22-04-2025
Rockford IceHogs preparing for playoff action against their biggest rivals, the Chicago Wolves
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Six months of hockey covering 72 regular season games have led to this, a clean slate and a fresh start for the IceHogs in the AHL's Calder Cup playoffs. Their opening opponent Wednesday night will be their biggest rivals, the Chicago Wolves.
The IceHogs' lone championship banner has been hanging at the BMO for 18 years. That was earned by the old UHL IceHogs. The quest to add another banner begins this week with a best-of-three series against the Wolves.'Obviously the excitement is really high, especially playing one of our biggest rivals,' said IceHogs forward and team captain Brett last time the IceHogs and Wolves met in a playoff series was in the second round three years ago. The Wolves swept the Hogs in three games. The Hogs haven't had much success against the Wolves this season. They were 3-9 against the Wolves in the regular season.'I think that's just the way it goes sometimes,' said Seney. 'Again, I'm a guy that I try not to think about the previous games too much, and I think that's a good mindset kind of for us. To have, and, you know, playoffs is a whole different story, and it's a different game out there than the regular season.'One thing the IceHogs have going for them is a roster loaded with players who have NHL experience with the Blackhawks this season and last season. Joey Anderson, Ethan Del Mastro, Kevin Korchinski, Nolan Allan, Artyon Levshunov and Andreas in AHL veterans Seney, Zach Sanford and former AHL MVP Gerry Mayhew and that's a bunch that seems built for the playoffs.'There's nothing you can do to prepare for playoff hockey other than experience it,' said IceHogs interim head coach Mark Eaton. 'You always hear the cliches, everything is ramped up, the intensity levels, the physicality, but until you've gone through it, you can't really appreciate how much that all of those aspects are elevated. So yeah, the guys that have been through it at the pro level, NHL especially can bring that experience.'Seney sums up the situation simply. 'It just falls on every guy to make sure come Wednesday when the puck drops, you're ready to go,'IceHogs vs. Wolves playoff series (best of 3 games)Game 1: Wednesday at Rosemont 7 2: Friday at BMO Center Rockford 7 3: (if needed) Sunday at BMO Center Rockford 4 Even though the Wolves are the higher-seeded team, two of the three games are scheduled to be playing in Rockford because Allstate Arena in Rosemont is booked with other events this weekend including a rodeo.
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