SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS - ROCKFORD ICEHOGS

Oct 4, 2016

Leading up to Opening Night on Oct. 14, IowaWild.com will preview each team on the 76-game regular season schedule. Please keep in mind with training camps in full swing, players could change their final destination by playing well in camp and perhaps make the NHL club.

Rockford IceHogs
NHL Affiliate: Chicago Blackhawks
2015-16 Record: 40-22-10-4, 94 Points
Iowa vs. RCK in 15-16/All Time: 3-9-0-0/9-20-1-0
RCK vs. Iowa in 15-16/All Time: 9-1-1-1/21-6-1-2
Place: 3^rd Central Division / 4^th Western Conference
Playoffs: Lost in first round to eventual Champion Lake Erie (CLE) (3-0)

Biggest Changes:
The biggest offseason loss was in net with the departure of goalie Michael Leighton. The four-time AHL All-Star was 28-8-8 with a 2.44 GAA and a .918 SV % in 46 games with Rockford last season. Leighton had 10 shutouts in two seasons with the Hogs.

The team made an adjustment behind the bench, as Head Coach Ted Dent has a new Assistant Coach in Derek King, who replaces Mark Osiecki. King was a long-time assistant in Toronto (AHL) from 2009-15. He spent last season with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack. Osiecki begins his tenure as an assistant in Wisconsin for the Badgers.

TOP OFFSEASON PLAYER SIGNING(S):
F - Spencer Abbott - 42 GP – 14g-21a= 36 pts (Frolunda –SWE)
C - Sam Carrick - 52 GP – 16g-18a= 34 pts (Toronto AHL)
F - Nick Schmaltz - 37 GP – 11g-35a= 46 points/ won National Title (Univ. ND)

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:
F Mark McNeill – Longtime Rockford resident finished second on the team with 48 points in 63 games played.
F Vinnie Hinostroza – Led the IceHogs in scoring with 51 points in 66 games played. He scored 18 times and set up 33 others. He also played seven games with Chicago in 15-16.
D Ville Pokka – Led all Hogs in points among defensemen with 45 points in 76 games played. He could spend a lot of time in Chicago this season. 
C Jake Dowell – Signed to an AHL contract, the former Iowa Captain enjoyed perhaps his best year as a pro with a career-high 35 points in 72 games

TOP NEW PROSPECTS:
F Nick Schmaltz - (1^st rd, 20^th overall in 2014) – 46 points in 37 GP with UND (NCHC)
G Lars Johansson - (Free agent Sweden) 27-6-0 in 2015-16 Frolunda HC (SWE)
F Tyler Motte - (4^th rd, 121^st overall in 2013) 56 points in 38 GP with Univ. Michigan (BIG10)