Rockford, Ill. – The Chicago Blackhawks announced on Monday that the club has recalled five players from the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League for the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Goaltender Carter Hutton, defensemen Joe Lavin and Ryan Stanton, along with forwards Jeremy Morin and Brandon Pirri will join the Blackhawks squad.
Hutton, 26, was named the team’s most valuable player and led the club with a 22-13-4 record to go with three shutouts. Hutton’s 2.35 goals against average was an IceHogs single-season AHL record and he matched a team record with a .917 save percentage. During the campaign, Hutton was rewarded with two Reebok/AHL Player of the Week awards (Week 17 and 22), the first time during the team’s AHL era that a player has multiple honors.
Lavin, 22, finished his first professional season with three goals and 14 assists in 71 games for the IceHogs. The rookie d-man ranked third among defensemen on the club with 102 shots. Chicago’s fifth round selection (#126 overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft earned the IceHogs Rookie of the Year honors.
Stanton, 22, was the only IceHogs skater to play in all 76 contests and finished the season with 17 points (3g-14a). The St. Albert, Alberta native ranked second on the team with 130 penalty minutes.
After missing the majority of his rookie campaign with an upper body injury, Morin registered 40 points (18g-22a) and 121 penalty minutes in 69 games with the IceHogs this season. The second-year winger tied for the team lead in plus/minus with a rating of +9. Morin also recorded two shots on goal in three games with the Blackhawks in 2011-12.
Pirri, 21, led Rockford in scoring with 56 points (23g-33a), and his 33 assists, plus/minus rating of +9, 17 multi-point games, 17 power-play points and 213 shots on goal also paced the IceHogs. In five tilts with Chicago, the second-year center tallied two assists and five shots on goal. Chicago’s second round selection (#59 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft was also named to his first AHL All-Star game.
The Blackhawks continue the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 17 at 8 p.m. against the Phoenix Coyotes at the United Center. The best-of-seven series is tied at 1-1.