Chicago Blackhawks Signs Tommy Olczyk

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to add players to the organization. The Blackhawks AHL affliate, the Rockford Icehogs, have signed a former star’s son. Eddie Olcyzk is the current Blackhawks commenator and played with Hawks from 1984-87 and 98-00. The Ice Hogs have inked one of his sons to a contract.

Rockford IceHogs sign Eddie Olcyzk’s son, Tommy, to one-year AHL contract.#Blackhawks

— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) June 27, 2017

Tommy Olcyzk spent last season in the ECHL with the Alaska Aces. He appeared in 44 games recording 6 goals and 7 assists. Before playing in the ECHL, he attended Penn State University. He played in 128 games recording  26 goals and 17 assists .  He was Team Captain his Junior year at PSU.

Tommy is a non-traditional Hockey story. He played four years in the USHL before attending Penn State to play more club hockey.  He was 20 years old when he went off to college. When he started at Penn State they were a Hockey Club team and by time he finished they were a Division 1 Program. 

He is a smallish type forward who shoots left handed. At the age of 26, he is a minor league forward at this point.

You can read more about Tommy’s time at Penn State in a Player Tribune article.

Other Signings: Matt Tomkins Signs 1-year Deal

Matt Tomkins was a 7th round selection of the Blackhawks in the 2012 NHL draft. He has spent the last four seasons at Ohio State University in the Big Ten. In his senior year at OSU, Tomkins went 12-5 with a 2.48 goals against average and a save percentage of .909 in 22 games. He ranked third in the Big Ten in Wins and fourth in Goals Against Average. He helped lead the Buckeyes to a Division One Frozen Four appearance. He went 28-26-7 in four seasons at OSU from 2013-17. He had a 3.03 goals against average and a .890 save percentage.

Tomkins is listed at 6’3 and 206 lbs. According to Hockey’s Future, He is a sound positional goalie but suffers from mental lapses. He need to sharpen his game in the NCAA before playing pro-hockey.

Tomkins figures to be in the mix to play behind Jeff Glass at Rockford. With Anton Forsberg projected to be the backup to Corey Crawford at the NHL level, Glass figures to the be the starters. The Blackhawks are now trying to address their lack of goalies within their system with the Tomkins signing.

This is a busy time for the organization getting ready for next season. I would expect to see both Olcyzk and Tomkins at Blackhaws propsect camp in July.