Rockford IceHogs Relieve Assistant Coach of Duties After Four Seasons

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The Rockford IceHogs announced a change to head coach Jared Nightingale’s staff on Monday morning, as assistant coach Rob Klinkhammer was relieved of his duties. Klinkhammer was hired as an assistant coach on Aug. 4, 2022, and spent the last four seasons in the position.

The Rockford IceHogs have relieved Rob Klinkhammer of his duties as assistant coach.

"The IceHogs would like to thank Rob for his four years of coaching in Rockford," said IceHogs General Manager Mark Bernard. "We wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future." pic.twitter.com/bwmTwySDd7

— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) May 4, 2026

Klinkhammer, 39, worked with the IceHogs’ forwards and was in charge of the team’s power play during his time as an assistant. This past season, Rockford finished 31st out of 32 teams in the AHL on the man advantage, converting at a 13.1 percent clip. The lack of production from the power play certainly factored into the IceHogs failing to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2018-19.

During his playing career, Klinkhammer was a member of the IceHogs from 2008-2012 and made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2010-11 season. He ranks eighth in franchise history with 242 appearances for Rockford, tallying 44 goals and 65 assists for 109 points.

After departing the Blackhawks’ organization in December 2011 via trade, Klinkhammer went on to play in 193 career NHL games between the Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Edmonton Oilers. He tallied 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points across five seasons.

From top to bottom, the Blackhawks are searching for better results as a franchise in 2026-27. The IceHogs were a bottom-three team in the AHL last year, finishing with only 61 points (28-39-3-2) in 72 games. They were just one point better than the last-place Hartford Wolf Pack. Improvements must be made, and the organization seems to believe that a shake-up with Nightingale’s staff was necessary moving forward.

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The post Rockford IceHogs Relieve Assistant Coach of Duties After Four Seasons appeared first on Chicago Hockey Now.

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