ICEHOGS RECALL FORWARD WELYCHKA FROM INDY, ASSIGN GOALTENDER LANKINEN TO FUEL

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs today announced they have recalled forward Brett Welychka from the ECHL’s Indy Fuel, and assigned goaltender Kevin Lankinen to Indy.

Welychka, 24, made his ECHL debut with the Fuel on Oct. 12 vs. Fort Wayne and has logged two goals and two assists in five contests with Indy. He scored his first goal of the season on Oct. 13 at Kalamazoo and posted his first multi-point effort with a marker and pair of assists on Oct. 20 at Toledo.

The London, Ontario native recently completed junior season at Carleton University, where he served as captain and led the team in scoring with 31 points (12g, 19a) in 28 games during the 2017-18 campaign. Following the conclusion of his junior season, Welychka signed an Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO) with the Manitoba Moose on March 3, 2018. He skated in eight games with Manitoba, scoring his first professional goal on March 14 at Texas and tallying his first AHL assist on March 26 vs. the IceHogs.

Lankinen, 23, made his North American pro debut with the IceHogs this season and owns an 0-1-1 record with a 3.39 GAA and .825 save percentage in two AHL games. The netminder turned aside 18 of 21 shots in his first AHL outing on Oct. 5 at Cleveland and helped the IceHogs to a point with 15 saves in an overtime loss at Tucson on Oct. 19.

Prior to signing a one-year NHL deal with the Blackhawks this offseason, the Helsinki, Finland native 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 helped 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: Saturday, Nov. 3 vs. Iowa Wild | 6 p.m.
The Rockford IceHogs will host the Iowa Wild Saturday night at the BMO Harris Bank Center for Military Appreciation Night. The first 2,500 fans through the will door will receive a free military-themed IceHogs baseball hat, courtesy of Rose Pest Solutions.