REGULAR SEASON COMES TO AN END, HOGS READY FOR MILWAUKEE

Rockford finishes 2008-09 with 40 wins

Week 27 Recap
With an 80 game schedule now behind them, the Rockford IceHogs now settle into playoff mode. The IceHogs clinched a Calder Cup Playoff berth with a win over the Peoria Rivermen in front on the team’s seventh sellout of the 2008-09 season on Friday night. Rockford will now take on the Milwaukee Admirals in the West Division Semifinals presented by Pepsi.

Week 27 Results
Wednesday, April 8: Rockford 2 at Quad City 5
Friday, April 10: Peoria 2 vs. Rockford 3 (SO)
Saturday, April 11: Rockford 2 at Chicago 5

Postseason Week 1 Schedule
Thursday, April 16 at Milwaukee, 7 p.m. (Game 1)
Saturday, April 18 at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m. (Game 2)
Sunday, April 19 vs. Milwaukee, 5:05 p.m. (Game 3)

Bacon Bits:

-The IceHogs qualified for their second straight Calder Cup Postseason and fifth straight playoffs overall dating back to the 2004-05 season.

-Rockford also reached the 40-win plateau for the fifth straight season.

-Rockford set an all-time attendance record during the 2008-09 regular season drawing 156,352 eclipsing the mark set last season when the team drew 153,056.

-The IceHogs also set a franchise record with seven sellouts and had 10 crowds of 5,000 or more.

-Rockford recorded power-play goals in each of their last four games going 5-27 (18.5%)

-Tim Brent set an IceHogs single season record with 20 shootout attempts.

-Rockford finished the regular season with a 12-6 record in overtime and shootout including 11-6 in the shootout.

-Danny Groulx was the only IceHogs skater to appear in all 80 regular season games in 2008-09.

-Groulx also led the team with a plus/minus rating of +18.

-Akim Aliu scored his first two career goals on Saturday against Chicago.

Hot Hog Week 27:
Tyler Mosienko led all IceHogs skaters during the final week of the 2008-09 regular season with three points in Rockford’s last three games. The center capped his regular season with a pair of assists on Saturday in Rockford’s 5-2 loss at Chicago. Mosienko also tallied his fourth goal with Rockford and his fifth overall in the AHL this season during Week 27. In 15 games with Rockford Mosienko finished with 11 points.

Upcoming Games:

Thursday, April 16 at Milwaukee Admirals: Game One West Division Semifinals. The puck drops at 7 p.m. The 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs get underway and the IceHogs quest for the AHL crown begins in Milwaukee. The game is the first of two straight at the Bradley Center.

Saturday, April 18 at Milwaukee Admirals. Game Two West Division Semifinals. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m. The second game of the IceHogs-Admirals best-of-seven West Division Semifinal ensues at the Bradley Center. One team will look to take a 2-0 series lead while the other will try to even the series before it shifts to Rockford.

Sunday, April 19 vs. Milwaukee Admirals. Game Three West Division Semifinals. The game starts at 5:05 p.m. Rockford’s hosts their first game of the West Division Semifinal at the Rockford MetroCentre. All kids 14-and-under can get $5 tickets . Season ticket holders should use Ticket A for the game.


The IceHogs Broadcasting Network:
Rockford IceHogs fans can catch all of the IceHogs regular and post-season games on the Hogs flagship radio station Rockford’s Voice, WNTA-AM 1330 and 30 regular season games on ESPN Radio 1380-AM, WTJK. Fans can also watch and listen to the Hogs on the World Wide Web with AHL Live! Visit the IceHogs Web site (icehogs.com) and click on the “click here to watch the AHL Live” icon, and for just $6, you can catch all of the IceHogs action on your computer. Also, fans with Comcast Cable television can tune in to Channel 57 for all the IceHogs hockey action this season. The broadcast begins with the Pregame Show 30 minutes before the puck drops. Make sure to give your opinion during the Comcast Post-Game Call-In Show following each game at (815) 874-8255.

Where to Watch the IceHogs:
IceHogs fans can now catch every IceHogs regular season game live on TV! Every IceHogs home game during the 2008-09 season can be viewed on Comcast Cable Channel-57. When the IceHogs are on the road log onto the IceHogs official team Web site, www.icehogs.com, and watch the IceHogs through AHL Live for just $6. Fans can also stop out to the Sports Page, located on Broadway near Alpine Road in Rockford, and watch the IceHogs when the team is on the road.

Playoff Tickets Now On Sale!
IceHogs individual game playoff tickets are now on sale! Call (815) 968-5222 to reserve your seats for any IceHogs postseason home game during the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Rockford MetroCentre Box Office in downtown Rockford, at Hogs Headquarters inside CherryVale Mall or on the Web at www.metrocentre.com. Tickets start at just $10.