The Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, will begin their quest for the Calder Cup on Wednesday night. Rockford will face one of its biggest rivals, the Chicago Wolves, at the Allstate Arena.
Rockford is loaded with prospects that the Blackhawks are excited about as an organization. Guys like Artyom Levshunov, Aidan Thompson, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, and Kevin Korchinski, amongst others, are all there trying to make a difference while developing their games.
On Monday, we learned that another top Blackhawks prospect will join the IceHogs just in time for the postseason. Marek Vanacker will join the team now that his major junior season is complete.
The 2024 first-round pick, 27th overall, is an offensive-minded forward who makes the players around him better. He is also capable of scoring goals on his own, which adds another element to Rockford’s attack.
Vanacker’s Brantford Bulldogs team had a 2-0 series lead before losing four straight to exit the OHL playoffs. Nick Lardis, another Blackhawks prospect, was injured, and that played a big role in them losing four straight.
The regular season went well for Vanacker when he was healthy, as he had 24 goals and 18 assists for 42 points in 45 games. In 11 playoff games, he stepped up and had six goals and five assists for 11 points.
Vanacker will bring some skill to the IceHogs as they look to get the job done against the Wolves. This Rockford team has many youth who could play a key role in their success.
This is an outstanding opportunity for both sides. Vanacker will now turn pro while the IceHogs club is looking for any advantage when competing in the Calder Cup Playoffs. If Vanacker can continue to bring it as he did in the OHL playoffs, he can make a difference.
