The Rockford IceHogs had an opening for a veteran scorer that had gone unfilled five games into the 2024-25 season. On Sunday, the team took a big step in bolstering the IceHogs offensive prowess by signing former AHL MVP Gerry Mayhew.
The 31-year old Mayhew was inked to a one-year AHL contract, giving Rockford a potent veteran forward. Mayhew put up 39 goals in 49 games for the Iowa Wild in the 2019-20 season, which earned him the Les Cunningham Award for the league’s Most Valuable Player. The 5’9″, 161-pound Mayhew will begin his eighth professional season with the IceHogs after spending the last two seasons with Charlotte.
Mayhew still has 20-goal potential; he had 24 and 19 goals, respectively, in his two seasons with the Checkers. It’s a huge signing for Rockford, who split a pair of games in Manitoba over the past weekend.
IceHogs Weekend Recap
The IceHogs dug a two-goal hole for themselves on Saturday before exploding for five unanswered goals in the second period. Gavin Hayes, Cavan Fitzgerald, Cole Guttman, Colton Dach, and Ryder Rolston filled the net for Rockford in the 5-3 victory. Defenseman Artyom Levshunov, the Chicago Blackhawks first-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, made his season debut, picking up the primary assist on Fitzgerald’s tally.
The following afternoon, the Moose broke open a 1-1 game early in the final frame with goals by Brad Lambert and C.J. Suess. Rockford’s lone goal on the afternoon came from Samuel Savoie on a shorthanded effort.
Mitchell Weeks did an admirable job filling in for the IceHogs after Drew Commesso was recalled by the Blackhawks on Friday. Commesso was returned to Rockford on Monday. Weeks allowed six goals on 62 Manitoba shots and helped his team salvage two points on the weekend.
Looking For Number One
Brett Seney, last season’s team MVP and the IceHogs captain this season, is still looking for his first goal of the campaign. Tied with Dach for the team lead with 15 shots on goal, Seney’s had opportunities that just haven’t worked out yet.
The veteran forward is not alone. Fellow veteran Zach Sanford is also goalless through five games. Same goes for second-year defenseman Ethan Del Mastro, who led the Rockford blueline with seven goals in his rookie season.
Right now, Guttman, Savoie, and rookie Frank Nazar pace the IceHogs, each with four points (2 G, 2 A). Fitzgerald’s pair of goals currently is tops among the defense.
Rockford Keeps Working For The Weekend
For the fourth straight week, the IceHogs have only weekend games on the schedule. The action begins Friday at 6:00 p.m. EDT, when Rockford visits 6-1 Grand Rapids. The Griffins lone loss of the season came in Rockford back on October 12, a 4-1 IceHogs win in their season opener.
Saturday night, Rockford returns to the BMO Center to host the Chicago Wolves for the first of twelve meetings between the longtime rivals. The IceHogs were 8-3-1 against Chicago last season. Currently Rockford has eight straight wins over the Wolves heading into Saturday’s 7:00 p.m. CDT puck drop.
The IceHogs don’t play on a weeknight until they host Grand Rapids in a school-time special on Wednesday, November 13.
