Milwaukee, WI – After an eventful offseason, the IceHogs return to the ice for a preseason matchup against the Milwaukee Admirals at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. 

Familiar faces will be all over the ice for Rockford, including captain Brett Seney. Seney returns for his fifth year in Rockford after being released from his Blackhawks PTO on Thursday.  

The Matchup: 

Last Time Out: The last time the IceHogs faced the Admirals was on March 11th, 2026, at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena with about five weeks remaining in the 2025-26 AHL season. Rockford fell behind early after Milwaukee's Kalan Lind fired in a goal at the 9:00 mark. Kevin Lombardi responded in the 2nd period, scoring his ninth goal of the season and evening the game 1-1. The game worked its way to overtime, a period that only lasted seven seconds before Jordan Oesterle scored the game-winner for the Admirals. 

2025-26 Team Leaders: 

Rockford -  

Points: Brett Seney – 51 points 

Goals: Nick Lardis - 18G 

Assists: Brett Seney – 34A 

Milwaukee -  

Points: Jake Lucchini – 50 points 

Goals: Cole O'Hara - 19G 

Assists: Ryan Ufko & Jake Lucchini - 33A 

THREE THINGS TO KNOW: 

Table For Three: The Central Division opponents will play two preseason games. Today's matchup in Milwaukee, then the IceHogs preseason home opener on Monday, September 28th, at 11:00 a.m. Following the preseason home-and-away, the IceHogs and Admirals will begin the regular season with their third straight game on Saturday, October 3rd, at 7:00 p.m.  

A Year Two Tune: Head Coach and former IceHogs captain Jared Nightingale will stand behind the bench for his second season in his return to Rockford. After a 28-39-3-2 finish in 2025-26, Nightingale looks to bring the IceHogs back to the postseason, a height they reached in every season from 2021-22 to 2024-25. 

Day One: 10 teams across the AHL opened their preseason schedule yesterday, September 25th, with the Manitoba Moose playing the Iowa Wild for the first taste of AHL preseason action. 

2025-26 Season Matchups:   

*9/26/26 @ Milwaukee – 6:00 p.m. 

*9/28/26 vs Milwaukee – 11:00 a.m.  

10/3/26 vs Milwaukee – 7:00 p.m.  

11/13/26 vs Milwaukee – 7:00 p.m. 

11/25/26 vs Milwaukee – 7:00 p.m.  

11/28/26 @ Milwaukee – 6:00 p.m. 

12/6/26 vs Milwaukee – 4:00 p.m. 

12/11/26 @ Milwaukee – 7:00 p.m. 

12/28/26 @ Milwaukee – 6:30 p.m. 

1/22/27 vs Milwaukee – 7:00 p.m. 

3/21/27 @ Milwaukee – 5:00 p.m. 

4/9/27 @ Milwaukee 7:00 p.m.  

* = Preseason Game

You can purchase tickets for the IceHogs home preseason opener on Monday, September 26th at 11:00 a.m. here