ROCKFORD HITS FIRST SKID OF 2008-09

IceHogs drop two contests during Week 4

Week 4 Results
Friday, Oct. 31: Manitoba 2 vs. Rockford 1
Saturday, Nov. 1: Syracuse 3 vs. Rockford 2

Week 4 Recap
After a nearly perfect start to the 2008-09 regular season, the Rockford IceHogs face their first losing streak of the campaign after dropping a pair of games to North Division opponents. Rockford did finish the month of October with a 7-2-0-0 record, the second best October record in team history. Week 5 has Rockford playing three road games including the first of 10 meetings with the Peoria Rivermen on Wednesday.

Week 5 Schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Peoria, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 7 at Norfolk, 6:15 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8 at Norfolk, 6:15 p.m.

Bacon Bits:
-Rockford lost back-to-back games for the first time this season when they fell on Friday to Manitoba and Saturday to Syracuse

-Six of the IceHogs 10 games have been decided by just one goal

-Rockford will play four of its next five games on the road

-After Saturday’s game at Norfolk, the IceHogs won’t play another opponent outside of the West Division until Jan. 7 when Rockford travels to Grand Rapids

-Rockford has the top-rated power play in the AHL after four weeks of the regular season, converting 24.8% of its advantages

-The IceHogs have scored at least one power-play goal in nine of its first 10 games

-Through 10 games, the IceHogs have had 18 different players contribute a point on the power play

-Rockford has scored nine goals in regulation over its past four games

-No IceHogs player scored more than one point during Week 4

-The IceHogs have allowed just three first period goals through 10 games in 2008-09

-Goalie Antti Niemi put together a 1.53 goals against average in October, the best single month GAA in IceHogs AHL history and a team record .948 save percentage in the month of October

Hot Hog Week 4:
Rockford IceHogs center Petri Kontiola is Rockford’s nomination for the AHL’s CCM/Vector Player of the Week. The center chipped in an assist as Rockford lost back-to-back games for the first time this season. Kontiola had his three game point streak come to an end after getting held without a point on Saturday.

Upcoming Games:
Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Peoria Rivermen. The road trip begins at 7:05 p.m. Rockford travels to Carver Arena in Peoria to take on the Rivermen for the first of 10 meetings in 2008-09, including five times during the month of November. The marks the beginning of a three-game road trip for Rockford.

Friday, Nov. 7 at Norfolk Admirals. Game time is 6:15 p.m. The first and only road trip to the Eastern Conference begins on Friday as the IceHogs begin back-to-back games against the Admirals at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va. Rockford will look to continue its winning ways against Norfolk as the IceHogs swept them in a two-game weekend set at the MetroCentre.

Saturday, Nov. 8 at Norfolk Admirals. The puck drops at 6:15 p.m. Rockford wraps up a three game road swing at the Scope Arena in Norfolk when they battle the Admirals for the fourth and final time this season. The game is the back end of two straight against Norfolk and the IceHogs final game against an Eastern Conference opponent in 2008-09.

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.

Hog Talk Returns Tonight At Cousin’s Bar and Grill:
Bud Light Hog Talk returns tonight at Cousin’s Bar and Grill. Join Jim Stone from 6-7 p.m. at Cousin’s as he chats IceHogs hockey with Hogs Head Coach Bill Peters. Tonight’s show will also feature forwards Bryan Bickell and Sean McMorrow. Stop out to Cousin’s, located on the corner of East State St. and Perryville in Rockford, and take advantage of some great food and Bud Light specials. If you can’t make it out to Cousin’s, tune into 1330 AM, WNTA.

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.

Tickets Now On Sale!\
IceHogs individual game tickets are now on sale! Call (815) 968-5222 to reserve your seats for any IceHogs regular season game during the 2008-09 season. 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.centreevents.com. Tickets start at just $10.