R O R
Plenty to Celebrate in 20th IceHogs Year By Peggy Werner
T
he Rockford IceHogs season is drawing to a close and excitement is at a record level, with the team in a close race to make it to the playoffs. The team is finishing out the year with a new coach, welcoming new players and continuing a celebration of its 20th year. IceHogs Director of Business Operations Mike Peck says it’s a close battle, with four teams fighting for one spot and all separated by one point. “We’ll go down to the wire and if we win the next few games, we’ll be in good shape, but anything can happen. At this point, every game is important,” he says. Meanwhile, the 20th year is its own milestone to celebrate, since the IceHogs organization has established itself as the city’s longest running sports team. It has also accomplished a great deal of good through the IceHogs Charitable
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Smart Living Weekly
Foundation and has been able to grow its loyal fan base. This year is a good opportunity to remember the road to greatness. “It’s been a great season reflecting back, reaching out to our former players for Alumni Night, and doing lot of reminiscing,” says Peck. “A lot has changed, for sure, but one thing that doesn’t change is our strong and supportive fan base.” Peck points to two major turning points in the team’s history, including the first championship win in May, 2007, when the IceHogs, led by Coach Steve Martinson, topped the Kalamazoo Wings in seven games with the series clincher at the (then) MetroCentre to take home the Colonial Cup. Following that win, a new era began as the IceHogs made the jump to the American Hockey League (AHL), as the top affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.
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In March, 2007, the AHL Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the inactive AHL franchise in Cincinnati to Rockford and the team began to play in its new league in October 2007. One of the 20th anniversary promotions still in the works is bringing Coach Martinson back to Rockford for a visit. Now coaching in Allen, Texas, he’s one of three coaches in professional hockey to win 1,000 games, Peck says. Peck credits Coach Derek King with doing a great job with the team this year. Just one month into the season, he moved up from assistant coach to interim coach after Jeremy Colliton was named the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. “We’re used to change, but that was a big change and Derek has really done a great job of keeping the team together
