Awareness Nights & Specialty Jersey Auctions

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!

Over the years, the IceHogs have raised over one million dollars through the Live Jersey Auction and has in years past been able to support local non-profit organizations with a portion of the proceeds, including The Autism Program of Easterseals, Special Olympics, March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Boys and Girls Clubs of Rockford, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, the Rockford Hockey Club, the Rockford Park District's "Junior IceHogs" program, the Bryan and Amanda Bickell Foundation, and the Greg Lindmark Foundation.

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. Last season alone, the IceHogs were able to donate $8,500 to the Greg Lindmark Foundation (25th Season Night) and $16,500 to the Autism Program of Easterseals (Autism Awareness Night), while also raising additional money for the IceHogs Community Fund.