Chicago Wolves Win last game of Season5:2 over IceHogs

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A year ago when the last post of the Wolves season was made made it was full of exclamation points and happy chatter regarding the winning of the Calder Cup. This year although having won their last game the boys from Rosemont will be cleaning out their lockers on Monday and calling for tee times on Tuesday. Meanwhile their counterparts with every team within a hundred and fifty miles will be packing their gear and looking to see who will be their first playoff opponent.

In last nights win over the Rockford IceHogs the Wolves played the role of spoiler beautifully. With this loss the Hogs are no longer in control of their own destiny. They will find out who and where they will play next after today's game in Houston. Will it be in warm sunny Texas? Or will da Hogs face powerhouse Milwaukee having fallen into 4th place? This is what happens when you don't play like you mean it boys.

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The game started out with discipline enough then got a bit out of hand when at 1:50 the first period Rockford enforcer and Ex-Wolf Sean McMorrow received a double minor (4:00) for "attempted head butting" and Mike Brennam 2:oo for interference. This set up a rocket of a Chad Denny Special assisted by Martins and Sterling at 3:39. By the 14:51 the score was 5:0, Referee Dan Banfield (44)was beginning to add up the PIMs on Rockford including a game misconduct on Kyle Beach for boarding which resulted in a facial injury to Alex brooks. In the end it would be 31 min/10 inf for Rockford and 13min/7inf for Chicago. The low penalty count possibly could be attributed to the "playoff style" of calling penalties by Referee Branfield, which kept this important game for Rockford flowing and let the guys play.

Both Rockford goals were scored by Akim Aliu a BlackHawks prospect who like the Wolves Danick Paquette is fresh up from the Major Juniors. Like Paquette he arrives with a killer check and reputation for a nasty temper. Unlike the Wolves prospect Aliu is over 19 yeas of age and will be in either wear a Rockford or a Blackhawks uniform this fall. It will be most interesting to see how accurate the years of observations and mixed scouting reports on this talented young man have been. No one doubts his ability to put the puck in the net or take an opposing player out of play, but can he remain cool when the ice gets hot?

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As Kissane and I left the arena last night talking about where we might go for playoff games in the next weeks. We also talked about season ticket plans for next year. Things seem to of changed for many of the long term season ticket holders, bless our reps, they are still there for us. The ushers in our sections are people we depend on weekly to keep order. But something has changed. There is something different and altered to the point that most of the long term season ticket holders we talked to are going to have a long thought process over the summer as to downgrading their packages. It's not the loosing season, it's something else, times are tough we all are making hard choice as to how to spend our hard earned and disappearing dollars. The easy way would be to say on "Fan appreciation night" we just didn't feel appreciated. I'd go back a bit farther...

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powderhornhockey

Two years ago I covered the Colonial Cup series between the then UHL Rockford IceHogs and the Kalamazoo K-Wings. After the series ended in Rockford the on ice celebration went on for over an hour. But it was very different than the one we observed at the Allstate last year after the Wolves won the Calder. The IceHogs constantly made an efforts to engage the crowd, the fans were as much of a part of the celebration as the team. Look at the photos the Hogs are facing the crowd the Wolves are facing each other and forming a circle closing the fans out. Management teams change, decisions are made to keep sports franchises alive during difficult times that often season ticket holders don't understand the logic of. However, as one who has a voice, I feel the need to express the murmurs of discontent. As one of the true faithful expressed it"we felt as if our hockey family left us". These are tough times, discretionary funds are drying up in family budgets, now may be the time for the front office to turn outward and listen. Sometimes all it takes is giving the impression that you are listening, give a damn and embrace the odd new idea. Now that may help make for a happier " fan appreciation night" that has nothing to do with a winning season.

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powderhornhockey

But what do I know? I'm not an expert, just an observer, photog and I comment on what I see and record of the game I have loved and followed most of my life. In the end the pond never leaves your heart.

Here are some images of the last nights game. Not to worry my kit is still out and I will be covering the road to Lady Calder. The Wolves may be cleaning out their lockers but the second season is just starting for my partners and I. There are the playoffs, rookie camps and hopefully Traverse City to cover. Let's not even think about what arena my Canon and I might be ensconced in come October.

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Powderhornhockey

Ice Hogs Do Wolves a favor, Lose 4-1 to Milwaukee

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Last night before a sold out crowd at the Metro center the Rockford Icehogs did themselves no favors, losing to division leading Milwaukee in great style. My blogging partner, Kris Gray at the Chitowndailynews.org described the loss "not being pretty".
With this loss Wolves playoff hopes are rejuvenated. As it was described to me by a Wolves fan and mistress of all things statistical in order for the Wolves to make the playoffs the Hogs need to loose all remaining games and Wolves need to win win them all. Why does the song "Stay'n Alive" keep running through my head this morning. Thanks Hogs.

On the snarky side last nights win by Milwaukee featured an unassisted goal being scored by Justin Taylor at 2:36, in the first period. Taylor was recently released by the Wolves and was picked up by the Admirals this week. Later today the Wolves will face Milwaukee at the Bradley center, after scoring last night Taylor will probably be out looking for more, sweet revenge.

Last night during the game an old friend Akim Aliu also showed his feisty side for the IceHogs. This young man fresh up from the Major Juniors was tapped to serve a 2 minute " bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct" at 17:13 in the third period. This evidently turned into a 10 minute "misconduct-abuse of officials " at 19:13 was it something he said? Not a good way to start out the AHL season Akim.

Hockey never lets you down, how can you not love this stuff?

Favorite Images and Moments of Blackhawks Prospect Camp

It's 85-90 sunny degrees in the forecast with the occasional thunder storm, typical midwest weather. This summer Chicago seems different however. For those of us who love our icy sport hockey in the past we have had to seek out our passion in beer and pewee leagues during the warmer months. The word "hockey" never even appearing in the three major papers in the area. This off season is markedly different, the Hawks under Rocky Wirtz's stewardship is turning heads, with the announcement last week of the Winter Classic Game to be played in Wrigley Field next January first, yes Virgina, times if not hockey have changed in Chicago. The Chicago Blackhawks are appearing regularly in local papers, on the front of the sports page, a far cry from the 2-3" burried in the back the team warranted in past seasons. It is still early days yet but it looks like the Blackhawks fallow garden is starting to blossom, rookie camp is but a few weeks away and the season beckons in a few longer. Oh, I can't wait to see how this story will be written and am looking forward to being one of the citizen journalists who will be there every step of the way to see this phoenix rise or keep warm in the ashes.

Just to keep things interesting here are a few of my favorite images of the Blackhawks Prospect Camp taken earlier this month. I'll say it again, hockey in July, it doesn't get sweeter than that!






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Blackhawk Rookie Camp 08', Day V.

Friday and the last day of Rookie Camp, it seemed surreal opening my trunk in 90 degree heat and donning a heavy sweater to put over a tank top. That's hockey in July, dressing for both extremes. Friday's game was the abbreviated two 25 minute periods with a 25 minute break. Goalies were switched at the 12 minute mark and remaining netties were given a last chance to impress. Antti Niemi of the Finish Pelicans and a student of Passi Nurmien impressed most in the house. It would not be surprising to see him backing up Corey Crawford in Rockford next October. Utica native Joe Palmer also looks solidly in the pipeline. Give him another year or two of hard work at Ohio State and he will look better still. Link to follow the colegate teams is at right, should you wish to follow Palmer's development along with other college results and rankings.

Another player to set your tickler file for, Kruise Reddick, 18 just last week, plays for Tri-City in the WHL. For the youngest kid in camp he looked very mature.

The end of camp is a study in contrasts. For the small slice, the few that will move up to the pros, either to the Hawks or through Rockford it is the culmination of years of hard work. For the majority of players restricted by age (a player must be 20 to play in the AHL per an agreement with the Major Juniors, meaning a 19 year old makes it to the NHL or goes back to his Junior/Elite team) or college standings it is an invaluable week spent with professional coaches who will give them advice on how to take it to the next level. Work hard and with perseverance you will be back next year showing us how you follow through. The looks on the faces of the players not moving up was not disappointment as one might expect but of pride and determination.





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No rest for the Wicked....Hockey in July, Sweet!

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Two hours until I smell ice again sweet year round hockey ice....I know it was only a few days ago Kissane and I toured the Team Ireland/Dundalk Bulls facility in Armagh, Ireland but this will be NHL prospects hockey. To me the best stuff, a house of dreams, blood sweat and tears.

It has been a season of change for the Chicago Blackhawks,a new coach and with the death of Bill Wirtz his son Rocky at the helm of the ship a new course seems to be in place. Yes, this gardener is going to take her kit and look for the snowdrops, the new growth in this storied franchise. Congratulations Rocky Wirtz, you did it, I'm back interested in local NHL hockey from the bottom up thanks to your new perspective on making hockey more accessible to the common fan. Thanks to the Rockford IceHogs and their organization and product. A team that is consistently fun to watch and the best arena atmosphere in the AHL.

Today Blackhawk prospects will gather for rookie camp at "The Edge" arena in Bensonville it will be a week of practice skates and scrimmage games against Blackhawk and Icehog vets. The new kids will be eager to strut their stuff and prove themselves. The Hogs class of 07' will be looking to move up to the Hawks, this is the stuff dreams are made of.

The guys with stars in their eyes that I will be keeping my peepers on today will be...
#11, Akim Aliu, forward, played a few shifts with Rockford last season, has a bit of a colourful past. But Aliu could be the find of the decade for the Hawks, give this kid a chance to prove himself!

#17 Evan Brophy, forward, played with the Hogs last season, born Kitchner Ont, a real hockey town.I expect to see him move up.

#48, Jonathan Carlsson, any Swede playing defence interests me, coming from Sweden he probably has the skating skills but will he be aggressive enough for the North American game?

#24 Peter Leblanc, born in Hamiton, Ont, playing currently for New Hampshire.A col legate program that consistently develops quality players, also watch fellow Green Mountion Boy # 54 Kruise Reddick.

Lastly, a goalie: # 34, Joseph Palmer from Utica NY the foot of the Adirondack Mountains, has came up through the ranks of NY junior teams around Syracuse and Utica. Presently playing for Ohio State, Toledo.

Two hours to go, I can just smell the ice now.....Hockey in July, who says it's just a winter sport?