Grand Rapids completes weekend sweep of IceHogs and matches one of the strongest seven-game starts in franchise history.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. | October 19, 2026
The Grand Rapids Griffins continued their impressive opening stretch of the 2026–27 American Hockey League season Sunday, defeating the Rockford IceHogs 5–1 at Van Andel Arena behind a three-goal performance from John Leonard.
Leonard finished with four points, recording a hat trick and an assist, while goaltender Michal Postava turned aside 27 shots to help Grand Rapids complete a weekend sweep of its Central Division opponent.
The victory improved the Griffins to 5–1–1–0, giving the club 11 points through seven games and matching the third-best seven-game start in franchise history.
For a team looking to establish itself as an early contender, Sunday’s performance offered several encouraging signs.
Leonard Leads the Offensive Charge
After a scoreless opening period, Leonard broke the deadlock at 12:04 of the second.
Carter Bear delivered a long pass from the defensive zone, sending Leonard into an attacking opportunity. Leonard finished the play to give Grand Rapids a 1–0 advantage.
He struck again just 39 seconds into the third period, converting a power-play opportunity following a pass from Dominik Shine.
Rockford briefly responded when Gavin Hayes scored at 2:47 of the final period, cutting the Griffins’ lead to 2–1.
Grand Rapids answered almost immediately.
Defenseman William Lagesson scored just 11 seconds later, restoring the two-goal advantage and preventing Rockford from building momentum.
Wilmer Skoog added another power-play goal midway through the period before Leonard completed his hat trick with 38 seconds remaining.
The final goal came during a two-man advantage, putting the finishing touch on a dominant third period.
Special Teams Make the Difference
Grand Rapids’ power play played a central role in Sunday’s victory.
Three of the Griffins’ five goals came with the man advantage, including two from Leonard.
The ability to convert those opportunities provided an important separation between the teams, particularly after Rockford briefly narrowed the deficit early in the third period.
The Griffins also successfully defended all six Rockford power-play opportunities.
That combination of offensive production and penalty killing was particularly valuable in a game that remained close for more than two periods.
Maintaining that efficiency could become a significant factor as Grand Rapids moves deeper into its Central Division schedule.
Postava Provides Stability
While Leonard supplied the offensive highlights, Postava delivered another steady performance in goal.
The Griffins netminder finished with 27 saves on 28 shots, helping keep Rockford from establishing sustained offensive momentum.
Postava’s performance was especially important during the opening two periods, when the Griffins were unable to build a comfortable advantage.
With the score still close entering the third, his ability to limit Rockford’s opportunities gave Grand Rapids time to generate additional offense.
Strong goaltending has been an important ingredient in the Griffins’ early success, and Sunday’s result reinforced the value of having reliable performances behind the team’s developing roster.
A Strong Start in Grand Rapids
Through seven games, Grand Rapids has collected 11 of a possible 14 standings points.
The achievement places the club’s opening stretch among the strongest in its 31-season history.
Leonard’s production has been particularly impressive. He scored five goals across the weekend’s two games against Rockford, finishing Sunday’s contest with his second hat trick as a Griffin.
The weekend sweep also demonstrated the team’s ability to respond in different situations, from a close defensive battle to a decisive third-period offensive surge.
Although seven games represent only a small portion of the AHL schedule, the results provide a promising foundation.
Looking Ahead
The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, October 21, when they host the Manitoba Moose at 7 p.m. Eastern.
That matchup offers another opportunity to evaluate Grand Rapids’ offensive depth, special teams and goaltending against Central Division competition.
For now, the Griffins have given their supporters plenty of reasons for optimism.
With Leonard producing at a high level and the team continuing to collect points, Grand Rapids is building momentum during an important opening month.
