Nolan Allan, Ethan Del Mastro Win IceHogs Honors; Hayes, Soo Face Elimination

Ethan Del Mastro and Nolan Allan captured attention all season long with their strong play in the AHL. Now they’re capturing awards from the Rockford IceHogs in their debut season. Del Mastro skated away with Rookie of the Year honors for the IceHogs while Allan boasts defenseman of the year accolades. In what is already looking like a crowded blue line of the future, roomates Allan and Del Mastro certainly seem destined to take their successes and parlay it into a full time gig in Chicago.

Del Mastro, of course, has already played two games with the Blackhawks and held his own. Head coach Luke Richardson called it a “good outing”  in the pair of appearances in Chicago. Del Mastro is all but a lock to be with the Blackhawks for all of the 2024-25 season.

Allan is still nursing an injury that will keep him out of the AHL playoffs for at least another few weeks. But upon his return, it’s another chance for Nolan Allan to show the Blackhawks brass that maybe along with Del Mastro, he should be patrolling the NHL blue line next season.

Gavin Hayes, Soo Facing Elimination After 3-2 OT Loss

Gavin Hayes and the Soo Greyhounds will need to dig deep on Sunday to stay alive in the OHL playoffs. The Greyhounds held a 2-1 lead in the third period but surrendered the tying goal in the third and then lost in overtime, pushing them to the brink of elimination. Trailing 3-2 in the series, Hayes did pick up an assist on a powerplay goal in the first period.

Hayes has a strong chance to challenge for a spot in Chicago next season as the Hawks are likely to push forward from what has been rock bottom this season. Much hinges on the draft lottery and whether the Blackhawks end up winning it again, something that would turbocharge things with Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini in the fold. While that could pump the brakes a bit on Hayes in term of

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