The Rockford IceHogs, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the 2015 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, announced on Monday that the team has signed veteran forward Jake Dowell to a professional tryout contract.
Dowell, 30, returns to Rockford after spending time in the NHL with the Blackhawks (2007-11), Dallas Stars (2011-12) and Minnesota Wild (2012-14).
Last season, Dowell appeared in all 76 games for the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, recording five goals and 10 assists for 15 points. In 2013-14, he notched 19 points in 57 games with the Iowa Wild and was selected as the recipient of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award as the AHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.
A fifth-round selection by Chicago in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Dowell has skated in 381 AHL games with Norfolk, Rockford, Houston, Iowa and Hamilton, totaling 38 goals and 70 assists for 108 points. He played three seasons with the IceHogs, serving as captain in 2009-10. The native of Eau Claire, Wis., has also tallied 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in 157 career NHL games.
