CAPTAIN JAKE DOWELL RETURNS FOR 2016-17 SEASON

Rockford’s all-time leader in playoff games agrees to terms

Rockford, Ill. – The Rockford IceHogs, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to a one-year AHL contract with last season’s team captain Jake Dowell.

Dowell, 31, joined the IceHogs on a professional tryout contract last season before working his way into an AHL contract and becoming the captain of the team. He had his best offensive season in 2015-16, finishing third on the team in assists (24) and tied for fifth in points (35) while appearing in 72 games. His 11 goals were also a career high. Dowell was named to the AHL All-Star Team in January, marking his first career all-star selection. Along with teammates Michael Leighton and Ryan Hartman, Dowell helped the Central Division team win the AHL All-Star Challenge.

"We had a great season last year, and we all felt like it ended too soon," said Dowell. "We had an outstanding group of guys last year, and it made for an easy decision to return for next season."

The native of Eau Claire, Wis. has appeared in 274 regular season games during his IceHogs career, second to only Evan Brophey’s 299 games played. He has accrued 64 assists in his IceHogs tenure, tying him with Brophey for ninth in IceHogs history, and his 95 points places him 13 points away from Brophey for 11th all-time. Dowell also ranks first in playoff games for the Hogs, appearing in 23 post-season contests.

Dowell has skated in 157 NHL games with the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, and Chicago Blackhawks, notching 33 points (11G-22A) and 133 penalty minutes. His AHL resume includes a total of 453 games for Rockford, the Hamilton Bulldogs, Iowa Wild, Houston Aeros, and Norfolk Admirals. He has 49 goals and 94 assists for 143 points to go along with 560 PIM.

Season Tickets for 2016-17 Now on Sale: Reserve your seats today for the IceHogs 18th season of professional hockey and tenth as the top AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Call (815) 847-6399 or visit icehogs.com to find a ticket package that fits your needs.