IceHogs Loan McKay, Busdeker and Aubrun to Indy Fuel of ECHL

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Rockford IceHogs, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League, announced today that forwards Riley McKay and D.J. Busdeker along with goaltender Tom Aubrun have been loaned to the Indy Fuel, the club’s ECHL affiliate.

All three players signed AHL contracts with the IceHogs this past April and look to make their professional debuts with the Fuel. 2020-21 IceHogs Player Tracker

McKay, 21, signed with the IceHogs on April 9 and recently completed his fourth Western Hockey League (WHL) junior season with the Saskatoon Blades, registering 38 points (19 goals, 19 assists) and led the club with 93 penalty minutes. The Swan River, Manitoba, native attended the 2019 NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan with the Chicago Blackhawks. As a teammate of Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach during the 2018-19 season, McKay led the WHL with 149 penalty minutes and added 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 68 games.

Busdeker, 21, signed on with the IceHogs on April 23 after wrapping up a four-year junior career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Saginaw Spirit, totaling 146 points (54 goals, 92 assists) in 235 games and served as an alternate captain the last two seasons. Last season, the Dexter, Michigan, native recorded a career-high 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 62 games and finished fourth in team points and goals and third in assists.

Aubrun, 25, inked a two-year AHL deal with the IceHogs on April 6 and coming off back-to-back seasons as the NEHC Player and Goaltender of the Year with Norwich University, leading the conference with an impressive 0.77 goals-against average, .967 save percentage and .889 winning percentage last season. The Chamonix, France, native was also recently named the 2020 Sid Watson Award winner as the nation’s best NCAA Division III ice hockey player by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA).

Last season, Aubrun paced the NEHC 13 shutouts, including nine in a row from Jan. 25 to Mar. 7 before the season was canceled. He earned an overall record of 23-2-2 in 27 appearances during his senior campaign.