The Blackhawks reassigned winger Brandon Hagel from the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels to Chicago’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, on Friday. The IceHogs also signed center Reese Johnson to an amateur-tryout contract.
Hagel was fourth in the WHL in scoring with 102 points during the regular season. The 6-foot-1, 173-pound left winger 41 goals and 61 assists led the Red Deer Rebels, who were swept in the first round of the WHL playoffs by top-seeded Prince Albert. The 20-year-old four goals, including a hat trick in Game 2, and six points in the series.
Johnson, also 20, was second in goals (27) and third in points (53) for Red Deer during the regular season. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound center added a goal and an assist and won 61 percent of his faceoffs in the playoffs.
The Blackhawks signed Hagel last October after his 2016 NHL draft rights expired with the Sabres then inked Johnson, who centered Red Deer’s top line with Hagel at left wing in the WHL, in March. Both are signed to three-year entry-level deals.
The IceHogs have eight regular-season games remaining and are in a tight race for a Calder Cup playoff spot. Rockford has 72 points and are one point out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division. Milwaukee and Texas both have 73 points, while Manitoba has 72 points.
Rockford continues its five-game homestand Saturday when they host the Grand Rapids Griffins at BMO Harris Bank Center.