ROCKFORD, Ill. – Former Manhattanville All-American Mickey Lang '11 continued his rise up the professional hockey ranks this week by signing a contract with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, Chicago Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard announced on Thursday.
 
By making the leap from the CHL, Lang joins former Valiants Neil Clark '06 (Rochester Americans) and Andrew Gallant '07 (Hartford Wolf Pack) as the third Valiant to reach the AHL, which is the top level of professional hockey beneath the NHL in North America.
 
“It was clear from the moment Mickey came to Manhattanville that he possessed all the tools needed to play at the next level, but what impressed me most about him was his amazing work ethic,” said Director of Athletics and former men's hockey coach Keith Levinthal. “He continued to dramatically improve himself every single year and has obviously continued to make himself a better player since leaving Manhattanville. He is an example of what hard work and dedication can do.”
 
The former Valiant star has continued his excellent play in the professional ranks since joining the CHL's Quad City Mallards prior to the 2011-12 season, scoring 87 points (41 goals, 46 assists) in 99 games with Quad City. After finishing his first pro season with a flourish, this season has seen Lang emerge as the Mallards' top scoring threat, as he leads the squad with 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points in 38 games while also leading the CHL with three shorthanded tallies and adding a team-best five power-play goals and four game-winners. He was named the Oakley CHL Player of the Week just last week after exploding for a career-high six points (3-3-6) in a win over Denver, extending his point-scoring streak to eight games (7-7-14) in the process.
 
Lang signed on with the Mallards after a decorated four-year career on the ice for Manhattanville from 2007-11, scoring 47 goals with 46 assists for 93 points in a Valiant uniform. He graduated second on the school's all-time goals list as well as seventh in points and 10th in assists, while his 20 career power-play goals still are a record at the school. A two-time All-Conference honoree, Lang was selected to the AHCA All-America first team and named the ECAC West Conference Player of the Year as a junior after scoring 22 goals and assisting on 16 for 38 points.
 
The next game for Rockford (20-19-1-1) comes on Friday, when the IceHogs host the Chicago Wolves at 7:05 p.m. 
 
To read the Rockford IceHogs release, click here.
To read the Quad City Mallards release, click here.
 
Information from the Quad City Mallards was used in this release.