IceHogs Announce 2021-22 Opening Night Roster Featuring 16 Rookies, Ten Blackhawks Draft Picks and Five First-Round Selections

Rockford, Ill. – The Rockford IceHogs today announced their 2021-22 Season-Opening Roster featuring 16 rookies, ten Chicago Blackhawks draft picks and a total of 31 players as they open their 23rd professional season tonight, Oct. 15, at Grand Rapids at 6 p.m.

The IceHogs’ 31-player roster is compiled of 18 forwards, nine defensemen and four goaltenders. Of the 31 players, 18 dressed for the IceHogs during the 2021-22 season and 11 will make their IceHogs debut.

The 18 forwards include Garrett Mitchell, Carson Gicewicz, Brett Connolly, Evan Barratt, Lukas Reichel, Kale Howarth, Josiah Slavin, Dylan McLaughlin, Cam Morrison, Reese Johnson, Michal Teply, Chris Wilkie, Jakub Pour, Dmitri Osipov, D.J. Busdeker, Andrei Altybarmakian, Mike Hardman and Alex Nylander.

Defensemen include Isaak Phillips, Chad Krys, Cliff Watson, Ryan Stanton, Michael Krutil, Jacob LeGuerrier, Nicolas Beaudin, Alec Regula and Jakub Galvas. Between the goal posts, the IceHogs feature Malcolm Subban, Cale Morris, Arvid Soderblom and Collin Delia.

The IceHogs roster boasts 20 players selected in the NHL Draft, including five first-round picks in Connolly (Tampa, 2010), Reichel (Chicago, 2020), Nylander (Buffalo, 2016), Beaudin (Chicago, 2018) and Subban (Boston, 2012). Of the 20 selections, 10 were chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Rockford IceHogs open the 2021-22 season on Friday, Oct. 15 against the Grand Rapids Griffins at 6:00 p.m. CT at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan and continue their season-opening, season-long six-game road trip on Saturday, Oct. 16 against the Chicago Wolves at 7:00 p.m. at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. Listen every game this season on the IceHogs Broadcast Network presented by BMO Harris Bank! Listen from your favorite device, at home or on the road at IceHogs.com, on the IceHogs app on all of Mid-West Family’s local stations including 104.9 The X, B103, 95.3 The Bull, and Rockford Greatest Hits 100.5 and featured on Rock River Current!

Join the IceHogs for a Fiesta Watch Party at the BMO Harris Bank Center to kick off the 2021-22 regular season this Friday, Oct. 15! Doors open at 5:30 and our season opener at Grand Rapids starts at 6 p.m. IceHogs merchandise will be on sale at the mobile Oink Outfitters stand and fans can also enjoy tacos, nachos and margaritas! Click HERE for more information on the Fiesta Watch Party!

The IceHogs celebrate Healthcare Workers Appreciation Weekend and Opening Night on Saturday, Nov. 6 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins at 6 p.m. at BMO Harris Bank Center and Sunday, Nov. 7 vs. Manitoba at 4 p.m. Join the IceHogs as they celebrate our Stateline healthcare heroes that have kept our community safe with special promotions and in-game presentations.