BEACH HEADS TO SWEDEN

Chicago, Ill. - The Chicago Blackhawks announced today that they have assigned forward Kyle Beach to HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League.

Beach appeared in one preseason game with the Blackhawks, skating in 12:58 of ice time in a 5-4 shootout win on Sept. 20 at Washington.

The 23 year-old posted 16 goals and 10 assists in 66 games for the IceHogs in 2012-13. He was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week during the fourth week of the season last year after scoring 3g-2a in two games for Rockford.

In three full seasons with the IceHogs, Beach has accumulated 37 goals and 35 assists. The former first round draft pick for the Blackhawks (#11 overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft) ranks sixth on the IceHogs all-time list with 412 career penalty minutes.

The IceHogs will begin their 15th season of professional hockey on Saturday, Oct. 5 as they open the 2013-14 American Hockey League regular season in San Antonio at 7 p.m.

Next Home Game: Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Grand Rapids. Game time is 7 p.m. Rockford opens the home portion of their regular season schedule against the Griffins. The first 5,000 fans to the game will receive an IceHogs calendar courtesy of Stateline Staffing Services. For tickets, call (815) 968-5222, visit IceHogs.com or in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office or at any Ticketmaster outlet.