Ice Hogs get stronger with July additions.

The Rockford IceHogs made its first playoff appearance in several seasons following a solid 2014-15 campaign, but don’t expect the team to stand pat through the summer months.

The Powerful Pig added several players through the month of July and got a look at some top prospects at a camp hosted by the parent team as well.

Beginning the signing period was the addition of a couple of free agents early in the month

Michael Liambas: The IceHogs certainly got a good look at Liambas in earlier seasons as he played at least parts of the previous three campaigns with the rival Admirals from Milwaukee.

Liambas signed a one-year, two-way deal with the IceHogs, coming off of an eight points (5g, 3a) in 54 game season with the Admirals, matching exactly his totals of the previous season with six fewer games played.

A 5’10” 203 lbs. native of Woodbridge, ON is a utility player who has in the past has played both on the wing and the blue line. He moved on from OHL and College hockey in Canada to four seasons in the ECHL with first Cincinnati, then Orlando, playing 27 games with the Admirals in in 2012-13.

Since then he has been exclusively in the AHL.

Cameron Schilling: On the same day, the IceHogs announced the signing of Schilling, a product of the Washington Capitals who signed a two-year, two-way deal.

Schilling is a 6’2″, 196 lbs. defenseman who hails from Carmel, IN who has been with the Capitals and its Hershey, PA farm team since his graduation from the University of Miami, Ohio in 2012. He played four seasons at Miami, then played seven games at the end of the 2011-12 season at Hershey.

The following year, he made his NHL debut, appearing in a game with the Capitals, but he has played 203 AHL games over the past three seasons.

This past year, Schilling collected 18 points (3g, 15a) with the Bears, his finest offensive season since starting at the pro level and he was a key contributor in the post season with eight points (3g, 5a) in just 10 games.

Trevor van Riemsdyk: This 24-year-old 6’2″ 187 lbs. defenseman had an enviable first pro taste, playing eight games with the IceHogs and 18 with the Hawks before playing a part in the Hawks’s Cup run with four games played in the post season. Van Riemsdyk, younger bother of James van Riemsdyk of the Toronto Maple Leafs, picked up his first NHL point with an assist while playing at Chicago and he added three more in a short run with the IceHogs.

Earlier this month, van Riemsdyk, a native of Middletown, NJ signed a two year extension with the Hawks after originally signing on as a free agent this past season. He finsihed his third and ultimately final year and the University of New Hampshire in the spring of 2014. In his final season there, the defender collected 23 points (4g, 19a) in 26 games and finished the campaign as a +13 on the blue line.

Daniel Ciampini: If his final season at Union University is any indication, Ciampini could be a gifted goal scorer for the IceHogs this season.

The 5’11”, 187 lbs. winger wrapped up a four year run at Union this past spring, collecting 50 points (26g, 24a) in 39 games, just one point off of the school’s single season record. He moved on immediately following the season to play for the San Jose Sharks’ top farm team at Worcester and collected his first six pro points (3g, 3a) in 15 games.

Ciampini signed a one-year AHL contract but if he continues to put points up at that pace, you might not see him in Rockford for long.

Mark Visentin: On the same day Ciampini signed, the Hawks also added goaltender Visentin to a one-year AHL contract.

Just 22, Visentin, a first round (27th Overall) signing of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010 has already had a pretty good taste of life in the pros. The 6’2″, 201 lbs. keeper played junior in the OHL before moving to the AHL with the Portland Pirates in 2012-13. The following season he appeared in 45 games with the Coyotes’ top feeder squad and also made his NHL game playing one game with the Yotes.

With the Pirates, Visentin posted a 3.25 GAA, but a solid .902 save percentage. He was forced to sit out the entire 2014-15 season due to injury and is hoping to get his career back on track with the IceHogs.

Dennis Rasmussen: After making his North American pro debut last season, Rasmussen, a 6’3″, 205 lbs. forward will return for a second season in Rockford, signing a one-year deal.

A 25-year-old product of Vasteras, Sweden, Rasmussen has a long resume of appearances with the Swedish Elite League and annual International performances with the Tre Kronor. In his first season at Rockford, Rasmussen who is said to have good speed and hand skills played in 73 points, collecting 27 points (13g, 14a) and established himself as a penalty killing specialist as well.

Allen moves to NHL in Buffalo  

Among the other Rockford headlines in July, it was announced the team’s Goaltending Coach Andrew Allen accepted a job as the Goalie Coach for the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

Allen spent four seasons in the Chicago Blackhawks organization serving as the developmental goaltending coach for the IceHogs. During his stint in Rockford, Allen helped develop now NHL goaltenders such as Scott Darling, Carter Hutton and Antti Raanta.

A native of Vankleek Hill, ON, the goaltender began his own pro career after graduating from the University of Vermont in 2000-01 and helped backstop a number of teams in both the ECHL and AHL before moving on to coaching at the end of the 2004-05 season.

Prior to joining the Blackhawks staff, Allen served as the goaltending coach for St. Lawrence University (NCAA) from 2008-11. The Vankleek Hill, Ontario native had also been the National Team Goaltending Coach and Developmental Consultant for the Japanese Ice Hockey Federation since 2006.