Annual Live Jersey Auction

The IceHogs Community Fund's signature charity fundraiser is the annual Live Jersey Auction. For this annual tradition that began during the IceHogs inaugural season in 1999-2000, the team wears special jerseys that get auctioned off live following the game. Jersey designs have often centered around the IceHogs’ mascot Hammy and themes have ranged from St. Patrick’s Day Hammy to Hammysaurus Rex to First Responder Hammy. In 2022, the pattern diverted from Hammy for the first time to honor one of the Stateline area's earliest semi-professional hockey teams, the Wagon Wheel Cardinals. In 2023, the featured jersey was another homage to local history as the IceHogs wore Screw City jerseys in honor of Rockford's rich manufacturing history and the "Screw City" nickname that Rockford proudly embraces. For the IceHogs' 25th season, the live auction on March 17, 2024 went back to the jersey auction's roots with another St. Patrick's-themed jersey. The choice was a resounding success as the IceHogs Community Fund raised a record-setting $84,633 with the St. Patrick's Day fundraiser!

For last season's live auction, the IceHogs transformed into the Rockford Icemen, a high school hockey team that captured 16 Combined Division High School League state championships in Illinois, including 15 consecutive titles between 1991 and 2016. The live auction of Rockford IceHogs player-worn Icemen jerseys helped raise over $70,000 for the local youth hockey and the IceHogs Community Fund. 

Over the years, the IceHogs have raised over one million dollars through the Live Jersey Auction. In addition to the Live Jersey Auction, the IceHogs annually host special theme nights to raise awareness for important causes while also raising money for local organizations that support those causes. Awareness nights often include a specialty jersey silent auction as the primary method of fundraising. Examples from recent years include Autism Awareness Night, Hockey Fights Cancer, and First Responders Night, and United for Literacy Night. 

In the 2025-26 season alone, the IceHogs were able to donate $5,000 to Rock Valley College Association for Latin American Students, $5,000 to La Onda, $7,000 to Movember, and $15,000 to The Autism Program, at Easterseals through specialty auctions, while also raising additional money for the IceHogs Community Fund that allowed the IceHogs to award $125,000 in grants in FY27.