BLACKHAWKS ASSIGN SIX TO ROCKFORD
Chicago, Ill- The Chicago Blackhawks announced today they have assigned forwards Drew LeBlanc, Terry Broadhurst, Phillip Danault, Byron Froese and Kyle Beach, and goaltender Antti Raanta to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.
The Blackhawks have also released forwards Brad Mills and Maxim Shalunov from training camp. Both players will report to Rockford; Mills on an AHL contract and Shalunov on a tryout agreement.
Broadhurst is returning to Rockford for his second full season. The Illinois native recorded 5g-8a in 31 games for the IceHogs in 2012-13.
Froese, 22, will be in Rockford for his third campaign with the IceHogs. The center spent the majority of the 2012-13 season with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, netting 12g-21a before being called up to Rockford for nine games to end the season. He led the Walleye with six points, 2g-4a, in six playoff games.
Beach, a former first round draft pick of the Blackhawks (#11 overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft), is coming back for his fourth full season with the IceHogs. In a 26 point season (16g-10a) Beach was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for Week 4 after scoring 3g-2a in two games.
Mills returns to Rockford for his second season. The center has spent parts of two seasons with the New Jersey Devils (NHL). He was named the ECHL Player of the Week for 11/26/12-12/2/12 for tallying 3g-3a prior to signing with the IceHogs where he totaled 7g-9a.
The IceHogs roster now sits at 34 including 19 forwards, 12 defensemen and three goaltenders. The first preseason game will be Wednesday, Sept. 24th at West Meadows Ice Arena against the Chicago Wolves.
Single Game Tickets On Sale: Tickets for the 2013-14 Rockford IceHogs regular season are now on sale. To purchase tickets to any of the IceHogs 38 regular season games, including opening night on Saturday, Oct. 19, click here, call (815) 968-5222 or visit in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office or any Ticketmaster location.