The Rockford IceHogs are a professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice ...

team based in Rockford, Illinois. They are members of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the lea ...

(AHL), having begun play in the League starting in the 2007–08 season. The team plays their home games at the

BMO Harris Bank Center The BMO Center (formerly known as BMO Harris Bank Center and Rockford MetroCentre) is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Rockford, Illinois. It is currently home to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs hockey team. The arena formerly served as t ...

, and they serve as the top minor league affiliate of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranke ...

(NHL)'s

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Divisio ...

History

The current Rockford IceHogs were founded in 1995 as the Baltimore Bandits and then relocated in 1997 to

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...

to become the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks suspended operations for the 2005–06 season due to the lack of an NHL affiliate after their previous affiliates, the Detroit Red Wings and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, signed new agreements with the

Grand Rapids Griffins The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and play home games at Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey Leag ...

and the Portland Pirates, respectively. The franchise was later renamed the Cincinnati RailRaiders, but failed to reach a goal of 2,000 season tickets to re-enter the AHL for the 2006–07 season. On March 19, 2007, the AHL announced that the team had been purchased and relocated to Rockford to become the present-day Rockford IceHogs. On April 7, 2021, the Blackhawks formally purchased the IceHogs. The Blackhawks also unveiled a $23 million multi-year project to renovate and modernize the BMO Harris Bank Center, which would keep the IceHogs in Rockford through 2036.

Timeline

;The franchise was previously known as: * Baltimore Bandits (1995–1997) * Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (1997–2005) (an affiliate of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Detroit Red Wings) ;The market was previously served by: * Rockford IceHogs (1999–2007) UHL

Season-by-season results

Players

Current roster

Updated December 20, 2022.

Team captains

Jim Fahey James M. Fahey (born May 11, 1979) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks and the New Jersey Devils. He last played for the Krefeld Pinguine of the DEL. Pl ...

, 2007–2008 * Tim Brent, 2008–2009 *

Jake Dowell Jacob Charles Dowell (born March 4, 1985) is an Americans, American former professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild. Playing ...

, 2009–2010 *

Garnet Exelby John Garnet Exelby (born August 16, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was particularly known for his aggressive s ...

, 2010–2011 *

Brandon Segal Brandon Segal (born July 12, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He most recently played under contract to the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Playing career As a youth, Segal played in the 1 ...

and Brian Fahey, 2011–2012 * Martin St. Pierre, 2012–2013 *

Jared Nightingale Jared Nightingale (born October 3, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who primarily played in the American Hockey League (AHL). Playing career On January 30, 2009, Nightingale signed an AHL contract with the Hartford ...

, 2013–2014 * Joakim Nordstrom, 2014–2015 *

Brandon Mashinter Brandon Mashinter (born September 20, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing. He is currently a free agent. Playing career In 2004, Mashinter was drafted in the 6th round of the Ontario Hockey League, 116th overall by the Sarnia S ...

, 2015–2016 *

, 2016–2017 * Kris Versteeg, 2019 * Tyler Sikura, 2019–2020 * Garrett Mitchell 2021–present

Notable alumni

* Bryan Bickell, 2007–2010, 2016 * Dave Bolland, 2007–2008 *

Brandon Bollig Brandon D. Bollig (born January 31, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey player. An undrafted player, Bollig signed with the Chicago Blackhawks organization in 2010 after playing college hockey for St. Lawrence University. He made ...

, 2010–2013 *

Troy Brouwer Troy Brouwer (born August 17, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers and the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). T ...

, 2007–2009 * Corey Crawford, 2007–2010 *

Phillip Danault Phillip Danault (born February 24, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey center and an alternate captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 26th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL En ...

, 2011–2016 *

Scott Darling Scott Darling (born December 22, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes. Darling was selected by the Phoenix C ...

, 2014–2015 * Niklas Hjalmarsson, 2007–2009 *

Carter Hutton Carter John Hutton (born December 19, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres and the Arizona ...

, 2011–2013 * Marcus Kruger, 2012–2013 *

Nick Leddy Nicholas Michael Leddy (born March 20, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the first round, 16th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2009 NHL E ...

, 2010–2011, 2012–2013 *

Jeremy Morin Jeremy Morin (born April 16, 1991) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger. Morin played major junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), the team he was drafted from in the second round, 45th o ...

, 2010–2014 * Antti Niemi, 2008–2009 *

Brandon Pirri Brandon Pirri (born April 10, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the Chicago ...

, 2010–2014 *

Brandon Saad Brandon Saad (born October 27, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Saad was raised in Pittsburgh and attended Pine-Richland High School. He was dr ...

, 2012–2013 *

Andrew Shaw Andrew Shaw may refer to: * Andrew Shaw (businessman), president and CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra * Andrew Shaw (golfer) (1898–1983), former professional golfer *Andrew Shaw (ice hockey) Andrew Shaw (born July 20, 1991) is a Canadian ...

, 2011–2013 *

Jack Skille Jack Skille (born May 19, 1987) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, and the Vancouver C ...

, 2008–2010 * Ben Smith, 2009–2013 *

Trevor van Riemsdyk Trevor van Riemsdyk (born July 24, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He won the Stanley Cup in 2015, his rookie season, with the Chicago Blackhawks and has al ...

, 2014–2015 * Kris Versteeg, 2007–2008, 2019

Team records

;Regular season :Goals:

: 35 (2007–08) :Assists: Martin St. Pierre: 67 (2007–08) :Points: Martin St. Pierre: 88 (2007–08) :Plus/minus: Stephen Johns: 30 (2014–15) :Penalty minutes: Kyle Hagel: 245 (2010–11) :Goaltending wins: Corey Crawford: 29 (2007–08) :GAA:

: 2.20 (2014–15) :SV%:

: 0.927 (2014-15) ;Playoffs :Goals: Chris DiDomenico : 7 (2017–18) :Assists: Martin St. Pierre: 12 (2007–08) :Points: Chris DiDomenico: 18 (2017–18) :Plus/minus:

: 10 (2007–08) :Penalty minutes:

Mike Blunden Michael Charles Blunden (born December 15, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Over his professional career, Blunden has appeared in over 100 National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightnin ...

: 35 (2007–08) :Goaltending wins: Corey Crawford: 7 (2007–08) :GAA: Corey Crawford: 2.19 (2007–08) :SV%: Corey Crawford: 0.924 (2007–08)

References

External links

Official website
{{Illinois Sports 1 Ice hockey clubs established in 2007 2007 establishments in Illinois Ice hockey teams in Illinois