The Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, will face the Texas Stars, Dallas’ minor league team, in the Western Conference Final in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Rockford swept the Chicago Wolves and the Manitoba Moose to reach its first conference final since joining the AHL in 2007. Texas ousted the Ontario Reign in four games and Tucson Roadrunners in five games for its trip back to the WCF since it won the 2014 Calder Cup.
It’ll be the third time the IceHogs and Stars will meet in the playoffs. Texas swept Rockford in 2010, but the IceHogs returned the favor five years later.
Texas, the No. 2 seed from the Pacific Division, will have home-ice advantage and host Games 1 and 2, and Games 6 and 7, if necessary. The series starts at 7 p.m. Friday, May 18 in Texas and shifts to BMO Harris Bank Center on May 22.
Here’s the full schedule:
IceHogs vs. Stars schedule
| Game | Date | Time | Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Friday, May 18 | 7 p.m. | Rockford at Texas |
| Game 2 | Sunday, May 20 | 5 p.m. | Rockford at Texas |
| Game 3 | Tuesday, May 22 | 7 p.m. | Texas at Rockford |
| Game 4 | Thursday, May 24 | 7 p.m. | Texas at Rockford |
| Game 5* | Friday, May 25 | 6 p.m. | Texas at Rockford |
| Game 6* | Monday, May 28 | 7 p.m. | Rockford at Texas |
| Game 7* | Tuesday, May 29 | 7 p.m. | Rockford at Texas |
*if necessary