RIVALRY WEEKEND GOES ROCKFORD�S WAY

Rockford takes a winning record (2-1-0-0) against top Midwest Division squads in Week 26

Week 26 Recap:
Heading into a three-game weekend against the top two Midwest Division sides, the Rockford IceHogs took four of six points. The busy set began with a home-and-home series against the Grand Rapids Griffins that saw the IceHogs hold on for the 5-4 win in game one on Friday. Traveling to Grand Rapids the next night made for a different outcome as Rockford never got going and lost 4-1 to the Griffins. The IceHogs ended the week on a winning note, however, with Sunday’s 6-3 thrashing of Chicago.

Week 26 Results
Friday, Mar. 28: Grand Rapids 4 vs. Rockford 5
Saturday, Mar. 29: Rockford 1 at Grand Rapids 4
Sunday, Mar. 30: Chicago 3 vs. Rockford 6

Week 27 Schedule
Friday, Apr. 4, at Abbotsford, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Apr. 5, at Abbotsford, 9 p.m.

Bacon Bits:
-For the third time in March and ninth time this season, the BMO Harris Bank Center was sold out on Sunday as the IceHogs topped Chicago 6-3
-The IceHogs averaged 5,406 fans during the month of March, the highest average of the season, besting October’s average attendance by two people (5,404)
-Defenseman Mathieu Brisebois found his name in the scoresheet for the third straight game on Sunday after he dished out an assist
-After coming to Rockford in a trade, Brisebois has passed his point output (1g-2a-28gms) with Portland as he has posted four points (1g-3a) in five games for the IceHogs
-Defenseman Klas Dahlbeck recorded a plus/minus rating of +3 on Sunday for the fourth time this season
-Dahlbeck’s +22 rating this season ranks in the top 10 in the AHL and the d-man has been even or better in 50 of the 67 games he’s played in this year
-Forward Ryan Hartman made his professional debut on Sunday against Chicago, becoming the 41st player to suit up for Rockford in 2013-14
-Forward Alex Broadhurst accumulated points (1g-3a) in all three of Rockford’s games over the weekend, including his ninth multi-point (2a) game of the season on Friday vs. Grand Rapids
-Brandon Mashinter registered his second multi-goal game of the season on Sunday against the Wolves
-The IceHogs raised $43,795 for charity on Sunday through the team’s annual jersey auction, bringing the 15 year total to over $729,000 for local charities
-The Hogs finished their season series with the defending Calder Cup Champion Grand Rapids Griffins, splitting the home-and-home series
-Rockford finished 3-6-1-0 against the Griffins in 2013-14 and failed to claim a win at Van Andel Arena, going 0-4-1-0 in Grand Rapids

Hot Hog: Week 26
Center Alex Broadhurst
Rookie forward Alex Broadhurst posted points in all three of Rockford’s tilts during Week 26 to help the Hogs keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race. The rookie opened the week by dishing out two assists in a 5-4 win over Grand Rapids for his ninth multi-point effort of the season. The Orland Park, Illinois native scored Rockford’s lone goal on Saturday at Grand Rapids before chipping in an assist in Sunday’s victory over Chicago. Broadhurst’s 40 points (13g-27a) on the campaign ranks second on the team in scoring among active players.

Upcoming Games: Week 27
Friday, Apr. 4 at Abbotsford Heat at 9 p.m.: The IceHogs take their turn making the long trip to face the Abbotsford Heat. Friday’s contest is the first time the IceHogs have been to Abbotsford this season and will kick off the last two games of the season series.

Saturday, Apr. 5 at Abbotsford Heat at 9 p.m.: Facing their final weekend away from the BMO Harris Bank Center, the IceHogs take on the Heat for the final time on the season.

Illinois Lottery Cup Series Standings
Teams Record Points
Rockford 5-3-0-2 12
Chicago 5-4-0-1 11

Upcoming Illinois Lottery Cup Games:
Apr. 13: Rockford at Chicago, 3 p.m.
Apr. 18: Chicago vs. Rockford, 7 p.m.