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 Mighty Oaks, a finalist from the "Name the Team" contest back in 1999, envisioning what might have been had Mighty Oaks been selected as the team’s name. The specialty jersey paid tribute to Rockford’s history and one of its best-known nicknames – “The Forest City.” The jerseys highlighted the team’s primary red, black and white color scheme and featured a “character” named “Mighty Oak”’ on the crest. The secondary logo tied together the theme of “The Forest City” with a rendition of a mighty oak tree supported by hockey sticks at the tree’s base. The Mighty Oaks auction raised close to $50,000 for 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. Last season alone, the IceHogs were able to donate $5,000 to Rock Valley College Association for Latin American Students, $5,000 to La Onda, $10,0000 to United Way, $5,000 to Chicago Special Hockey, and $15,000 to The Autism Program, at Easterseals through jersey auctions, while also raising additional money for the IceHogs Community Fund that allowed the IceHogs to award over $100,000 in grants.
The IceHogs live jersey auction for the 2025-26 season will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
