0FlUxCeX
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) October 29, 2023
Anderson continued his early-season success after scoring his fourth goal of the season into an empty net to finish off the Griffins 3–0.
High on the Hog
- Drew Commesso has shown a nice calm presence in net early on this season. In his three appearances, he shown an athleticism that not many would notice and an excellent job staying square to pucks.
- Isaak Phillips was recalled to Chicago after Alex Vlasic was sidelined with a concussion issue. Phillips does a nice job controlling the blue line in the AHL but needs to simplify his game at the NHL level, make the simple play and get off the ice.
- Joey Anderson has four goals and five assists in five games and shows the veteran presence along the forward lines.
- Dave Gust has eight points in five games and has shown he could be one of the first players called up from Rockford if the parent club needs some forward depth. Not bad for an undrafted local player.
Upcoming week
Rockford travels to Manitoba to take on the Moose on Saturday at 2 p.m. CDT with the second of the back-to-back on Sunday for another 2 p.m. CDT puck drop.