Ethan Del Mastro Getting ‘A Bit of A Cookie’ With Call Up To Chicago

Ethan Del Mastro got a sweet treat when the Blackhawks decided to call him up from Rockford on Thursday. While it wasn’t in the Oreo or Chips Ahoy variety, it was to honor a job well done with the IceHogs.

“A real solid year down there, and give him a bit of a cookie as an appreciation for the work that he did,” head coach Luke Richardson said. “Give him a chance to see and evaluate where he is at this level when he’s playing at his best hockey. He seemed excited to be here today and we’re excited to see what he can do.”

What he’s done has been an AHL All-Star and a jack-of-all trades for the Rockford IceHogs in his rookie campaign. In 66 games, Del Mastro has 37 points (7-30) and has been one of the main reasons Rockford clinched a playoff berth with more than a handful of games left in the season. It’s been Del Mastro and an infusion of young talent that has helped the IceHogs see a much faster arrival to the playoffs this year as opposed to last.

Richardson indicated that he’ll likely be in both tomorrow and Sunday’s home games, the final two of the year in Chicago. Turns out before the AHL playoffs, he’ll get a shot with the big club first.

Ethan Del Mastro Rising All Year In CHN’s Prospect Rankings

Del Mastro was one of many Blackhawks prospects rising up in the ranks, and as of now, sits second just behind Michigan’s Frank Nazar as CHN’s top 10 Blackhawks prospects. The Blackhawks 2021 fourth-round pick has been playing in every situation for the IceHogs. Against the Chicago Wolves back on March 27th, he spent over three minutes consecutively on the ice, which included a power play goal.

But a prolonged length of time, which Del Mastro ended up spending every second of the final 1:04 where the Hogs tied things up in dramatic fashion, is simply his job and the situations just call for different approaches–even if it’s a bit longer than what a normal shift runs as.

“Sometimes on power plays it’s a little easier,” Del Mastro told Chicago Hockey Now a day following the 5-4 win over the Wolves. “Obviously when you’re kind of passing the puck around and you know you’re not moving as much as the PK,  so when you’re set up in zone it’s not as tiring. Sometimes they go long and you want to keep it not too long where you’re a little too tired to make plays. You have to find that perfect balance.”

It appears he’s found a perfect balance–and it’s earned him that cookie in Chicago for at least the next couple of games.