ROCKFORD, Ill. -- The Rockford IceHogs announced they have signed forward Tommy Olczyk and goaltender Matt Tomkins to one-year, AHL contracts for the 2017-18 season.
Olczyk, 26, is the son of former Chicago Blackhawks forward and current team broadcaster, Eddie Olcyzk, and previously attended training camp with the IceHogs prior to the 2016-17 season. The Long Grove, Ill. native made his professional debut with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces last season, where he totaled 6g-7a-13pts in 44 games during the 2016-17 campaign.
Olczyk skated with Penn State University during his four-year collegiate career from 2012-16. The forward produced 26g-17a-43pts in 128 games during his career with the Nittany Lions, and suited up as team captain during his junior year in 2013-14.
Tomkins, 23, went 12-5 with one shutout, a 2.48 GAA and .909 save percentage in 22 games last season during his senior year at Ohio State University. The netminder concluded the 2016-17 campaign ranked third in the B1G Conference in wins and fourth in GAA, and helped lead the Buckeyes to an appearance in the 2017 Division-I Frozen Four tournament. Tomkins’ standout season also included honors as the conference’s Second Star of the Week for the period ending Nov. 22.
The Sherwood Park, Alberta native was originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. He has played between the pipes for the Buckeyes during each of the previous four seasons, combining to go 28-26-7 with three shutouts, a 3.03 GAA and .890 save percentage in 67 total appearances from 2013-17.
Season Tickets for 2017-18 on Sale Now: Don’t miss a moment of the action by reserving your seats for the IceHogs 19th season of professional hockey and 11th as the top AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Opening night is Oct. 14 and ticket packages begin as low as $105 for a seven-game mini pack. Please contact us at (815) 847-6399 or visit icehogs.com to claim your spots for this upcoming season.