GOALTENDER LANKINEN REASSIGNED TO ROCKFORD
ROCKFORD, Ill – The Chicago Blackhawks have reassigned goaltender Kevin Lankinen from the ECHL’s Indy Fuel to the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.
Lankinen, 23, was originally assigned to the Fuel on Oct. 29 and has since gone unbeaten in three ECHL games with a 2.33 GAA and .910 save percentage. The netminder turned aside 18 of 19 shots in a victory during his ECHL debut on Nov. 1 vs. Utah and combined for 53 saves over his next two appearances. Hi save percentage, wins and GAA each lead the Fuel thus far in 2018-19.
The Helsinki, Finland native made his North American pro debut with the IceHogs this season and returns to Rockford with an 0-1-1 record, 3.39 GAA and .825 save percentage in two AHL contests. He helped Rockford pick up a point in his most recent appearance with 15 saves during an overtime loss at Tucson on Oct. 19.
Prior to signing a one-year NHL deal with the Blackhawks this offseason, Lankinen went 10-3-2 with a career-best 1.33 GAA and .945 save percentage in 15 games with HIFK in the Finnish Elite League in 2017-18. He then led HIFK to a Liiga Bronze Medal in the postseason by posting a 1.99 GAA and .936 save percentage in 13 playoff contests.
Next Home Game: Friday, Nov. 23 vs. Chicago Wolves | 7 p.m.
The IceHogs will host the Chicago Wolves for the team’s first-ever Hockey Fights Cancer night. The first 1,500 fans through the door will receive a FREE IceHogs LED fan, courtesy of SwedishAmerican. Proceeds from the postgame auction will benefit SwedishAmerican Foundation.