The Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment board approved a deal Friday to keep the Rockford IceHogs playing at the BMO Harris Bank Center next season, and they’ll meet next week with the Chicago Blackhawks to renew the AHL affiliation.
HAWKS
**RAVE board withholds details on new IceHogs contract (RRStar)
**SCH Days of Fandom: Favorite goaltender of all time (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**Stars sign Brett Ritchie to one-year contract (DBD)
**Preds, Forsberg working on contract extension (The Tennessean)
**Avs Year-End Review: Comeau (MHH)
NHL
**Stanley Cup Final schedule, TV, start times (SBN)
**Gordie Howe dies at 88 (SBN)
**Red Wings’ captain’s statement on Mr. Hockey (WIIM)
**Eulogy: Howe, a hockey revolutionist (WIIM)
**Devils acquire Savard, 2018 second-round pick in trade with Panthers (AATJ)
**Garth Brooks dons No. 9 sweater for show in Howe’s home province (theScore)
**Analyzing Panthers’ re-branding: Part 1 (LBC)
**Analyzing Panthers’ re-branding: Part 2 (LBC)
**Analyzing Panthers’ re-branding: Part 3 (LBC)
HOCKEY WORLD
**Backstrom returns to Finland on one-year deal (theScore)
**NCAA rules committee proposes four-on-four OT (SBNCH)