Official site of the Rockford IceHogs
Proud Affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks

ROCKFORD WINS TWO IN WEEK EIGHT

Vs PEO Pirri
Week 8 Results
Wednesday, Nov. 23: San Antonio 3 vs. Rockford 6
Friday, Nov. 25: Peoria 3 vs. Rockford 7
Saturday, Nov. 26: Oklahoma City 3 vs. Rockford 1

Week 9 Schedule
Friday, Dec. 2 vs. Lake Erie, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3 vs. Abbotsford, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 4 at Peoria, 5 p.m.


Week 8 Recap:
The Rockford IceHogs snapped out of a six-game home losing streak with a win against the San Antonio Rampage at the BMO Harris Bank Center on Wednesday. Rockford kept rolling on Saturday, defeating the Peoria Rivermen in an Illinois Lottery Cup tilt on Friday. The season-long five-game homestand continued on Saturday, as the IceHogs fell to the Oklahoma City Barons. Week 9 features Rockford’s first three-games in three days in 2011-12, including two more tilts at the BMO.


Bacon Bits:
Rockford won back-to-back home games in Week 8 after snapping a team AHL record six game home losing streak

Brandon Pirri’s hat trick on Wednesday against San Antonio was the first three-goal performance for Rockford since Matt Keith on Feb. 19, 2010 against San Antonio

Pirri had his five-game point streak snapped on Saturday against Oklahoma City, totaling 6g-5a during his hot stretch

Pirri has eight multi-point games this season, four more than the next closest skater on Rockford

Rookie winger Andrew Shaw also had a five-game point streak come to an end on Saturday as he racked up 2g-5a during his streak

Defenseman Brian Connelly set an IceHogs AHL single-game record with four assists on Friday

Connelly leads all AHL defensemen in points (20), assists (18) and shots (64)

Defenseman Ryan Stanton turned in a career-high three assists on Friday with a +4 plus/minus rating

Saturday’s game marked the first contest in which Rostislav Olesz didn’t register a point

Through five games, Olesz has 3g-5a and a team-best plus/minus rating of +6

Alexander Salak allowed two goals on Saturday, the second time in nine decisions that he has allowed less than three markers in game, both came in losses

Rockford is tied for seventh in the AHL, scoring 3.26 goals per game

The IceHogs are third in the league, averaging 34.32 shots per contest and have registered 30 or more shots on goal in 15-straight games dating back to Oct. 21

Week 9 features Rockford’s first three-games in three nights this season, the team will play nine total three-in-threes.

Hot Hog: Week 8:
Brandon Pirri - Center
Second-year center Brandon Pirri notched five goals in three games during Week 8 to lead Rockford to a pair of victories. On Wednesday night, Pirri became the first IceHogs skater in nearly two years to record a hat trick. The centerman’s three-goal performance helped Rockford to a 6-3 win over San Antonio. Pirri then added two more tallies on Friday to help the IceHogs pull away from Peoria 7-3. The Toronto, Ont. native leads Rockford with 10 goals and 21 points through 19 games.


Upcoming Games:
Friday, Dec. 2 vs. Lake Erie: Rockford opens the month of December with a 7:05 game against the Lake Erie Monsters at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The IceHogs and Monsters faceoff for the first of four times in the 2011-12 campaign. Last season, the IceHogs owned a 4-1-1-0 record against Lake Erie. Friday is also the first of two pint glass giveaways, with the first 1,500 fans age 21 and older receiving a pint glass, sponsored by Applebee’s.

Saturday, Dec. 3 vs. Abbotsford: It’s Teddy Bear Toss night as the IceHogs host the Abbotsford Heat at 7:05 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center in the final game of Rockford’s season-long five-game homestand. Fans can bring a new stuffed animal to the game and throw it on the ice after the IceHogs score their first goal. All the teddy bears will be donated to local hospitals. But fans won’t have to go home empty handed. The first 1,500 fans through the door will receive a winter hat courtesy of Ferrellgas. Rockford is 1-1-0-0 against the Heat this season after splitting a weekend contest in Abbotsford back in October.

Sunday, Dec. 4 at Peoria: The puck drops at 5 p.m. Rockford travels back to Peoria for a third time this season in another Illinois Lottery Cup showdown. The game is the fourth of six in Peoria this season and seventh of 12 overall between the Midwest Division rivals.

Bud Light Hog Talk Returns To Granite City:
Bud Light Hog Talk returns for its weekly appearance tonight at Granite City Food and Brewery from 6-7 p.m. Granite City is located at 7140 Harrison Ave. next to CherryVale Mall. Fans can join Mike Peck from 6-7 p.m. most Mondays as he chats with IceHogs players, coaches and front office members. This week’s guests include IceHogs defensemen Brian Connelly and Ben Youds and Head Coach Ted Dent. Take advantage of food and Bud Light specials. If you can't make it to Granite City, tune into 1330 AM WNTA.

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 100.5 NTA FM, 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 website (icehogs.com) and click on the “click here to watch the AHL Live” icon, and for just $7 you can catch all of the IceHogs action on your computer. Also, fans with Comcast Cable television in Rockford can tune in to Channel 57 for all the IceHogs hockey action at the BMO Harris Bank Center this season. All Saturday home games will also be televised on My Network TV digital subchannel 17.2 along with Comcast and Charter Cable channel 16. The broadcast begins with the U.S. Cellular 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.

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 2011-12 season. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office in downtown Rockford or on the Web at www.theBMOHarrisBankCenter.com. Tickets start at just $7.

Illinois Lottery Cup Series Standings

Teams Record Points
Chicago 4-3-0-0 8
Peoria 6-5-0-0 12
Rockford 3-4-1-0 7

Rockford vs. Peoria 3-2-1-0
Rockford vs. Chicago 0-2-0-0

Rockford’s Next Illinois Lottery Cup Game:
Dec. 4 at Peoria