Tag Archives: Brian Connelly

TTMI~Radio, e.89 – “‘Hog Changes” w/ Mike Peck, voice of the Rockford IceHogs

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Chris Block| 1 Comment

On this edition of TTMI~Radio I’m joined by Mike Peck, the voice of the Rockford IceHogs.

Mike returns to help us preview the 2011-12 IceHogs’ season by examining the coaching change, new bench boss Ted Dent and the AHL squad’s roster turnover.  We also get Mike’s scouting report on Brandon Segal, who spent the last half of the 2004-05 season in Rockford while a member of the Nashville Predators’ organization.

We also take a look at important players up front and on the defense this year in the wake of key losses offensively as well in experience and leadership.  Ben Smith, Joe Lavin, Jimmy Hayes and Jeremy Morin are discussed as well.  We also get an update on rink refurbishments currently going on at the Beemo Center.

Click the player below to listen – Or – Right-click here to download

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Check out our archives – BlogTalkRadio.com/TheThirdManIn
SUBSCRIBE to TTMI~Radio via ITUNES

Thanks as always to Mike for taking time out to speak with us.

Rockford IceHogs single-game tickets are now on sale at IceHogs.com or you can buy tickets by calling (815) 968-5222.  Advanced single-game tickets are available starting at $7.00, up to $22.00.  Day-of-game sales are an additional $1 per seat.

The IceHogs open their regular season home slate on Saturday night October 8th against the Grand Rapids Griffins. You can view the entire IceHogs’ schedule here or in printable PDF form here.

Rockford will also host two preseason home games at BMO Harris Bank Center (formerly the MetroCentre).  The first versus the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday night September 28th at 7:05pm.  Then on Saturday October 1 against the Peoria Rivermen, also at 7:05.

ChrisBlock@TheThirdManIn.com

Share

Posted in TTMI~Radio

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Contingency insurance: Previewing potential 2011-12 Blackhawks call ups

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Brad Gardner| 6 Comments
photo: HockeyBroad.com

By Brad Gardner

All thirty NHL teams are optimistic at this time of summer, but the one thing we can all be sure of is that everything will not go according to plan. Injuries have their way of piling up, players may not live up to expectations, or teams may find that progress made during the summer in one area has left them with a hole elsewhere in the game plan. One of the Blackhawks organization’s responses to the unpredictable nature of the NHL season has been keeping their AHL affiliate within arms reach, roughly 90 miles west on I-90 in Rockford, Illinois. The Third Man In takes an admittedly early look at some possible mid-season scenarios and introduces the prospects who may be expected to answer the call.

So you need a top six forward…

Safe bet: Jeremy Morin is the easy answer here after a solid nine game trial last season. Coming back from a concussion, though, he’ll get back into the swing of things with the IceHogs to start the season. His best asset may be his goal-scoring ability, but he showed as a rookie that he was willing to play any role to stay in the Chicago line-up. The 20-year-old winger is the organization’s best bet if the power play is in need of new life – his cheetah-quick release would be a dangerous weapon with a set-up guy like Kane feeding him the puck. Read more »

Share

Posted in Brad Gardner, Prospects

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Injured IceHogs advance season-long win streak; Jimmy Hayes debuts

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Chris Block| 6 Comments

Hours after the Chicago Blackhawks and NHL office made his first professional hockey contract official, Jimmy Hayes got his first experience in the pro ranks for the Rockford IceHogs.

Under the guise of an amateur-try out contract, Hayes made his debut in Cleveland on Wednesday night as the IceHogs took on the Lake Erie Monsters.  Hayes’ entry-level pro contract with the Hawks kicks in on July 1st.

Hayes acquitted himself quite well in his unofficial pro debut.  He exhibited nice hands, decent wheels and didn’t seem too out of place all things considered.  The adjustment from college to the pro-pace wasn’t too much of a factor, at least in Lake Erie.  Oklahoma City on Friday poses a different challenge.

On his first shift, skating with Mathis Olimb and Ben Smith on the Hogs’ second-line Hayes showed good strides in transition leading a Hogs’ odd-man rush up the right side boards.  Hayes strung a slick pass just an inch or two further than Olimb could handle though, coming down just left of the slot and they didn’t get a scoring chance there.

In the middle period, Hayes again led a rush, but it also amounted to nothing.  Hayes was carrying the lead with Olimb and Andy Bohmbach on a 3-on-2, but Hayes lost the handle as he strode through the right circle.  He finished the game with three shots.  He’s not shy on the body but it appears he prefers to use his stick and he’ll have to shake that too much finesse with his head down college habit.  So its great for the Hawks, and IceHogs, Hayes is able to join up for some valuable minutes before an all-important off season.

Before the game Bill Peters noted he plans to dress Hayes in all seven (Wednesday included) of the IceHogs remaining games.  Peters was down six regulars (add another if you count Jeremy Morin) on Wednesday, so Hayes saw as much or more ice time as he figures to get in any single outing over the final two weeks of the season. Read more »

Share

Posted in Game recap, IceHogs, News and Notes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hogs, Hawks & Buff notes, All-timers and HHOF, Circus part one, Brightest prospect

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Chris Block| Leave a comment

TTMI~Radio returns tonight at 8pm (central).  We’ll try to make sense of these Blackhawks, and the Rockford IceHogs inconsistencies, part one of the ‘Circus Trip’ and look ahead to this week’s games with the three California teams.  We may have a special guest but it isn’t confirmed.

– Dustin Byfuglien is acquitting himself quite well so far in Atlanta.

Byfuglien ranks 3rd among NHL defenseman in scoring with 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists) in 21 games.  Nicklas Lidstrom and John-Michael Liles are tied for first, each with 20 points.  Byfuglien (E), Ron Hainsey (E) and Brent Sopel (+3) are the only three Thrasher defenseman not in the negative in the plus/minus category.  Byfuglien is currently paired with Tobias Enstrom.  Byfuglien is tied with Steven Stamkos and Rick Nash for most game-winning goals (4).  And he’s tied with Ilya Kovalchuk at the top of the board in overtime goals with two.

For comparison’s sake:

Dustin Byfuglien: 21gp, 7g, 12a, 19pts, E +/-, $3,000,000
Dave Bolland:  17gp, 1g, 3a,  4pts, +2 +/-, $3,375,000

Rockford IceHogs notes:

– Following the impressive 1-0, Hannu Toivonen-led victory on Thursday in Winnipeg, the IceHogs dropped Friday’s rematch with Manitoba 3-1 before 14,134 fans at MTS Centre.  After flying back to Chicago on Saturday and busing back to Rockford for the night, the IceHogs traveled to Peoria on Sunday where they battled hard but lost a 3-2 shootout decision to the Rivermen.  I did a combined recap of these two games Sunday night, which I’ll post on the site once I figure out how to undo the laptop. Read more »

Share

Posted in Game recap, IceHogs, News and Notes

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,