Here’s hoping that 2017 is kinder to the Rockford IceHogs then the previous three months. To put it plainly, the 2016 part of this year’s campaign flat out sucked.
Through 32 games, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks has been struggling to stay out of the cellar of the Western Conference. Only the Charlotte Checkers have fared worse than the BMO boys heading into this week’s action.
How bad has it been? Hold your nose. I’m throwing out some numbers; they aren’t lemony fresh.
The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, had themselves a pretty light week in terms of the schedule. The Hogs had just one game this past week, a Wednesday night matchup with their closest and biggest rival, the Chicago Wolves.
I considered taking the week off and just including a recap of the game in my next post. At that point, I realized that I had lots of thoughts on the IceHogs in general and some players in particular that I haven’t had much of a chance to discuss.
With that in mind, I’ll recap the one game for you this week. However, I’ll be that rambling cousin at the egg nog bowl. You’ll get your rundown, along with plenty of rest stops. Buckle up…
Wednesday, December 21, 5:50 p.m.-Upon entering the BMO Harris Bank Center (picking up my promotional hat and trying to ignore the folks in line complaining to the security staff that they were there first), I notice that the microphones normally attached to the plexiglass are noticeably absent. Also, there aren’t two or three extra cameras set up around the arena.
We are playing the Wolves, right?
The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, needed to get on the fun side of the win-loss column after losing their previous nine contests. This past weekend, they were able to stem the flow of a long winless streak and pick up four points in the Central Division standings.
Persistence paid off for the IceHogs, both on Saturday at the BMO Harris Bank Center versus Manitoba, and Sunday in Chicago against the Wolves. Rockford trailed in both games but rallied, particularly at Allstate Arena where they erased a two-goal deficit in the final ten minutes.
It was an active weekend at my household; sadly I did not partake in AHL hockey (you may not have heard, but there was a Star Wars movie out this week). Thank goodness for AHL Live. This week, all I have for you is bare-bones, hard-hitting recaps. They do have happy endings, however, so let’s get to it…
The Rockford IceHogs season is bottoming out in December. The Hawks AHL affiliate set a franchise record Saturday night when they lost for the ninth-straight time. The Hogs last won back on November 19.
I could continue to pile on the state of the club, but I’m sounding like a broken record. Things will pick up. After all, it’s the holiday season, right?
In that spirit, let’s focus on some positives. They’re out there if you’re willing to look…right?
The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, currently have a commercial you may have seen occasionally while watching Blackhawks telecasts. The ads, which also run on local Rockford stations, declare that IceHogs hockey is, “a beautiful combination of violence, speed, and intensity.”
It surprises me just a bit that the club would lead off that mix with “violence”. The IceHogs definitely try to get families into the BMO Harris Bank Center. You’d think that fisticuffs would be something the promotions department would put a little further down the list in terms of marketing the team.
Besides, the men of Rockford aren’t doing much fighting these days. They also aren’t drawing as well, either. Or winning.
The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, dropped to the vicinity of the Western Conference cellar with three losses this past week. There is a logical explanation for the IceHogs lounging near the bottom of the league through 19 games.
Rockford just isn’t that darned good up front. Shall I elaborate? If I must…
The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, rebounded from a tough stretch of games with a pair of wins this past week. Goals have been hard to come by for the Hogs so far this season, so it was nice to see the Hogs post some crooked numbers on the BMO Harris Bank Center scoreboard.
The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, had another rough week on the offensive side of the puck. After a goal deficiency cost them all four games of their road trip, Rockford did ride a Brandon Mashinter hat trick to two points on Saturday night.
You read right, folks. A Brandon Mashinter hat trick.
The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, must have had a little extra room on the bus after departing for three road games this past week. You see, the Hogs left their offense on the curb outside the BMO Harris Bank Center.
Rockford dropped all three contests this week to push its current losing streak to five games. In doing so, the IceHogs mustered a single even-strength goal in over 180 minutes of hockey.
The Hogs have sunk to 13th place in the Western Conference following this weekend’s action. Their 4-6-1 mark has them seventh in the Central Division standings. A lack of scoring has definitely played a part in this team’s recent struggles.
The Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, have several short road jaunts this season. There is nothing resembling the two extended trips that is standard for the Hawks. In fact, the longest the Hogs will be away from the BMO Harris Bank Center is four games.
The IceHogs are in Charlotte today to begin the first of what will be four such stretches with two weekday tilts at Bojangles Coliseum. Let’s take a look at how the lads in Rockford are doing heading into the back-to-back down Carolina way…
