2013–14 Rockford IceHogs season

2013–14 Rockford IceHogs
Division	4th Midwest Division
Conference	9th Western Conference
League	18th AHL
2013–14 record	33–29–5–4 (75 pts)
Home record	22–9–1–2
Road record	11–20–4–2
Goals for	218
Goals against	244
Team information
General Manager	Mark Bernard
Coach	Ted Dent
Assistant Coach	Mark Osiecki
Captain	Jared Nightingale
Alternate captains	Wade Brookbank
Arena	BMO Harris Bank Center
Average attendance	4,737 (80.3%) Total: 161,065
Team leaders
Goals	Jeremy Morin (24)
Assists	Adam Clendening (44)
Points	Adam Clendening (56)
Penalties in minutes	Jared Nightingale (112)
Plus/minus	(+) Klas Dahlbeck (+22) (–) Jared Nightingale (–14)
Wins	Jason LaBarbera (14)
Goals against average	Antti Raanta (2.83)
< 2012–13 2014–15 >

The 2012–13 Rockford IceHogs season is the franchise's 7th season in the American Hockey League. The season began on October 5, 2013.

Off-season

Mark Osiecki was hired as the Rockford assistant coach in July, three months after his release as Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey head coach due to an undisclosed difference of opinion with management. The IceHogs' home arena, BMO Harris Bank Center, underwent $2 million in renovations during the off-season, including 400 new lower-level seats, upgraded concessions, locker room renovations, new lighting and other improvements. That work stretched into the regular season, wrapping up in the third week of October.

Rockford saw several player departures during the off-season including forwards David Gilbert, Joakim Nordström, Kyle Beach, Rostislav Olesz, Ben Smith and Martin St. Pierre; defensemen Joseph Lavin and Ryan Stanton; and Carter Hutton, who had the team's starting goaltender for the past two years. Although goaltender Mac Carruth initially remained with Rockford, he was reassigned to ECHL's Toledo Walleye two games into the regular season. Newcomers to the IceHogs included defensemen Viktor Svedberg, Jared Nightingale, Theo Peckham, and Joe Gleason; forwards Maxim Shalunov, Alex Broadhurst, Pat Mullane, Brad Winchester, and Drew LeBlanc; and goaltender Antti Raanta. The team also re-signed winger Wade Brookbank. Several players had skated with the team last year but appeared in less than 10 games, including goaltender Kent Simpson, and forwards Phillip Danault, Byron Froese, Mark McNeill and Garret Ross. Ten of the 23 players on IceHogs regular roster going into the regular season were newcomers. Nine of them were rookies, with seven making their AHL debut, making them the youngest Rockford team in two years. Nine of the players had at least some experience in the National Hockey League.

The IceHogs had a shorter off-season than usual due to their major league affiliate, the Chicago Blackhawks, having an extended 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup. Head coach Ted Dent believed Rockford would have to develop new top scorers to replace those who left the team. Nevertheless, much of the focus in off-season practices went toward defense and discipline, particularly on avoiding taking penalties. The IceHogs played a pair of preseason exhibition away games, starting with a 2–1 victory over the Chicago Wolves on September 25. Jared Brown and Matt Lowry both scored for Rockford, but were nevertheless released from the team the next day. The IceHogs lost the preseason finale 2–1 to the Milwaukee Admirals on September 27, which Winchester scoring the team's only goal. The game went to a shootout, where nobody from either team scored until Milwaukee's Mathieu Tousignant in the tenth round.

2013–14 Preseason Game Log: 1–0–0–1
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record 1 September 25 Rockford 2–1 Chicago Carruth 1–0–0–0 2 September 27 Rockford 1–2 Milwaukee SO Raanta 1–0–0–1

Regular season

October

Rockford began their regular season with five away games due to the BMO Harris Bank Center renovations. In their first two games, the IceHogs allowed a total of 100 shots on goal. Their season opener, a 3–1 loss to the San Antonio Rampage on October 5, included 56 shots on goal against, a team record for a single game. Simpson, who filled in for Raanta after he was injured at the start of the first season made 49 saves, which was also a team record for one game. Rockford won their next two games, including a 5–2 win over the Lake Erie Monsters on October 11 in which they scored five unanswered goals before allowing their opponent to score. Forward Brandon Pirri was recalled to the Chicago Blackhawks. Rockford had their first season loss on October 12, also against Lake Erie, falling 5–1 after being outshot 20–4 in the first period and failing to score until they were trailing by four goals. After that game, the IceHogs ranked last in the league for shots on goal, allowing an average of 39.5 per game.

The IceHogs won their next two games, both with dramatic comebacks at the end of the third period. They beat Chicago 5–3 on October 18 after scoring two goals in the final 90 seconds, and defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 5–4 the next day after Danault scored his first professional goal with 72 seconds left in regulation and forced a shootout. Nordström, who had been a surprise pick to join the Chicago Blackhawks in the off-season due to his penalty kill abilities, was returned to Rockford on October 20. The IceHogs lost 5–4 in overtime to the Hamilton Bulldogs on October 22 after surrendering a lead three times. McNeill scored twice for Rockford, and Simpson made 31 saves. Rockford won their next three games, despite their opponent scoring first in each match-up. In their October 23 game against the Toronto Marlies, Rockford gave up a two-goal lead for the third consecutive game, but Jeremy Morin scored the game-winner to secure a 3–2 victory. After a playing seven of their previous eight games away, the IceHogs will play eight of their next 11 matches at home. After two more wins, Rockford was in first place in the Western Conference, and tied with Texas Stars for most goals scored at 34. The IceHogs saw their first home loss on October 31, falling 5–3 to the Charlotte Checkers on October 31. Continuing a pattern of trailing early, Rockford came back from a 3–0 deficit to tie the game but ultimately fell short.

November

The IceHogs also lost their next two match-ups, the last knocked them out of first place. It marked the fifth straight game where they trailed while going into the third period.

Standings

Divisional standings

#	Midwest Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
1	Chicago Wolves (SLB)	76	45	21	5	5	100	239	191
2	Grand Rapids Griffins (DRW)	76	46	23	2	5	99	238	187
3	Milwaukee Admirals (NAS)	76	39	24	6	7	91	215	199
4	Rockford IceHogs (CHI)	76	35	32	5	4	79	234	262
5	Iowa Wild (MIN)	76	27	36	7	6	67	169	235

Conference standings

 y–  indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot
 x–  indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
 e–  indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention

#	Western Conference	Div	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA
1	*y– Texas Stars (DAL)	WT	76	48	18	3	7	106	274	197
2	*y– Chicago Wolves (STL)	MW	76	45	21	5	5	100	239	191
3	*y– Toronto Marlies (TOR)	NT	76	45	25	2	4	96	223	202
4	x– Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)	MW	76	46	23	2	5	99	238	187
5	x– Abbotsford Heat (CGY)	WT	76	43	25	5	3	94	237	215
6	x– Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)	MW	76	39	24	6	7	91	215	199
7	x– Rochester Americans (BUF)	NT	76	37	28	6	5	85	216	217
8	x– Oklahoma City Barons (EDM)	WT	76	36	29	2	9	83	239	256
9	e– Rockford IceHogs (CHI)	MW	76	35	32	5	4	79	234	262
10	e– Utica Comets (VAN)	NT	76	35	32	5	4	79	187	216
11	e– Charlotte Checkers (CAR)	WT	76	37	36	1	2	77	228	241
12	e– Lake Erie Monsters (COL)	NT	76	32	33	1	10	75	197	232
13	e– Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)	NT	76	33	35	1	7	74	182	224
14	e– San Antonio Rampage (FLA)	WT	76	30	37	3	6	69	206	235
15	e– Iowa Wild (MIN)	MW	76	27	36	7	6	67	169	235

* = Division leaders are seeded 1, 2, and 3 in Conference standings.
The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.

Schedule and results

2013–14 Game Log – Regular season
October: 7–3–1–0 (Home: 3–1–0–0 ; Road: 4–2–1–0) Pts. 15 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 1 October 5 Rockford 1–3 San Antonio Simpson 5,455 0–1–0–0 0 Gamesheet 2 October 6 Rockford 4–3 Texas Simpson 3,166 1–1–0–0 2 Gamesheet 3 October 11 Rockford 5–2 Lake Erie Raanta 5,784 2–1–0–0 4 Gamesheet 4 October 12 Rockford 1–5 Lake Erie Raanta 5,611 2–2–0–0 4 Gamesheet 5 October 18 Rockford 5–3 Chicago Simpson 3,949 3–2–0–0 6 Gamesheet 6 October 19 Grand Rapids 4–5 Rockford SO Raanta 6,202 4–2–0–0 8 Gamesheet 7 October 22 Rockford 4–5 Hamilton OT Simpson 1,990 4–2–1–0 9 Gamesheet 8 October 23 Rockford 3–2 Toronto Raanta 4,184 5–2–1–0 11 Gamesheet 9 October 26 Charlotte 1–2 Rockford SO Raanta 3,124 6–2–1–0 13 Gamesheet 10 October 27 Texas 2–4 Rockford Raanta 6,353 7–2–1–0 15 Gamesheet 11 October 31 Charlotte 5–3 Rockford Raanta 5,936 7–3–1–0 15 Gamesheet
November: 5–8–0–0 (Home: 4–3–0–0 ; Road: 1–5–0–0) Pts. 10 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 12 November 1 Rockford 2–4 Milwaukee Simpson 4,142 7–4–1–0 15 Gamesheet 13 November 3 Grand Rapids 3–1 Rockford Raanta 3,033 7–5–1–0 15 Gamesheet 14 November 6 Rockford 2–6 Grand Rapids Raanta 6,118 7–6–1–0 15 Gamesheet 15 November 8 Iowa 1–3 Rockford Raanta 4,101 8–6–1–0 17 Gamesheet 16 November 9 Iowa 5–2 Rockford Raanta 4,082 8–7–1–0 17 Gamesheet 17 November 15 Rockford 3–5 Grand Rapids Simpson 9,260 8–8–1–0 17 Gamesheet 18 November 16 San Antonio 2–4 Rockford Raanta 4,394 9–8–1–0 19 Gamesheet 19 November 20 Abbotsford 4–2 Rockford Simpson 2,493 9–9–1–0 19 Gamesheet 20 November 23 Rockford 2–5 Charlotte Carruth 7,672 9–10–1–0 19 Gamesheet 21 November 24 Rockford 4–3 Charlotte Simpson 4,343 10–10–1–0 21 Gamesheet 22 November 27 Milwaukee 1–2 Rockford OT Simpson 3,440 11–10–1–0 23 Gamesheet 23 November 29 Rockford 1–7 Chicago Simpson 7,554 11–11–1–0 23 Gamesheet 24 November 30 Chicago 3–4 Rockford Simpson 5,451 12–11–1–0 25 Gamesheet
December: 3–5–2–0 (Home: 2–3–0–0 ; Road: 1–2–2–0) Pts. 8 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 25 December 5 Rockford 2–3 Charlotte OT Simpson 3,826 12–11–2–0 26 Gamesheet 26 December 7 Rockford 5–3 Charlotte Simpson 7,719 13–11–2–0 28 Gamesheet 27 December 13 Oklahoma City 3–4 Rockford Carruth 3,359 14–11–2–0 30 Gamesheet 28 December 14 Oklahoma City 4–5 Rockford SO Carruth 4,738 15-11–2–0 32 Gamesheet 29 December 15 Rockford 1–3 Iowa York 6,312 15–12–2–0 32 Gamesheet 30 December 20 Rockford 2–3 Grand Rapids OT Simpson 8,269 15–12–3–0 33 Gamesheet 31 December 21 Milwaukee 3–1 Rockford Simpson 3,975 15–13–3–0 33 Gamesheet 32 December 26 Rockford 2–5 Iowa Simpson 6,151 15–14–3–0 33 Gamesheet 33 December 27 Grand Rapids 4–2 Rockford Carruth 4,105 15–15–3–0 33 Gamesheet 34 December 30 Charlotte 3–2 Rockford Simpson 4,599 15–16–3–0 33 Gamesheet
January: 5–5–1–2 (Home: 4–1–1–1 ; Road: 1–4–0–1) Pts. 13 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 35 January 3 Iowa 3–2 Rockford SO Carruth 3,326 15–16–3–1 34 Gamesheet 36 January 4 Grand Rapids 2–4 Rockford LaBarbera 4,145 16–16–3–1 36 Gamesheet 37 January 5 Rockford 3–4 Chicago SO LaBarbera 7,530 16–16–3–2 37 Gamesheet 38 January 8 Rockford 2–4 Grand Rapids LaBarbera 3,672 16–17–3–2 37 Gamesheet 39 January 10 Lake Erie 3–4 Rockford Simpson 3,846 17–17–3–2 39 Gamesheet 40 January 11 Lake Erie 1–6 Rockford LaBarbera 5,775 18–17–3–2 41 Gamesheet 41 January 15 Abbotsford 4–3 Rockford OT LaBarbera 5,861 18–17–4–2 42 Gamesheet 42 January 18 Rockford 1–2 Chicago LaBarbera 16,005 18–18–4–2 42 Gamesheet 43 January 20 Toronto 3–2 Rockford LaBarbera 4,193 18–19–4–2 42 Gamesheet 44 January 24 Rockford 2–3 Milwaukee Simpson 16,860 18–20–4–2 42 Gamesheet 45 January 25 Milwaukee 1–2 Rockford LaBarbera 6,504 19–20–4–2 44 Gamesheet 46 January 26 Rockford 4–3 Milwaukee OT LaBarbera 4,045 20–20–4–2 46 Gamesheet 47 January 31 Rockford 1–4 Rochester LaBarbera 6,311 20–21–4–2 46 Gamesheet
February: 9–0–1–1 (Home: 5–0–0–1 ; Road: 4–0–1–0) Pts. 20 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 48 February 1 Rockford 2–1 Utica Simpson 3,815 21–21–4–2 48 Gamesheet 49 February 4 Hamilton 4–6 Rockford LaBarbera 5,196 22–21–4–2 50 Gamesheet 50 February 8 Iowa 3–8 Rockford Simpson 5,310 23–21–4–2 52 Gamesheet 51 February 9 Utica 4–5 Rockford OT LaBarbera 3,752 24–21–4–2 54 Gamesheet 52 February 14 Chicago 5–4 Rockford SO Simpson 4,468 24–21–4–3 55 Gamesheet 53 February 15 Rockford 5–3 Iowa LaBarbera 10,115 25–21–4–3 57 Gamesheet 54 February 16 Rockford 4–2 Iowa LaBarbera 6,814 26–21–4–3 59 Gamesheet 55 February 21 Chicago 1–2 Rockford LaBarbera 6,007 27–21–4–3 61 Gamesheet 56 February 22 Milwaukee 1–4 Rockford LaBarbera 6,265 28–21–4–3 63 Gamesheet 57 February 25 Rockford 4–1 Iowa LaBarbera 4,102 29–21–4–3 65 Gamesheet 58 February 28 Rockford 4–5 Oklahoma City OT LaBarbera 3,853 29–21–5–3 66 Gamesheet
March: 4–5–0–1 (Home: 4–1–0–0 ; Road: 0–4–0–1) Pts. 9 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 59 March 1 Rockford 4–5 Oklahoma City LaBarbera 3,158 29–22–5–3 66 Gamesheet 60 March 4 Rochester 2–4 Rockford LaBarbera 3,071 30–22–5–3 68 Gamesheet 61 March 7 Rockford 3–8 Milwaukee Simpson 4,431 30–23–5–3 68 Gamesheet 62 March 8 Milwaukee 6–2 Rockford LaBarbera 6,300 30–24–5–3 68 Gamesheet 63 March 14 Rockford 5–6 Milwaukee SO LaBarbera 6,394 30–24–5–4 69 Gamesheet 64 March 21 Rockford 0–6 Chicago Simpson 8,825 30–25–5–4 69 Gamesheet 65 March 22 Chicago 1–2 Rockford SO LaBarbera 6,513 31–25–5–4 71 Gamesheet 66 March 28 Grand Rapids 4–5 Rockford LaBarbera 5,223 32–25–5–4 73 Gamesheet 67 March 29 Rockford 1–4 Grand Rapids LaBarbera 10,834 32–26–5–4 73 Gamesheet 68 March 30 Chicago 3–6 Rockford Simpson 5,925 33–26–5–4 75 Gamesheet
April: 2–6–0–0 (Home: 2–2–0–0 ; Road: 0–4–0–0) Pts. 4 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 69 April 4 Rockford 3–6 Abbotsford LaBarbera 3,088 33–27–5–4 75 Gamesheet 70 April 5 Rockford 3–5 Abbotsford LaBarbera 3,276 33–28–5–4 75 Gamesheet 71 April 8 Rockford 1–3 Milwaukee LaBarbera 3,504 33–29–5–4 75 Gamesheet 72 April 11 Milwaukee 4–1 Rockford LaBarbera 4,283 33–30–5–4 75 Gamesheet 73 April 12 Iowa 2–3 Rockford LaBarbera 6,524 34–30–5–4 77 Gamesheet 74 April 13 Rockford 2–4 Chicago LaBarbera 11,535 34–31–5–4 77 Gamesheet 75 April 18 Chicago 5–3 Rockford LaBarbera 5,368 34–32–5–4 77 Gamesheet 76 April 19 Charlotte 3–7 Rockford LaBarbera 5,300 35–32–5–4 79 Gamesheet
Legend:       Win (2 points)       Loss (0 points)       Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes
Updated as of November 4, 2013

Regular Season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
Adam Clendening	13	2	10	12	4	16
Alex Broadhurst*	13	4	7	11	1	4
Mark McNeill*	13	7	3	10	2	4
Jeremy Morin‡	8	4	4	8	1	9
Jimmy Hayes	10	4	4	8	−4	0
Klas Dahlbeck	13	4	4	8	1	6
Terry Broadhurst	12	3	5	8	0	0
Drew LeBlanc*	13	3	4	7	−5	2
Phillip Danault*	13	1	6	7	3	6
Dylan Olsen	13	0	7	7	5	4
Bradley Mills‡	8	2	2	4	−3	6
Garret Ross*	12	2	2	4	3	12
Brad Winchester	13	1	2	3	−2	40
Brandon Pirri‡	3	0	3	3	0	0
Viktor Svedberg	10	1	1	2	−3	10
Byron Froese	11	0	2	2	−1	6
Maxim Shalunov*	6	0	1	1	−1	0
Joe Gleason*	7	0	1	1	−1	0
Pat Mullane*	10	0	1	1	−2	2
Kyle Beach	2	0	0	0	0	4
Bobby Shea	3	0	0	0	0	2
Wade Brookbank	4	0	0	0	0	7
Joakim Nordstrom‡	4	0	0	0	−3	0
Theo Peckham‡	7	0	0	0	−1	12
Jared Nightingale‡	13	0	0	0	−6	39

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining team. Stats reflect time with the team only.
^‡Left the team mid-season
^*Rookie

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time on Ice; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; SV = Saves; SA = Shots Against; SV% = Save Percentage; SO = Shutouts; G = Goals; A = Assists; PIM = Penalty Minutes
Updated as of November 4, 2013

Regular Season

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	GAA	SV	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Antti Raanta*	9	493:20	5	3	22	2.68	249	271	.919	0	0	0	0
Kent Simpson*	5	294:01	2	3	16	3.27	174	190	.916	0	0	0	0
Totals		787:21	7	4	31	2.36	423	461	.918	0	0	0	0

^‡Left the team mid-season
^*Rookie

Milestones

Player	Milestone	Reached
Antti Raanta	1st AHL Game	October 5, 2013
Joe Gleason	1st AHL Game	October 5, 2013
Pat Mullane	1st AHL Game	October 5, 2013
Viktor Svedberg	1st AHL Goal	October 5, 2013
Alex Broadhurst	1st AHL Game 1st AHL Goal	October 5, 2013
Mark McNeill	1st AHL Assist 1st AHL Goal	October 6, 2013
Phillip Danault	1st AHL Assist	October 6, 2013
Antti Raanta	1st AHL Win	October 11, 2013
Joakim Nordström	1st AHL Goal	October 11, 2013
Drew LeBlanc	1st AHL Goal	October 11, 2013
Viktor Svedberg	1st AHL Goal	October 11, 2013
Alex Broadhurst	1st AHL Assist	October 11, 2013
Maxim Shalunov	1st AHL Game	October 12, 2013
Drew LeBlanc	1st AHL Assist	October 12, 2013
Phillip Danault	1st AHL Goal	October 19, 2013
Garret Ross	1st AHL Goal	October 22, 2013
Pat Mullane	1st AHL Assist	October 22, 2013
Garret Ross	1st AHL Assist	October 23, 2013

External links

• Rockford IceHogs official site