IceHogs Re-sign Ryan Gagnier, DJ King to AHL Contracts

June 27, 2024 – American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs news release

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Rockford IceHogs announced today that the team has extended forward Ryan Gagnier and defenseman DJ King to one-year AHL contracts through the 2024-25 season.

“Ryan played games in both Indy and Rockford in his rookie season, and we were impressed with his progress throughout the year,” said IceHogs President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Mark Bernard. “He’s a smart player who will continue to develop, and we’re excited to have him within our organization.”

Gagnier, 21, played in five games with the IceHogs last season and scored one goal. His first AHL score came on November 25 against the Milwaukee Admirals. The 6-foot, 185-pound center also skated in 53 games with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel, scoring 28 points (8G, 20A) while also appearing in five Kelly Cup Playoff games.

The Tecumseh, Ontario native played parts of four seasons in the OHL prior to 2023-24, and in 2022-23 he led the Ottawa Generals with 69 points (31G, 38A) in 66 games.

“DJ did a great job in Indy for us last year and adds depth to our backend,” Bernard said. “We are excited to see him take the next step in his development.”

King, 23, had an AHL contract with the IceHogs last season but played exclusively in Indy. Through 57 games with the Fuel, King scored four goals and seven assists before contributing one assist in five Kelly Cup Playoff appearances.

The 6-foot-1, 216-pound defenseman is entering his fourth season of professional hockey after two seasons in the OHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs and Saginaw Spirit and two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. King played in two AHL games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the 2021-22 season. DJ’s father Derek is a former IceHogs head coach and the current Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach.

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