The Blackhawks and IceHogs annouced Thursday a five-year extension to keep the American Hockey League affiliation in Rockford through the 2021-21 season.
“Our partnership with the city of Rockford and the IceHogs has been excellent since our relationship started in 2007,” Blackhawks Senior Vice President, Hockey Operations Al MacIsaac said in a statement. “The combination of the great staff and Rockford’s proximity to Chicago make it only natural that we extend this agreement. We are looking forward to many more years of working together."
The previous contract was set to expire at the end of the 2016-17 campaign.
The IceHogs attendance at BMO Harris Bank Center has increased in seven of the last eight seasons and 31 percent overall since the team joined the AHL in 2007-08, according to the Rockford Register Star.
After missing the playoffs from 2011-14, the IceHogs returned clinched a postseason berth in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2009-10.