Will be fifth Captain in the AHL era
Rockford, Ill.- Rockford IceHogs Head Coach Ted Dent announced Thursday that forward Brandon Segal has been named the team captain for the 2011-12 season. Segal becomes the fifth captain for the IceHogs in the AHL era, joining Jim Fahey (2007-08), Tim Brent (2008-09), Jake Dowell (2009-10) and Garnet Exelby (2010-11).
Defensemen Brian Connelly and Brian Fahey along with forward Brett McLean will serve as alternate captains.
Segal, 28, is in his ninth professional season and has four points (4g) through the first seven games of the 2011-12 campaign, including two game-winning goals. He spent part of the 2010-11 season with the Dallas Stars, tallying 10 points (5g-5a) in 46 games. The 6-2 forward is the only player to have skated for the IceHogs in both the UHL and AHL eras. Segal appeared in ten games for Rockford in 2004-05, tallying nine points (5g-4a).
Overall, the Richmond, British Columbia native has played in 564 career games, including 92 NHL contests and 462 AHL tilts. Segal has appeared in AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals, Portland Pirates, Norfolk Admirals, Manchester Monarchs and Texas Stars.
Connelly, 24, will be a permanent alternate captain for Rockford this season. The 2011-12 campaign is his fourth with Rockford and he currently leads the team with six points (6a) through the first seven games.
Fahey, 30, is in his ninth professional season and will wear the “A” during home games. He made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals in 2010-11, scoring one point (1a) in seven games. The defenseman won a Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves in 2008.
McLean, 33, will don the “A” during road games in 2011-12, his 13th professional season. The forward made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 10, 2002 and played in the Swiss-A League for the past two seasons. McLean had four points (4a) in the first four games of the 2011-12 campaign.
Next Home Game: Saturday, Oct. 29 vs. Peoria Rivermen. Game time is 7:05 p.m. This will be the third meeting between Rockford and Peoria this season. Saturday’s game is sponsored by Pepsi, and the first 2,500 fans through the doors will receive an IceHogs baseball cap. It is also an Illinois Lottery Cup game. The IceHogs won their first Illinois Lottery Cup matchup against the Rivermen on Oct. 9.