Latest news with #IceHogs
New York Times
18-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Blackhawks brought back Jared Nightingale to shape their future with AHL IceHogs
Jared Nightingale has lived in more homes in Rockford, Ill., than he ever could've imagined. He started in an apartment when he was captain of the AHL's Rockford IceHogs in 2013. He lived in another apartment when he returned as an IceHogs assistant coach in 2021. He later purchased a house in Rockford while in that position and then sold it when he departed to become the coach and general manager of the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays in 2024. And just recently, Nightingale bought another house in Rockford after being named IceHogs head coach. Advertisement 'Between that and (staying in Rockford's) Residence Inn, I've bounced around,' the 42-year-old Nightingale said with a laugh during a recent phone interview. Nightingale's latest return to Rockford was the most unexpected. He left the IceHogs after the 2024-25 season because he wanted to be a head coach, and the Stingrays provided that opportunity. His goal was to work his way back to the AHL as a head coach, but he never could have predicted that it would come so soon or that it'd be in Rockford again. For that to happen, a few things needed to fall into place. When Anders Sörensen was promoted from IceHogs head coach to Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach last season, Mark Eaton stepped into the IceHogs' position. At that point, IceHogs president of hockey operations and general manager Mark Bernard started thinking about permanent coaching candidates and kept close tabs on Nightingale in South Carolina. Bernard took notice when Nightingale's team went 52-15-5 in the regular season and he was named the ECHL's coach of the year. As Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson ran an NHL coaching search after the season, he put Bernard, Blackhawks associate general manager Norm Maciver and hockey operations adviser Brian Campbell largely in charge of the IceHogs' search. They looked at other candidates, but Nightingale made the most sense. 'He really just checked a lot of boxes for us — his ability to teach, his communication skills, he's detail-oriented,' Bernard said. 'I love the fact that he has that relationship with a lot of our prospects already and the ones that he didn't coach, he had met them through our development camps and rookie camps. So he's familiar with our prospects. He's familiar with how we do things in Chicago and Rockford. We're familiar with him. He knows all of our staff members. So it just made for a really easy transition. It's almost like we assigned him to the minors one year to become a head coach and we're bringing him back. It just really unfolded very well for us.' Advertisement Davidson said: 'Learning from some of the players and the management in South Carolina, just getting a sense of how he was as a head coach, came back very, very positive and a lot of really, really good references on his time as a head coach. It's a credit to himself to invest in himself and take that opportunity.' Nightingale found the season in South Carolina to be priceless. He finally got to run his own ship. There are challenges to also being the general manager at that level, but he said he learned so much from managing his own team's time. 'It's basically your schedule, kind of your blueprint of how you want to map out a day or a week and kind of the vision of what you want to work on as a team,' Nightingale said. 'I've always had my thoughts and what I thought was really important, but you never know until you actually have to live it and do it and present it to a team. So I'd say I learned a lot, just scheduling and what to get done in a week or a day for practice and helping the players ultimately have success. Then, as a head coach too, you got all those tough decisions of ice time and the roster. It was a good situation for me to live through, and I think that's really helped me for my first head coaching job.' Coming back to the AHL, Nightingale understands his job is different. The IceHogs want to win and be successful as a team, somewhat like the Stingrays, but it's much more about player development and answering to the Blackhawks' NHL needs and wants. It does help that Nightingale has some familiarity with new Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill. Nightingale played briefly for Blashill with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2014-15 season, and Nightingale's older brother, Adam Nightingale, was an assistant to Blashill with the Detroit Red Wings. Advertisement Nightingale's three years as an IceHogs assistant also gave him insight into what Davidson is seeking from player development in Rockford. From Davidson's perspective, that was important, too. 'He believes in the things that we believe in,' Davidson said. Nightingale, a former defenseman, worked with Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic with the IceHogs during the 2022-23 season and prepared him for the NHL. Training camp will determine whether Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski or any of the Blackhawks' other early-round draft picks start the season in Rockford or Chicago, but Nightingale has a feel for who's in the pipeline and what his responsibility is with those prospects. 'Obviously you look at where the Blackhawks are right now in their rebuild and a lot of young, talented players,' Nightingale said. 'I want to be on the same page and on board with Blashill's vision and Kyle's vision and all the management's vision. I understand, I've lived it and coached it to just how important it is to help these guys develop so that when they do get the opportunity, they're ready to help the Blackhawks have success. I think that you look at any of the best teams in the NHL, I think a majority of roster guys are seasoned in the AHL, and it's a job that I don't take lightly. I think it's a privilege to have that opportunity to help in any way that I can in a player's development.' One question that Blashill was asked in his introductory news conference also happens to be one Nightingale has been asked lately: What's the correct balance between player development and team success? 'I think it's a good question,' Nightingale said. 'You get asked that a lot. I really think we're not just developing to make them better players. We want them to be executing at a high level to win games and to have success on the ice. So, I think it goes hand in hand. … I think part of development is winning and being successful. I think that's what we're going to try to create in Rockford and I think that's crucial.' Nightingale saw how that could work when he played for the Syracuse Crunch, the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate. Advertisement 'I was in Syracuse, and we lost in the finals, and almost half our roster went up to Tampa, and they had a long career and they won in Tampa,' Nightingale said. 'They placed a priority on winning. I don't necessarily talk about winning, but just developing winning habits. More times than not, you see the results on the ice.' Those are the type of results Nightingale would love to give the Rockford community. Having spent so much time in Rockford, Nightingale has developed a relationship with more than just the IceHogs. 'I know the Rockford area and the community and a lot of good friends,' Nightingale said. 'Obviously, that always makes it more enjoyable. You have a sense of pride for the city and for the organization, and that always is fun. That's why in those few years that we had some good teams and felt like we could make runs in the playoffs, there's nothing better. You see how that community rallies behind the IceHogs, and I'm excited to hopefully bring them a product that they can be proud of.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rockford IceHogs MVP Cavan Fitzgerald to return for 2025-26 season
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The IceHogs already have begun building their roster for next season with one very important piece. Monday, they announced they have signed defenseman Cavan Fitzgerald to a two-year AHL checked a lot of boxes last season. He was named the team's MVP and the team's 'Hardest Hitter.' He also was an alternate captain. He led all IceHogs defensemen in scoring with 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists in 63 regular season season was Fitzgerald's first in Rockford. He had previous AHL stops with the Chicago Wolves for four seasons where he was part of a Calder Cup Championship team in 2022, and he spent two seasons with the San Jose Barracuda and one with the Charlotte Checkers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former IceHogs player and assistant coach Jared Nightingale named Hogs' head coach
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The Chicago Blackhawks recently got their new head coach for next season, now the Rockford IceHogs have their new head coach. He is former IceHogs' assistant coach Jared was on the IceHogs' coaching staff from 2021-2024. He also played for the IceHogs as a defenseman for one season in 2013-14. He was the team's season, Nightingale had his first head coaching job in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays. He guided them to the best record in the league (52-15-5). He was named the ECHL's Coach of the Year earning the John Brophy general manager Kyle Davidson, in a statement released by the Blackhawks, called Nightingale a natural leader. 'Jared's confidence and direction behind the bench has produced a coaching style that is perfectly suited to help develop and advance our young prospects in Rockford. His familiarity with the organization and our players is an incomparable asset, and we're excited to see Jared succeed in this role moving forward.'Nightingale is 42 years old. During his player career he played in 472 AHL games over 12 seasons. He also played in 202 ECHL games over eight Blackhawks have also announced that IceHogs assistant coaches Rob Klinkhammer and Josh MacNevin will remain on the coaching staff to assist Nightingale. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
IceHogs Eliminated By Admirals In Devastating Fashion
The Rockford IceHogs were looking great in the Calder Cup Playoffs. When they took a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Admirals in their second-round matchup, they did it with their fourth win in a row.
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What we learned about Blackhawks prospects during the Rockford IceHogs' playoffs
The Chicago Blackhawks' organizational season is officially over. The Blackhawks' season ended with the NHL's regular season. The Indy Fuel, their ECHL affiliate, were swept in the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs. On Sunday, the Rockford IceHogs were eliminated from the AHL's Calder Cup playoffs by losing Game 5 of a best-of-five division semifinals series against the Milwaukee Admirals. Advertisement Here are 10 takeaways from the IceHogs' playoff run: 1. The postseason wasn't so memorable for Artyom Levshunov. As good as Levshunov was with the Blackhawks after being called up, he struggled a bunch with the IceHogs in the playoffs. Whether it was the adrenaline and season catching up with him — he played 77 games between Rockford and Chicago after playing in 38 for Michigan State last season — or something else, his game dropped off. He made mistakes with the puck and was out of position defensively, and he was often lucky it didn't bite the IceHogs more than it did. The lows were much more visible than the highs in the playoffs, and that was often the opposite during the regular season. There isn't any sense that the Blackhawks have a larger concern about Levshunov's play. The organization is probably happy for him to start his offseason, get some rest and then prepare to play potentially a full NHL season next year. Building more strength and endurance will be important for Levshunov, like a lot of the players, this offseason. 2. Kevin Korchinski assumed more of the role of No. 1 defenseman in the playoffs. Levshunov's minutes were cut a bit, and Korchinski got more ice time. He played well over 20 minutes most of the playoffs and even hit 26:19 in Game 4 against the Admirals. For the most part, Korchinski held his own. He had a costly turnover in Game 5 against the Admirals, where he didn't move the puck quickly enough as the forecheckers arrived, but there weren't many errors like that. He was on the ice for more goals for than against. He had two goals in the first round against the Chicago Wolves and two assists in the last series. He was noticeably flying around the ice at times using his skating. When he found that speed within the offensive zone, he created for himself and others. That's what the Blackhawks need him to do consistently. Defensively, he's so much better than he was a year ago. He showed a tougher side in the playoffs and even played the unlikely role of villain in Game 3 against the Admirals with a cross-check to an opponent's back and then tossing the player's glove across the ice. Advertisement This will be an important summer if he's going to break camp with the Blackhawks next season. The more weight and muscle he can add, the better chance he probably has. The Blackhawks are still high on Korchinski's potential and he turns 21 next month. He might just need a little longer than other prospects. 3. Drew Commesso may have to still be patient for his NHL opportunity in net next season, considering who is ahead of him, but he at least has the Blackhawks' attention again. From early March to the end of the season, he was often the reason why the IceHogs won games. In his final 15 regular-season starts, he had a .932 save percentage. In seven playoff games, he had a .926 save percentage. 4. If I were betting on one current Rockford forward prospect to become a permanent fixture with the Blackhawks, it'd probably be left winger Samuel Savoie. His speed and effort seem to affect the game consistently more than anyone else. He can change a game when he's on and has more offense than given credit for, but he can still play an impactful role when he's not producing. He gets on pucks quickly and either wins them or forces opponents into bad decisions. It'd be surprising if he didn't get his first NHL look next season. 5. Colton Dach answered one major question about his future this season. It was clear in March that he could be a consistent NHL player. He found his groove with the Blackhawks late in the season. The problem is he still failed to answer the other big question: Can the Blackhawks count on him to be healthy? This was the third consecutive season he missed significant time. He'll get another chance next season to answer that. Dach had his moments when he returned from injury and played in the IceHogs' last five games. He scored the overtime goal in Game 1. He was physical and embraced the role of protector against the Admirals, who didn't mind throwing their bodies around. He didn't find the level he was playing at earlier, but it was good for him to get back playing. COLTON DACH 12 SECONDS INTO OVERTIME 🚨Rockford wins Game 1!@goicehogs | @NHLBlackhawks#AHL #CalderCup #GoHogs #Blackhawks — FloHockey (@FloHockey) May 2, 2025 6. The Blackhawks prospect I was probably most wrong about this season was defenseman Ethan Del Mastro. To be fair, there was some concern within the Blackhawks about how he started his season in Rockford. After taking a positive step last season, he appeared as if he took a step back with the IceHogs early in the year. Advertisement But as the year progressed, so did Del Mastro. He got better at moving pucks quickly. His gaps were better. His all-around play in the defensive zone improved. The one thing I noticed throughout the IceHogs' playoff run was how much Del Mastro understands how to use his body to shield defenders, retrieve pucks effectively and create some space for himself. He makes intelligent reads, too. With Rockford, he often did it while playing his off side, too. Del Mastro probably doesn't have as high a ceiling as a number of the Blackhawks' defenseman prospects, but his consistency is at a level most of those other defensemen don't have yet. It'll be interesting to see where Del Mastro falls in the depth chart. He's probably going to be fighting for a third-pairing role — that's just the reality of the Blackhawks' defense — but as of now, Del Mastro is probably ahead of the other candidates. He was more noticeable than Nolan Allan during Rockford's playoff games. In the IceHogs' final game of the season, it was Del Mastro who played a team-high 23:52. 7. Aidan Thompson didn't look out of place after making the jump from college to the IceHogs in April. As he adjusted to the offensive side of the game, he was noticeable on the forecheck and gave opponents trouble with his speed. He seemed to figure out more of the offensive part as his Rockford stay went longer. He scored twice against the Admirals. He also won 54 percent of his faceoffs in the final series. What Thompson has going against him is his age. He turned 23 in April and is on the older side for a player just entering pro hockey. It was beneficial for him to end the season on a professional tryout agreement and see where the AHL game is at. He'll officially begin his entry contract next season and will already have some pro experience under his belt. The Blackhawks were hoping to do the same with Dominic James, but James was interested in burning his first contract year this season. AIDAN THOMPSON HAS HIS 1ST PRO GOAL 📢 — Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) May 4, 2025 8. Of the Blackhawks' three drafts under Kyle Davidson, forward Paul Ludwinski has to be the most disappointing prospect so far. He was selected at No. 39 in the 2022 draft. The Blackhawks aren't writing him off by any means after one pro season, but he has a ways to go if he's going to become an NHL player. Ludwinski's speed is what the Blackhawks drafted him for, and you could see it at times this season: in Game 4 against the Admirals, he forced a turnover off the forecheck that led to the IceHogs' first goal. He just struggles to sustain that speed. Strength and endurance have to be focus points for him this offseason. His ice time was a reflection of how much he was trusted in the most important games. In the Milwaukee series, his game totals were 8:42, 11:30, 10:03, 7:55 and 8:11. 9. Gavin Hayes, a 2022 third-round draft pick, also had his share of ups and downs in his first pro season. After producing 41 and 37 goals in his last two OHL seasons, the left winger was probably hoping for more production this season. He scored five goals in 50 games for the IceHogs. Advertisement While Hayes' offense wasn't anywhere close to his World Juniors production, there were some encouraging signs this season, especially in the playoffs. He was finding more room to shoot during the postseason and made a few noticeable quick plays that created chances for teammates. He was also aggressive on the forecheck on the third line. His ice time was closer to 14 minutes a game. Neither Ludwinski nor Hayes may become NHL players, but the Blackhawks probably aren't counting on them. That's why the Blackhawks drafted so many early-round picks over the last three years. They just need enough to hit. But having said that, there's always the chance that Ludwinski and Hayes come around. They're both on three-year entry-level contracts. They're both young. Hayes is still 20 and Ludwinski recently turned 21. Time is still on their side, and the Blackhawks are going to be patient with them. A year from now, their stories might be different. 10. The Blackhawks did a nice job of adding the right type of veterans to support their prospects in Rockford this season. The IceHogs roster probably had a few too many veterans near the end, but that had more to do with players like Frank Nazar and Landon Slaggert graduating to the NHL during the season. The Blackhawks will probably look to return a few of those veterans next season. Joey Anderson is under contract for another year, but Brett Seney, Zach Sanford and Cole Guttman are on expiring deals. They also had contributing players like Gerry Mayhew and Cavan Fitzgerald on AHL deals. It was interesting that Andreas Athanasiou was a healthy scratch throughout the playoffs. (Photo of Samuel Savoie: Jimmy Doles / Rockford IceHogs)
