ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Hockey hype grew this season after the Chicago Blackhawks proved a Midwest team's potential.

That popularity trickled down to their feeder team, and our very own Rockford IceHogs.

The hogs threw down the gloves and destroyed last year's attendance record... Garnering a more than 15-thousand fan increase over last year totaling about 175-thousand people and tying the number of sold out games at seven, which included the season closer this past Saturday.

Despite the new record, IceHogs management plans to change the way we experience a hockey game.

VP of IceHogs Communications Mike Peck said, "We always just try to better what we did last year and that's what our goal is this summer is to figure out how we can improve upon what we did this past season and make it more fun for the fans and provide that great family entertainment"

This was also the first IceHogs season under management by the Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority

The group upgraded the Metrocentre's technology and boosted family friendly promotions.