ICEHOGS 2008-09 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Rockford begins campaign with home-and-home series with the Flames

Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs will open its 10th Anniversary season and second in the AHL with a home-and-home series with rival Quad City Flames on Friday, Oct. 10 at the Rockford MetroCentre and Saturday, Oct. 11 at the i-wireless Center in Moline.

The American Hockey League unveiled its regular season schedule for the league’s 73rd season on Thursday. The AHL will again boast 29 teams in 2008-09 and each team will play an 80-game regular season slate.

To see the full schedule, visit www.icehogs.com/schedule/game/ and for a downloadable version, visist www.icehogs.com/schedule/download/.

Rockford’s opening weekend features three games overall, including a Sunday matinee against the Iowa Chops at the MetroCentre. The IceHogs longest home stand in ’08-09 is a five gamer from Jan. 9 through Jan. 19. Shortly after, the IceHogs will embark on a season-long seven-game road swing from Jan 29 through Feb. 11.

A day-by-day breakdown of the IceHogs home schedule includes a franchise-high 14 Saturday games. The IceHogs will also play 13 Friday night contests, three Sundays, five Wednesdays, one Thursday and four Monday home games.

The only Eastern Conference foe on the IceHogs slate is the Norfolk Admirals and Rockford will face-off against them four times in the first 13 games. Norfolk travels to Rockford for games on Oct. 24 and 25 before Rockford heads to the east coast for two contests on Nov. 7 and 8.

Rockford’s first match-up with the defending Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves is set for Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Allstate Arena. Chicago doesn’t visit the MetroCentre until Saturday Dec. 13 and the rivals will play 10 times in ’08-09. The Hogs and Wolves will conclude the campaign at the Allstate Arena on Saturday, April 11.

Chicago is not the only opponent in which Rockford will play 10 times. The Hogs will match-up with the Milwaukee Admirals, Peoria Rivermen and Iowa Chops 10 times each in the fast approaching season. Rockford and Peoria will drop the puck five times in the month of November.

Home-and-home series will also be a common theme for Rockford this year. Beginning with the opening weekend home-and-home set with the Flames, Rockford will play seven different home-and-home match-ups including four that are on back-to-back nights.

Game times for Rockford’s home games in 2008-09 are as follows:

Monday-Thursday: 7:05 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12: 4:05 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 16: 5:05 p.m.
Sunday, March 29: 5:05 p.m.

For a complete version of the IceHogs 2008-09 regular season schedule, visit www.icehogs.com.

An on sale date for individual game tickets will be announced at a later date.

Season ticket packages are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (815) 986-6465.

Season Tickets Now On Sale: The Rockford IceHogs have a variety of season ticket packages available for the 2008-09 season. To find a package that works for you, call (815) 986-6465 and speak with a season ticket sales executive.