Rockford IceHogs seeing more success this season
Last season was a trying, tumultuous train wreck for the Rockford IceHogs.
The Blackhawks' AHL affiliate won just 25 of 76 games, saw three of its best players shipped away at the NHL trade deadline and had a coach in Ted Dent who was understandably frustrated at guiding an undermanned team.
Fast forward seven months and what you'll find in Rockford is an energetic new coach in 32-year-old Jeremy Colliton and a roster of talented players doing everything possible to prove they belong in the NHL.
Colliton, a second-round pick of the Oilers in 2003, never really saw his NHL dreams fulfilled and can relate to players such as Vinnie Hinostroza, Tomas Jurco and defenseman Erik Gustafsson. All three have NHL experience and no doubt believe they could be playing for coach Joel Quenneville.
"I've been sent down at the end (of training camp) and it's no fun," said Colliton, who played 57 NHL games and 326 in the AHL. "If you've played a lot of NHL games and you feel you can contribute at the NHL level, it's a tough pill to swallow to be sent down.
"But with all the guys who get sent down late, our focus is to try and get them focused on what's important right now. Which is how they perform.
"Mentally get around the idea that, 'Hey, we're here and we've got to perform at a high level.' Show you can help the Blackhawks win by helping us win."
Colliton said it has been fun to work with this group of IceHogs, a team that started 7-2-0 but has gone just 5-7-1 since.
"A lot of them have the potential to play at a higher level," Colliton said.
Last week we zoomed in on Gustafsson (out a few weeks with a shoulder injury) and Hinostroza (who leads the team in scoring), so today we'll focus on three other players that Colliton is high on.
Tomas Jurco:
GM Stan Bowman gave a third-round pick to Detroit for Jurco, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound forward who appeared in 13 games for the Hawks late last season. Jurco was beaten out in camp by John Hayden and free-agent signings Tommy Wingels and Lance Bouma.
He admitted he wasn't happy about the demotion, but quickly added: "At the end of the day, I think it's good for me. I needed some playing time for a little bit. I'd been up there (in the NHL) either in Detroit or in Chicago and I haven't been playing a lot.
"So this helps me a lot to get my confidence back."
Jurco, 24, has 6 goals and snapped a nine-game goal-scoring drought last Saturday in a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Wolves. He said he has improved defensively, is better with the puck and has more confidence with his stick.
"That's what I needed," Jurco said. "Can't wait to show it in the NHL."
Matthew Highmore:
Highmore leads the IceHogs with 9 goals, 3 of which came in a 3-1 victory over Iowa on Nov. 22. The Hawks signed him to a three-year deal last March. He scored 34 goals in the Quebec major juniors last season and had an extremely strong training camp with the Hawks.
"He's been real consistent," Colliton said. "He's responsible away from the puck and plays a real mature game. He's got a little more offense than people think."
Highmore is 21 years old and hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Alexandre Fortin:
The standout of 2016 Blackhawks prospects and training camp, Fortin returned to Quebec major juniors last year after signing with the Hawks and scored 22 goals. Fortin was a bit behind during camp due to off-season sports hernia surgery, but he has impressed Colliton lately.
"He has found another level the last couple weeks," Colliton said. "He's been really working hard away from the puck. Creating turnovers, getting in on the forecheck, and in transition his speed is a real weapon."
Fortin (1G, 7A) is skating on the second line with Matthew Highmore and Luke Johnson.
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Scouting report
Blackhawks vs. Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center, 7 p.m.
TV: NBCSCH
Radio: WGN 720-AM
The skinny: Dallas defeated the Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime Thursday at the United Center. It was the first time the Stars beat the Hawks since March 22, 2016. "Sometimes maybe in the past you're playing Dallas and you might expect it to be kind of a run-and-gun-type of game," Patrick Kane said. "Seems like they're playing a little bit better team game and more of a defensive-first style." The Hawks had just 10 shots on goal in the first two periods. ... The Stars are 9-2-0 at home, losing to Vegas in the season opener and to Winnipeg on Nov. 6. ... Alex DeBrincat (10), Artem Anisimov (9) and Kane (5) combined for 24 goals in November. The Hawks top line of Jonathan Toews (3), Brandon Saad (3) and Richard Panik (0) combined for 6.
Next: Los Angeles Kings at United Center, 6 p.m. Sunday
- John Dietz