Breakaway Magazine Vol. 7 Issue 4

Page 1

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHICAGO WOLVES

VOL. 7 ISSUE 4

BRENT SOPEL ENJOYS THE SKATES AND

PREPARES FOR WHEN THEY END


TRANSPORTATION

TRAINSPORTATION速

GO WOLVES! VISIT AMTRAK.COM OR CALL 1.800.USA.RAIL

Amtrak速, Trainsportation and Enjoy the journey are registered service marks of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.


in this issue

BRENT SOPEL ENJOYS THE SKATES AND PREPARES FOR WHEN THEY END

20 EXCLUSIVE: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BRENT SOPEL //

HIS JOURNEY TO 1,000 PROFESSIONAL GAMES LITERALLY BEGAN AS AN UPHILL CLIMB

CHICAGOWOLVES.COM/BREAKAWAY

03 LEAGUE WELCOME

14

06 WOLVES HISTORY

17 MEET THE WOLVES

34 FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

09 OWNERSHIP

29 RECORD BREAKERS

37 GAME TIME

10

HOCKEY OPERATIONS

30 HOCKEY 101

40 AUTOGRAPH PHOTO

13

BEHIND THE BENCH

FRONT OFFICE Seth Gold Irwin Jann Mike Gordon Wayne Messmer Dana Wildman

TV Director Director President Senior Executive Vice President Executive Assistant

Senior Vice President of Operations Creative Services Manager Game Operations Coordinator Community Relations Coordinator Community Relations Assistant Merchandise Intern

CREATIVE SERVICES Imran Javed Troy Mueller Josh Sasman Ross Dettman

Digital Content Manager Senior Graphic Designer Creative Services Intern Team Photographer

COMMUNICATIONS Lindsey Willhite Elise Butler Mitch Terrell

Ron Storto Sarah Draheim Cameron Gibson

Executive TV Producer TV Production Manager TV Associate Producer

TV BROADCAST Jason Shaver Bill Gardner

OPERATIONS Courtney Mahoney Dan Harris John Sherlock Camille Colletti Kira Hoskey Brian Robak

MAP THE LEAGUE

Play-by-Play Announcer Color Analyst

HOCKEY OPERATIONS Norine Gillner Mike Nardella

Hockey Operations Assistant Hockey Operations

PARTNERSHIPS Jon Sata Greg Sprott Mark Iralson Mike Short Clint Taylor Kendele Carney Kayle Gray

Vice President of Partnerships Manager of Partnerships Partnerships Sales Executive Partnerships Sales Executive Partnerships Sales Executive Partnerships Client Services Manager Partnerships Client Services Coord.

Director of Public Relations Media Relations Coordinator Media Relations Assistant

33 BY THE NUMBERS

TICKET SALES & SERVICES

GAME-DAY STAFF

Kevin Dooley Dave Pawelek Eric Zavilla Jackie Schroeder Stefanie Evans Rob Newburg Aaron Holz Janel James John Golz Anthony Krzyzak Holly Simms Steve Winner Mike Czopek Pawel Sienko Kayla Yingst John Brooks Matt Delaney Cait Higgins Cody Kromeich

Gordon Scott Jason Svejda

Senior Executive Dir. of Ticket Sales Senior Director of Strategic Alliances Exec. Dir. of Ticket Sales and Retention Director of Ticket Sales and Services Director of Program Development Youth Hockey Coordinator Ticket Sales and Services Coordinator Senior Account Executive Senior Account Executive Account Executive Account Executive E-Business Specialist Account Representative Account Representative Group Account Rep. and Client Coord. Inside Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative

MEDICAL STAFF Dr. Scott Logue, MD Dr. Rob Dugan, MD Dr. Jack Morgan, MD Dr. Alan Acierno, DDS Jim Buskirk, PT Jolie Holschen, MD

Team Physician/Orthopedics Orthopedics Internist Team Dentist Physical Therapist Emergency Medicine

Public Address Announcer In-Arena Host

Raj Agnihotri, Deanna Angelini, Kimberly Bart, Deanna Brand, Ellie Bruckner, Bianca Bruno, Nikki Capotosto, Joe Capozzi, Anthony Chicalace, Sydney Cosentino, Kelly Carlson, Nick DiFalco, Faith Enenbach, Samantha Erwin, Dana Goldstein, Brittany Graber, Alexandra Haug, Brittney Hillebrand, Kara Konicki, Samantha Krasinski, Steve Laures, Nikki Lennarson, Frank Markasovic, Bridgette McGinley, Jeff Mladic, Jenn Myzia, Seth Novoselsky, Marissa Pinto, Geoff Post, Nina Potempa, Jackie Povitsky, Megan Rogers, Natalie Schaefer, Jessica Schubert, Miranda Scott, Lauren Stoeck, Rene Twardowski, Peter Wasyliw, James Wilberschied, Stephanie Ybarra Breakaway Magazine Editorial Producer: Courtney Mahoney Publication Writers: Lindsey Willhite , Mitch Terrell, and Elise Butler Publication Photographer: Ross Dettman Feature Designer: Christina Moritz Creative Support: Imran Javed, Troy Mueller

1-800-THE-WOLVES | CHICAGOWOLVES.COM | THEAHL.COM

1



LEAGUE WELCOME

DAVID A. ANDREWS

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

American Hockey League One Monarch Place – Springfield, MA 01144 Phone: (413) 781-2030 Fax: (413) 733-4767

Dear Fans, It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2014-15 American Hockey League season, our 79th year of play. We are proud to be entering what is sure to be another exciting season, continuing our tradition of excellence and bringing an entertaining, physical and highly skilled level of professional hockey to more than 6 million fans in arenas across North America. The 2014-15 season will once again feature 30 teams who will be competing for the AHL’s historic Calder Cup championship, and 30 National Hockey League clubs who will be developing their top prospects and future stars in our cities. Last season alone, more than 240 first- and second-round NHL draft picks competed in the American Hockey League, and 347 players took the ice in both the AHL and the NHL. We take great pride in our tradition of developing the best hockey talent in the world, with over 88 percent of today’s NHL players, coaches and officials having honed their skills in the American Hockey League. Through the years, our loyal and passionate fans have enjoyed cheering for more than 100 future Hockey Hall of Famers, and have witnessed the triumphs of more than 100 Calder Cup champions who would go on to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup as well. We’re pleased to continue to deliver professional hockey to the great fans of Glens Falls, N.Y., and we welcome Allentown, Pa., to the league as the Adirondack Flames and Lehigh Valley Phantoms hit the ice this season. The AHL’s two newest entries will join the rest of the league in looking to dethrone the defending Calder Cup champion Texas Stars in the chase for the AHL’s 2015 title. On behalf of all of our teams, players and staff, thank you again for your continuing support of the AHL. I wish you the utmost enjoyment of all the excitement that our 2014-15 season has in store. Sincerely,

David A. Andrews President & Chief Executive Officer American Hockey League

/TheAHL

theahl.com

@TheAHL

3


MyKiaChicago.com OFFICIAL PARTNER

Here s a 290-horsepower enforcer. NOVEMBER S

M

T

W

T

F

DECEMBER NOVEMBERNOVEMBER

S

SS

1

MIL

MM

TT S

1

2

7:00 2

MIL

3

4

3:00

5

GR

9

10

10 AM 11 12

16

17

18

23

24

IA

3:00

RFD

8

13

19

20

26

27

ADK

6:00 25

MIL 7:00

FEBRUARY 1

6:00

M

2

T

RCH

3

11 AM 9 10

W

4

15

21

6:00 22

UTI RCH 6:00

MIL IA 7:00

28

T

5

11

12

F

CHA CHA

14 21

19

20

4:00 22

23

24

25

26

27

3:00 149

15 10

IA

3:00 21 16

IA

GR

22 17

SA

7:00

GR

7:00

3:00 10 AM 1611 9 17 12 10

IA ADK UTI 11 AM

RFD RFD

SS

11

MIL

30

22

3:00

88

99

15 15

16 16

4:00 22 22

23 23

LE

28

RFD GR 3:00

OKC SA 4:00

3:00 29

5

LE

GR

18 13 11

10 A 19 14

UTI UT

3:00 6:00 6:0 6:00 23 18 16 24 19 17 25 20 18 26 2

ADK

31 26 24

GR RFD MIL 7:00 4:00

MM

FF W

6:30 116 4 127

SAMIL GR 7:00

3:00 7:00 6:00 28 29 30 23 24 2523

IA

STARTING AT $24,995 MSRP1 It has an answer for everything.™

LE

4

6:00 94 2 105 3

ADKMIL MIL 7:00

6:00 7:00 2725 28

MIL RFD

7:00

TT S

33 1

7:00 7:00

WW M

RCH

11 AM 10 10 8

2:00

7:00 18

3:00

7

13

17

83

4:00 30 4:00

6:00

OKC

72

SA MIL 4:00

TT T

3

MARCH FEBRUARYFEBRUARY

S

6

16

SA

29

7:00

15

GR

7:00

RFD RFD

6:00

MIL

8

IA

14

7:00

7:00

THE 2015 KIA SORENTO

7

7:00

UTI

30 4:00

S

6

WW M

30

44 2

TT T

55 3

FF W

66

RCHLE CHA 6:30

1111 9

11 AM6:00 12 12 10 13 13

7:00 17 17 15 18 18 16

7:00 7:00 19 19 17 20 20

UTI MIL 7:00

GR

OKC MIL

TEX

7:00 4:00 24 2422 25 2523 26 26 24

SA

3:00 31

3:00

HOME AWAY

THE 2015 KIA OPTIMA

THE 2015 KIA FORTE

THE 2015 KIA CADENZA

STARTING AT $22,450 MSRP2 Not your average midsize sedan.

STARTING AT $16,690 MSRP3 Loved by those who love technology.™

STARTING AT $35,700 MSRP4 Impossible to ignore.

TEST DRIVE ANY OF KIA S FULL LINE OF QUALITY VEHICLES AT A CHICAGOLAND AND NORTHWEST INDIANA KIA RETAILER NEAR YOU. Optional 3.3L GDI V6 engine comes with 290 HP. Standard 2.4L GDI engine comes with 191 HP. 12015 Sorento Limited with optional features shown. Not all optional features are available on all trims. MSRP $24,995 for Sorento LX model with A/T. MSRP $42,595 for Sorento Limited shown. 22015 Optima Limited with optional features shown. Not all optional features are available on all trims. MSRP $22,450 for Optima LX model with A/T. MSRP $36,300 for Optima Limited shown. 32015 Forte EX with optional features shown. Not all optional features are available on all trims. MSRP $16,690 for Forte LX model with M/T. MSRP $25,590 for Forte EX shown. 42015 Cadenza Limited with optional features shown. Not all optional features are available on all trims. MSRP $35,700 for Cadenza Premium. MSRP $44,600 for Cadenza Limited shown. MSRPs include destination and handling fees and exclude taxes, title, license fees, options, and retailer charges. Actual prices set by retailer and may vary. *The Kia 10-year/100,000-mile warranty program includes various warranties and roadside assistance. Warranties include powertrain and the New Vehicle Limited Warranty (Basic). All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for details or go to kia.com.

27 27

MIL 7:00


NOVEMBER S

W

T

F

DECEMBER

S

S

1

M

1

T

2

7:00

MIL

2

3

4

3:00

9

IA

3:00

10

SS T

MIL

61

R IA

AM7:00 94 12 20 15 13

TIIA RCH 7:00

JANUARY DECEMBERDECEMBER F SS

S MM

1

MIL

TT S

1

7:00 7 47 8 58

SA IA

2

WW M

3 1

LE

6:00 69 7 10 7 8

SASA

TT T

14 2

FF W

25 3

17

23

6:00 24 25

18

HAM LELE RFD 7:00 7:00

IA

UTI RCH

GR MILIA IARFD 1:00

7:00 7:003:007:007:00 826 29 27 2825 28 2926 29

ADK

LE ADKRFD IA

IA GR GR 6:00

TEX MIL TEX 7:30 7:00

GRRFD ALL-STAR 4:00 7:00 7:004:00 7:00

0 7:00

66 4

SS T

CHA

77 5

ADK

F SS

6

1

S MM

CHA MILCHA

7 2

TT S

6:00 6:00 3:006:00 33 11 14 14 12 13 58 14 69

LUTI

OKC SA MIL GR 7:00

7:00

3:00 7 8 10

3:007:00 27 19 22 2820 23

25 3

FF W

811 9

36 4

TEX

47 5

3:00

APRIL F S

LE

MILUTIOKC UTI

3:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 21 2422 22 2523 23 26 24 24 2725 25 2826

MIL MIL OKC CUP PLAYOFFS CALDER 7:00 7:00 4:00 27 283129 29 30 30 31 30 IA APRIL-JUNE 3:00

6

UTI

IA OKC

4:00 7:00 27 19 28 20

NOTABLE DATES - Postgame Autograph Session presented by Wendy’s

FRIDAY, JAN. 16

- Fight Against Cancer Jersey Fundraiser - Postgame Skate

SATURDAY, JAN. 17 - Fight Against Cancer Jersey Fundraiser - Girl Scout Cookie Rally - Adopt-A-Dog Night

SATURDAY, JAN. 31 - Fight Against Cancer Jersey Fundraiser - Boy Scout Popcorn Recognition - Postgame Autograph Session presented by Wendy’s

FRIDAY, FEB. 13 - Postgame Autograph Session presented by Wendy’s

SUNDAY, FEB. 15 - Kids & Family Expo

SUNDAY, FEB. 22

2 4

SATURDAY, FEB. 28 - Postgame Skate

SUNDAY, MARCH 1 - Postgame Autograph Session presented by Wendy’s

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

- Exclusive Season Ticket Holder Postgame Skate - Easter Seals St. Patrick’s Day Jersey Fundraiser - Adopt-A-Dog Night

SUNDAY, MARCH 15

7:00

28

RCHHAM RFD 11 AM

7:00

29

RFD RFD

FF

CHA RFD CHA HAM

37

7 59 16 14 12

7:00 6:00 7:00 6:00 17 16 14 18 17 15 19 20 21 15 13 16 17

IA LE

OKC GR

RFD

WM

T T

1

2

LE

IA

F W

3 1

4 2

7:00

F

S

HAM TORTEX

6:00 6:30 6:00 7:00 6:30 7 5 8 6 9 7 10 8 11 9

4:00 21 19

7:00

3

TEX

4

7:00 10

LE MIL OKC

MIL OKC

RFD MIL

RFD MIL

11

7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 16 14 17 15 18 16 17 18

2220

7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 23 21 2422 2523 24 25

2

NORTH Adirondack Flames ADK Hamilton Bulldogs HAM Rochester Americans RCH Toronto Marlies TOR Utica Comets UTI

GR

S

5

LE

JANUARY 6

S

M

12

17

18

19

13

4

5

25

26

IA

7:00

20

11

12

MIL

18

27

7:00

31

25

T

3

19

IA

7:00

RFD 1:00

8

LE

9

10

2:00 15

3:00 22 4:00 29

IA

16 23 30

HOME AWAY

GET AN EARLY START ON NEXT SEASON!

26

4

T

5

F

LE

6

S

APRIL

7

S

M

UTI

11

17 24 31

$ UTI AT 1OO STARTING 12

13

14

5

6

14

20

18 25

T

W

TOR

19

TEX 7:00

26

13

14

15

19

20

21

22

4:00 26

27

28

29

20 SEASON. 21 12 YOUR YOUROKC BUDGET.IA 7:00 4:00 27

28

1

6:00

8

LE

MIL MIL TOR CALDER CUP 1-800-THE-WOLVES 7:00

HOME

7:00

AWAY

APRIL-

ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL. DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR BROADCASTS, CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS.

TRACK THE PACK!

FOLLOW THE WOLVES ON TWITTER! SIGN UP FOR FEED-ME EMAIL!

FIRST-TIME SUBSCRIBERS RECEIVE 15% OFF THEIR NEXT WOLVES GEAR ORDER AT CHICAGOWOLVESSTORE.COM! /chicagowolveshockey

- Peanut Allergy Awareness Day - Golf Expo

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 - Postgame Skate - Adopt-A-Dog Night

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 - Trading Card Giveaway*

• DEDICATED TICKET ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE • DISCOUNT OFF TICKET FACE-VALUE • NEVER LOSE AN UNUSED TICKET • DISCOUNTED PARKING OPTIONS • CONVENIENT PAYMENT PLANS

21

GR

7

/chicagowolveshockey

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

VISIT THE TICKET TABLE BEHIND SECTION 112 | CALL 1-800-THE-WOLVES (800-843-9658) OR VISIT CHICAGOWOLVES.COM

13

7:00

7:00

/chicagowolveshockey

SATURDAY, FEB. 21

7

ALL-STAR

TICKET PLANS W

7:00

WEST Charlotte Checkers CHA Iowa Wild IA Oklahoma City Barons OKC San Antonio Rampage SA Texas Stars TEX

SEASON-TICKET BENEFITS:

6

6:00 27 28

FOLLOW @CHICAGO_WOLVES ON TWITTER FOR BREAKING NEWS & GAME UPDATES!

YOU OWN THE BEST SEATS AVAILABLE

W

6:30

- Easter Seals St. Patrick’s Day Jersey Fundraiser - Postgame Autograph Session presented by Wendy’s

* First 2,500 fans

T

6:30

ADK

30

3:00

WESTERN CONFERENCE

- Postgame Autograph Session presented by Wendy’s

- Faith & Fellowship Night presented by Judson Unviersity

MIL

M

ALL GAMES VS. ROCKFORD ARE ILLINOIS LOTTERY CUP GAMES. ALL GAMES VS. MILWAUKEE ARE AMTRAK RIVALRY GAMES.

CHI GR LE MIL RFD

SA

F

11

22

3:00

15 13

MIDWEST CHICAGO WOLVES Grand Rapids Griffins Lake Erie Monsters Milwaukee Admirals Rockford IceHogs

4

7:00

1

OKC

RFD RFD

S T

S

GR TEX TEX

7:00 6:00 7:00 7:30 7:30 7:00 29 27 3028 3129 30 31 7:00

GR

RFD

RFD

6:00 1:00 2725 2826

RFD RFD

T

10

11 AM 23 24

3:00 7:00 28 29

SA RFD 7:00

LE

GR TEX TEX

21

IA

9 16

MARCH

SS

6:00 7:00 6:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 13 14 8 10 6 9 117 10 12 8 9 10

MIL GR

LE

15

4:00

7:00

26

3

7:00 14

15

6:00 21 22

MIL IA

S TT

3 51

SA

8

TOR CUP CALDER CALDER PLAYOFFS CUP PLAYOFFS 4:00 27 2826 29 27 3028 29 30 APRIL-JUNE APRIL-JUNE

MIL TORMIL 7:00 4:00 7:00 26

27

14

7:00

W F W

1 3

TOR HAM

14 6

20

7

4:00

7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 24 23 25 26 27 28 2220 21 2422 23 24

T S

7

19

26

T TT

IA

UTI RCH 6:00

W

6:00 8

2123 19

7:00 7:00 20 12 21 13 14 12

HOME HOME AWAY AWAY

SATURDAY, JAN. 3

2

APRIL

S M

6:30 7:00 6:30 912 10 1013 11 1114 12 13 5

TEX RFD MIL OKC TEX

RFD

26

13

MIL

ALL-STAR ALL-STAR 7:00

SS T

4:007:00 26 29

IA

25

1:00

M WM

SA GRRFD 3:00

RFD

7:00

7:002:00 7:00 7:007:007:00 7:00 1417 15 1518 16 1619 17 17 21 1316 20 18 1821 19

IA RFDSA 4:00

TOR OKCGR 4:00

TT T

HAM LE MILTOR 6:00 6:30

LE LE UTI

LE OKC

0 7:00 7:002:00 00 18 21 21 19 20 1215

7:00 7:00 7725 28 2826

3 1

14 2

13 15 11

IAGR 4:00

7:00 7:00 20 22 18 26 18 27 19

MIL

7:00

WW M

20 12

IA

1

7

7:00

7:00

6 48

13 5

19 11

RFD GR RFD 7:00 7:00

APRIL MARCH MARCH

6

GR

3:00 7:00 7:00 27 3028 283129 29 30 30 31 31

RFDRFD RFD

L RFD

LE

T SS

S M

5

6:00 4:007:00 7:00 4:00 7:00 1316 14 1417 15 1518 16 1619 17 17 20 18 14 1114 15 1215

7:00 7:0011 AM 7:00 0 6:00 11 AM 6:00 6:00 7:00 20 6 19 27 22 23 21 21 2422 22 2523 23 26 24 24 2725 21 2220 21 1821 22 19

IA

F S

6:30 6:00 6:30 811 9 912 10 1013 11 12 4

SA

6:00

FEBRUARY JANUARYJANUARY

SS T

36 4

GR

6

UTI

16

RFD

5

10 AM 11 12

30 4:00

7:00 27 5 138 6

W

T

MIL

W

5

M

C H I CAG OWOLVES.COM 1 - 8 0 0 -T HE-WOLVES


WOLVES HISTORY

FOUR-TIME CHAMPIONS THE CHICAGO WOLVES FRANCHISE HAS A TASTE FOR WINNING. An organization that has been defined by excellence in its first 20 seasons, the Wolves reached the league final six times and came away champions four times duing an 11-year span from 1997-2008. Twice capturing the International Hockey League’s Turner Cup (1998 and 2000) and twice the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup (2002 and 2008), the team has shown that it can compete regardless of which league it plays in. Two decades after its inception and without ever finishing the regular season with a losing record, the Wolves look to carry that tradition into 2014-15. Here we look at the four days in Wolves history where the team walked away with the biggest prize of all - a championship.

1998 TURNER CUP

2OOO TURNER CUP

2OO2 CALDER CUP

2OO8 CALDER CUP

J U N E 1 5, 1 9 98

JUNE 5, 20 00

JUNE 3, 2002

JUNE 1 0, 20 0 8

Backed by 16,701 fans, the secondlargest crowd in Turner Cup Final history, the Wolves shut out the Detroit Vipers 3-0 in Game 7 to capture their first Turner Cup championship at Allstate Arena (then the Rosemont Horizon). It was the first seven-game series for the IHL Championship in 13 years, while the shutout set a thenfranchise record with two in one postseason. Chicago won the last two games of the series to become only the sixth team in the IHL’s 53-year history to rebound from a 3-2 series deficit in the final. Wolves center Alexander Semak skated away with the N.R. “Bud” Poile Trophy as the postseason’s most valuable player.

After a scoreless first period, center Derek Plante notched two goals just 26 seconds apart in the second period to eliminate the Grand Rapids Griffins at Van Andel Arena and capture the Wolves’ second Turner Cup Championship in three years. With the victory, Chicago became the 16th team in league history to capture multiple IHL championships (1998 and 2000). Wolves goaltender Andrei Trefilov was awarded the N.R. “Bud” Poile Trophy as the Turner Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player, having led the league during the postseason in both goals-against average (1.35) and save percentage (.950).

The Wolves kicked off their inaugural season in the American Hockey League with their third championship in five years. Center Yuri Butsayev scored 2:05 into Game 5’s second overtime to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4-3 at Allstate Arena and capture the Calder Cup championship. The Wolves, who played a league-high 105 games, including an AHL-record 25 postseason games, became the sixth team in league history to win a championship in their inaugural season. Goaltender Pasi Nurminen was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs, posting a league-leading 15 wins. Right wing Rob Brown, who notched three assists in the Game 5 victory, led the league during the postseason with a then-franchise-record 33 points and tied an AHL and team record with 26 assists.

The Wolves clinched their fourth league title in 11 years and second Calder Cup championship with a 5-2 victory in Game 6 over the WilkesBarre/Scranton Penguins at Allstate Arena. Center Jason Krog capped a four-point night with a hat trick and an assist, which earned him the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2008 Calder Cup playoffs. He matched franchise marks with 12 goals and 26 assists in the postseason and established a club record with 38 points. Rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec collected his 16th postseason win, the most in team history.

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE


JOIN THE PACK.

SWITCH TO DYNEGY ENERGY SERVICES. At Dynegy Energy Services, we’re proud to serve homes and businesses throughout Illinois because we believe that Wolves fans deserve the power to choose.

For more information, visit DynegyEnergyServices.com or call us at 844.351.7691.

Proud Sponsor of the Chicago Wolves.

© 2014 Dynegy Energy Services, LLC


CONGRATULATIONS!

TOP SELLERS & POPCORN CUP CHAMPIONS!

THE FOLLOWING SCOUTS WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES ENGRAVED ON THE OFFICIAL POPCORN CUP AS RECOGNITION FOR SELLING AT LEAST $3,500 IN POPCORN! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL! DES PLAINES VALLEY COUNCIL

PACK

DES PLAINES VALLEY COUNCIL DES PLAINES VALLEY COUNCIL

DOMINIC WAGNER

$ 7,008

NORTHWEST SUBURBAN COUNCIL PACK

105

TROOP 80

ZACHARY BUSCH

$ 6,985

CHICAGO AREA COUNCIL

TROOP 59

NICK

SOTO

$ 5,148

NORTHWEST SUBURBAN COUNCIL PACK

JOEY

ROTONDO

$ 4,231

DES PLAINES VALLEY COUNCIL

TROOP 4066 GIOVANNI ESPARZA

CHICAGO AREA COUNCIL

TROOP 729

NORTHWEST SUBURBAN COUNCIL PACK

6

119

NORTHWEST SUBURBAN COUNCIL TROOP 297 DES PLAINES VALLEY COUNCIL

PACK

DAVID

AURENZ

PRESTON BARE

4687 MAGNUS

SHIPINSKI

KVORKA

$ 4,083

3079 BRIAN

BARDSLEY

$ 4,020

130

JACK

BUCHHOLZ

$ 4,015

NORTHWEST SUBURBAN COUNCIL TROOP 37

HAAKON

FIELDER

$ 4,000

$ 4,230

NORTHWEST SUBURBAN COUNCIL PACK

183

ALEX

ZIEGLER

$ 3,536

$ 4,134

NORTHWEST SUBURBAN COUNCIL TROOP 468

ERIC

DUENSER

$ 3,505

$ 4,120

CHICAGO AREA COUNCIL

3990 JOHNNY

ORTEGA

$ 3,500

$ 4,088

NORTHWEST SUBURBAN COUNCIL PACK

96

GROSSMANN $ 3,500

PACK

PACK

TYLER

KANE

BASED ON INFORMATION RECEIVED BY 11/20/14

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SCOUTING, VISIT WWW.BEASCOUT.ORG


OWNERSHIP

DONALD R. LEVIN (luh-VIN) founded DRL Enterprises, Inc., in 1969. The Chicagobased company has holdings in many industries including tobacco processing, aircraft and medical equipment leasing, licensed sports product manufacturing and distribution, and motion picture production and distribution. Levin’s film company has made nearly 20 motion pictures distributed in the U.S. and overseas. His films have featured such stars as Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Sharon Stone, Rodney Dangerfield, and Chuck Norris. Levin founded the Chicago Wolves with Buddy Meyers and Grant Mulvey in January 1994 and has served as the team’s chairman of the board throughout. Levin donates his time and serves on the board of directors for several charitable organizations. Levin also supports Chicago’s Department of Animal Care and Control (ACC). The Wolves host the ACC’s Adopt-a-Dog program at several home games each season and encourage fans to bring home an adopted dog after the game. The Adopt-A-Dog program has found homes for 1,146 dogs in its first 13 seasons. In 2003, Levin purchased and donated the Animobile -- a mobile adoption unit and a modern clinic staffed by veterinarians and adoption specialists.

DON LEVIN CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD / GOVERNOR

The Chicago native was recognized at the Boy Scouts of America’s Northwest Suburban Council’s Distinguished Citizens Banquet as its 2005 Honoree. Under Levin’s direction, the Wolves organization has held a scout night for the Northwest Suburban Council at a home game for the last 16 seasons. Levin was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on Jan. 27, 2013. He was honored as the International Hockey League’s Executive of the Year for the 1999-2000 season, which concluded with the franchise’s second of four championships. Before beginning his business career, Levin served in the United States Marine Corps, from which he was honorably discharged. Levin and his wife, Kathleen Ann, have a son, Robert, and they live in the northern suburbs.

Buddy Meyers, a principal owner of the Wolves who founded the team with Don Levin and Grant Mulvey in January 1994, has been involved in the world of hockey for more than 35 years. He is a former certified agent of the National Hockey League Players’ Association and is a past attorney for the Soviet Red Army Hockey Team (CSKA). He is a practicing attorney and the principal in the law firm of William Buddy Meyers, Ltd. His concentration is in the areas of worker’s compensation and personal injury litigation. Additionally, he is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and Illinois Workers Compensation Lawyers Association; a former director of the Better Boys Foundation and River North Association; and a recipient of the Shomrim Society of Illinois’ Man of the Year Award in 2006. He also supports numerous charitable and environmental organizations.

BUDDY MEYERS

Meyers, who was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on Jan. 26, 2014, is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a juris doctor degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago Kent. He and Jill live in the River North area of Chicago and have five children between them: Justin, Lindsey, Zak, Brad, and Leslie.

VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD 9


MANAGEMENT & HOCKEY OPS Wendell Young is in his sixth season at the helm of the Wolves hockey operations department. During his first five seasons as general manager, the team compiled a .603 winning percentage (212-132-20-24) and captured the regular-season West Division title in 2009-10 and the Midwest Division title in 2011-12 and 2013-14. Young has been a member of the Wolves in numerous capacities — including player, coach, and executive — since the team’s inaugural campaign in 1994. He served as assistant coach and executive director of team relations for six seasons before transitioning into the general manager role in August 2009. The 51-year-old Young stands as the Wolves’ all-time leader among goaltenders in games (322), wins (169), saves (8,467), minutes (17,912), and shutouts (16), and was a member of Chicago’s 1998 and 2000 Turner Cup championship squads. His jersey number “1” was retired on Dec. 1, 2001 — becoming the first Wolves player to receive the honor.

WENDELL YOUNG GENERAL MANAGER

The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native is the only man in hockey history to have won all four North American championships: the Stanley Cup, Turner Cup, Calder Cup, and Memorial Cup. Young played 18 seasons of professional hockey, including 10 in the National Hockey League. He compiled a 59-86-12 record in 187 games with the Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He also served as goaltending coach for the Calgary Flames from 2001-03. Young and his wife, Paula, live in the northwest suburbs and have one daughter, Gabrielle, and two sons, Matt and Jack.

Bill Bentley is in his sixth season as assistant general manager and 21st season with the Wolves organization. One of a handful of people who has been with the organization since the team’s inception in 1994, Bentley has been instrumental in the hockey operations department for more than 16 years, which includes all four championship campaigns. The Chicago native joined the organization as a statistician in 1994 and was promoted to team services manager a year later. The 45-year-old Bentley spent 12 seasons as the director of hockey administration — handling team travel, immigration, and accounting for the hockey operations department — before assuming the assistant general manager role in August 2009.

BILL BENTLEY

A graduate of Quincy College, Bentley served as the Director of Media Relations for the Chicago Cheetahs of the now-defunct Roller Hockey International during the 1993-94 season.

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER

Bentley and his wife, Jennifer, live in Chicago. Gene Ubriaco, who has been with the Wolves since the franchise’s inception in 1994, embarks on his 18th season as the team’s director of hockey operations and sixth as senior advisor. Ubriaco was hired as the Wolves’ first head coach and guided the expansion team to a 34-33-14 record and a berth in the Turner Cup playoffs. He compiled a 61-61-20 record with the Wolves during a three-year span, which included a two-game interim stint during the 1996-97 season. The 76-year-old Ubriaco began his coaching career at Lake Superior State University in 1972-73. He became the head coach of the National Hockey League’s Pittsburgh Penguins in 1988. Under his tutelage the Penguins posted a 50-47-9 record, shattered several team records, and advanced to the Stanley Cup postseason after a seven-year absence.

GENE UBRIACO DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native spent three years as a player in the NHL and posted 39 goals and 35 assists in 177 regular-season games spread among the Penguins, Oakland Seals, and Chicago Blackhawks. He dedicates himself to numerous charitable causes, including the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association (AHIHA) with which he has been involved since 1974. Ubriaco and his wife, Nella, have a daughter, Francine, and a son, Gene, and live in the western suburbs.



Unfortunately, most of life happens without gear.

Injuries, overuse, wear and tear, pain – they’ll affect most of us, sometime. The good news is, we’re here for you. Illinois Bone & Joint Institute offers a complete range of the most advanced orthopaedic care for people of all ages. From physical therapy to new approaches in joint replacement, IBJI has the expertise to treat any orthopaedic condition that challenges you.

ibji.com

Life can definitely be tough on a body, but when it hurts, we can help.

Chicago | Arlington Heights | Bannockburn | Buffalo Grove | Des Plaines | Glenview | Grayslake | Gurnee | Highland Park Lake Forest | Lake Zurich | Libertyville | Lincolnwood | Lindenhurst | Morton Grove | Wilmette

Icing is a penalty in our rulebook too.

24-Hour Service

847-824-1800 www.BishopPlumbing.com Official Plumber of the Chicago Wolves License PL15079


BEHIND THE BENCH John Anderson enters his 13th season as Wolves head coach after being re-hired to the position July 16, 2013. Anderson returned with four years of National Hockey League experience, including two as head coach of Atlanta (2008-10) and two as assistant coach with Arizona (2011-13). The 57-year-old has guided the Wolves to four championships: two Calder Cups (2002 and 2008) and two Turner Cups (1998 and 2000). He leads the franchise in regularseason wins (551) and postseason victories (108). Anderson’s squads have set several Wolves single-season records, including 55 wins (1997-98), 114 points (1999-2000), 29 home wins (1997-98, 1998-99), 27 road wins (1999-2000, 2006-07), and 331 goals (2006-07).

JOHN ANDERSON HEAD COACH

Toronto’s first pick (11th overall) in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft, Anderson played 12 seasons with the Maple Leafs (1977-85), Quebec (1985-86), and Hartford (198689). The Toronto native registered five 30-goal campaigns, including four straight from 1981-85. Anderson ranks 14th in Maple Leafs history with 189 goals and 20th with 393 points. He amassed 282 goals and 631 points in 814 NHL regular-season games and added nine goals and 27 points in 37 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

Mark Hardy enters his first season with the Wolves after being named an assistant coach August 26. A 15-year veteran of the National Hockey League, he brings 19 seasons of bench experience to Chicago. Hardy joins the team after spending the last three seasons with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign, which finished in second place in the Western Conference each season he was on staff. The 55-year-old boasts 11 years of NHL coaching experience, having served on the staffs for Los Angeles (1999-2006, 2008-10) and Chicago (2006-08). Hardy served as an assistant coach and defensive specialist, overseeing the third-best penaltykilling unit in Kings history in 2001-02. The Samedan, Switzerland native began his coaching career as a player/coach and then assistant in the International Hockey League with Detroit (1994-95) and Long Beach (1995-99).

MARK HARDY ASSISTANT COACH

Drafted by Los Angeles in the second round (30th overall) of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, Hardy collected 368 points (62G, 306A) in 915 career regular-season games as a defenseman for Los Angeles, Minnesota, and New York. He finished his playing career with 70 points (18G, 52A) in 199 IHL games with Phoenix, Detroit, and Los Angeles.

Brad Tapper enters his first season with the Wolves after being named an assistant coach August 26. A member of the 2002 Calder Cup squad, he contributed 58 points in 98 regular-season games and 11 points in 28 postseason tilts with Chicago from 2001-04. Tapper joins the American Hockey League after five seasons in coaching. He ran the bench for North York for one year in the CCHL and served as an assistant the past four with Florida and Orlando in the ECHL. The 36-year-old won the Kelly Cup with Florida in 2012 and his teams have never failed to make the postseason, posting a 158-102-9-19 record while his forward corps placed in the top 10 in league scoring each season. The Scarborough, Ontario, native skated in 71 NHL contests with Atlanta from 2000-03, accruing 25 points (14G, 11A) in 71 games. He also suited up for Binghamton (AHL), Philadelphia (AHL), Orlando (IHL), Nürnberg (DEL), Hannover (DEL), Iserlohn (DEL), and RPI (NCAA).

BRAD TAPPER ASSISTANT COACH 13


MAP THE LEAGUE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

MIDWEST DIVISION

ATLANTIC DIVISION

Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Louis

Manchester. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Los Angeles

Grand Rapids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Detroit

Portland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phoenix

Lake Erie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Colorado

Providence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston

Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nashville

St. John’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winnipeg

Rockford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chicago

Worcester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San Jose

NORTH DIVISION

NORTHEAST DIVISION

Adirondack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calgary

Albany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Jersey

Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Montreal

Bridgeport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NY Islanders

Rochester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buffalo

Hartford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NY Rangers

Toronto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Toronto

Springfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Columbus

Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vancouver

Syracuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tampa Bay

WEST DIVISION

EAST DIVISION

Charlotte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carolina

Binghamton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ottawa

Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota

Hershey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington

Oklahoma City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edmonton

Lehigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philadelphia

San Antonio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Florida

Norfolk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anaheim

Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dallas

W-B/Scranton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pittsburgh

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE


WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER YOU

Signature JEWEL

ITEMS

fresh

ARTISAN BREADS

Our versatile breads are baked fresh in-store everyday.

fresh gourmet pub

BURGERS

Sink your teeth into a savory ground sirloin burger that’s cut fresh daily and made with quality, all fresh ingredients like dairy-fresh slow melting cheese.

fresh cut

FRUIT & VEGGIES

Choose from a healthy variety of sizes and produce selections—all cut and cleaned for your convenience.

store made

TACO DIP

Take a “dip” with this zesty crowd-pleaser. It’s made in-store daily with farm-fresh veggies and available exclusively at Jewel-Osco.

fresh baked

COOKIES

Talk about a sweet deal! These popular cookies are baked fresh everyday and are at a tasty price that can’t be beat.

Chef’s Kitchen

FRIED OR GRILLED

CHICKEN

CRITICS CHOICE

See why our chicken has won rave reviews from the Chicago Tribune. It’s always fresh, never frozen and cooked in Canola oil for no trans fats.

store made

TORTILLA CHIPS

It’s crunch time with these tasty freshly-made favorites. Lightly seasoned with a dash of sea salt and made with zero trans fat Canola oil.

freshly made in-store

GUACAMOLE This popular favorite is made fresh in-store daily with the finest ingredients and no preservatives. Available in mild or hot varieties.



MEET THE WOLVES

2

3

4

5

MATTHEW REGISTER

JOEL EDMUNDSON

PETTERI LINDBOHM

MATHIEU BRODEUR

D H: 6-2 W: 205 September 2, 1989 Calgary, Alberta

D H: 6-4 W: 214 June 28, 1993 Brandon, Manitoba

D H: 6-3 W: 198 September 23, 1993 Helsinki, Finland

D H: 6-5 W: 221 June 21, 1990 Montreal, Quebec

6

7

8

9

JANI HAKANPAA

DAVID SHIELDS

TY RATTIE

SHANE HARPER

RW H: 6-0 W: 192 February 5, 1993 Airdrie, Alberta

RW H: 5-10 W: 190 February 1, 1989 Valencia, California

D H: 6-7 W: 230 March 31, 1992 Kirkkonummi, Finland

10

D H: 6-4 W: 211 January 27, 1991 Rochester, New York

12

15

17

PHILIP MCRAE

PAT CANNONE

JEREMY WELSH

JOHN McCARTHY

C H: 6-2 W: 196 March 15, 1990 Minneapolis, Minnesota

C H: 5-10 W: 187 August 9, 1986 Bayport, New York

F H: 6-3 W: 205 May 30, 1988 Bayfield, Ontario

LW H: 6-0 W: 195 August 9, 1986 Boston, Massachusetts

18

20

21

22

YANNICK VEILLEUX

CODY BEACH

BENN FERRIERO

DMITRIJ JASKIN

RW H: 6-5 W: 206 August 8, 1992 Kelowna, British Columbia

F H: 5-10 W: 180 April 29, 1987 Essex, Massachusetts

LW H: 6-2 W: 205 February 22, 1993 St. Hipolytte, Quebec

LW H: 6-3 W: 204 March 23, 1993 Omsk, Russia

17


TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-THE-WOLVES OR VISIT CHICAGOWOLVES.COM


MEET THE WOLVES

24

27

28

30

COLIN FRASER

ROB BORDSON

BRENT REGNER

JORDAN BINNINGTON

33

37

38

42

MATT CLIMIE

TERRY BROADHURST

SEBASTIAN WANNSTROM

JAKE CHELIOS

49

55

GERGO NAGY

BRENT SOPEL

C H: 6-1 W: 190 January 28, 1985 Sicamous, British Columbia

G H: 6-3 H: 207 February 11, 1983 Leduc, Alberta

F H: 6-2 W: 199 June 9, 1988 Duluth, Minnesota

F H: 5-10 H: 169 November 30, 1988 Orland Park, Illinois

F H: 6-3 H: 203 October 10, 1989 Dunaujvaros, Hungary

D H: 6-0 W: 188 May 17, 1989 Westlock, Alberta

G H: 6-1 H: 176 July 11, 1993 Richmond Hill, Ontario

RW H: 6-2 H: 202 March 3, 1991 Gavle, Sweden

D H: 6-2 H: 198 March 8, 1991 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

D H: 6-1 H: 201 January 7, 1977 Calgary, Alberta

HOCKEY OPERATIONS

KEVIN KACER

CRAIG KOGUT

KENNY MCCUDDEN

STAN DUBICKI

EVAN LEV Y

DJ KOGUT

HE A D AT HL E T IC T R A INER

HE A D EQUIPMEN T M A N A GER

SK AT ING & SK IL L S CO A CH

GO A LT ENDING CO A CH

S T RENG T H & CONDI T IONING CO ACH

A SSIS TA N T EQUIP MEN T M A N A GER

19


BRENT

SOPEL ENJOYS THE SKATES AND PREPARES FOR WHEN THEY END HIS JOURNEY TO 1,000 PROFESSIONAL GAMES LITERALLY BEGAN AS AN UPHILL CLIMB BY LINDSEY WILLHITE | PHOTOS BY ROSS DETTMAN


hen Chicago Wolves defenseman Brent Sopel was growing up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he spent a good chunk of every summer on his Baba’s farm three hours away (“Baba,” by the way, is Ukrainian for grandmother). To provide an idea of how isolated young Brent was on Ann Sopel’s farm outside of Danbury, Saskatchewan, consider these facts: Danbury has never been big enough for census takers to bother visiting. Look up Danbury on Wikipedia and here’s the entire entry: “Danbury is a hamlet in Saskatchewan.” Click on Danbury’s business directory and there are just two categories: “Car Repair” and “Towing.” There was no running water on the farm. Drinking water came from a well. When Brent needed to go to the bathroom, he visited the outhouse. When he needed a bath, he collected rainwater or melting snow from the 50-gallon drum outside and heated it up on the stove. Then he dipped a sponge in the warm water, mixed it with some soap and scrubbed himself clean. In short, it was heaven. “Those are experiences and memories I would never give up,” Sopel said. “Growing up on the farm and true labor and working in the fields. Digging. Welding. Cutting. Animals. The whole nine yards. I’m where I am today for one reason: Hard work. Being on that farm helped mold me.”

One of Sopel’s favorite farm activities as a boy foreshadowed the matchless work ethic that has enabled him to play more than 1,000 professional games.

the age of 22), he needed just three games to score his first goal. During his most productive season with the Canucks (200304), he stacked up 10 goals and 32 assists.

“We had a 1940 Massey-Harris tractor,” Sopel said. “They would never let me start it without an adult, so I’d just push it up the hill and ghost-ride it until it stopped and then I’d push it back up. I’d do that for hours and hours and hours.

“I was drafted as an offensive defenseman,” Sopel said. “I came into the league as an offensive defenseman. I played on the power play my whole career up until I came to Chicago in 2007.”

“I probably started doing that when I was 5. I’d do it tread by tread. When I’d get tired, I’d stick a rock under the wheel so it wouldn’t roll back down the hill. That was my baby.” Sopel carried that drive to the ice. His father, Bernie, flooded the back yard and garden of their Saskatoon home so he could skate and play whenever he wanted. Of course, he always wanted. “Nobody in my family ever played hockey, but I was interested in playing so my dad was out there flooding it,” Sopel said. “It didn’t matter the temperature or the circumstances; I was going out there.” Always one of the biggest kids in town – he has stood 6-foot-1 since he was 13 years old – Sopel developed into a physical blueliner who could deliver points. Coming up through the Western Hockey League and the AHL, Sopel averaged more than 10 goals per season. When he arrived in the National Hockey League (he made his debut with the Vancouver Canucks on April 5, 1999, at

That’s the turning point when Sopel became the player that Chicago fans know today: The guy who does anything to stop the opposing team from putting the puck in the net. He estimates he has broken 60 bones in his career – and that number grew on Dec. 9 when he fractured a finger while blocking a shot at San Antonio. Sopel made the adjustment when he joined the Blackhawks in 2007 and was told young defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook (then 24 and 22 years old, respectively) would get the power-play mnutes so they could develop.

I’M WHERE I AM TODAY FOR ONE REASON: HARD WORK. BEING ON THAT FARM HELPED MOLD ME.


[...] THEY PASS IT ALONG TO THE NEXT FAN AND IT’S ANOTHER WAY OF BUILDING THIS GREAT GAME.

“I went home and sat and did some thinking,” Sopel said. “If I wanted my career to continue, I needed to do something else. I decided to say, ‘You know what? I need to turn my game into a shot-blocking, defensive defenseman.’ I had always blocked shots, but I told myself I needed to get better at it. You have to have a specialty to stay in the NHL. I had one for a number of years. It was good to me, but I needed to change my gears and look at something else.” While blocked shots aren’t the be-all, end-all statistic to define defensemen, Sopel ranked ninth in the NHL (and first on the Blackhawks) in blocks per 60 minutes during the 2009-10 season that led to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship since 1961. “I won that Stanley Cup thousands and thousands of times on that outdoor rink at my home as a kid,” Sopel said. “We played for it every day. But actually being able to say I won that and to lift it over my head – and for it to happen later in my career – was definitely the highlight of my career. No question.” When he reached the pinnacle of his career, Sopel didn’t just reminisce about the days and nights on his home rink. He thought about a way to honor those summers on his Baba’s farm. When it was Sopel’s turn to have his day with the Cup, he threw an invitation-only barbecue at his Hinsdale home. Friends and family flew in from all over North America. He made sure his children – Paul, Jake, Lyla and Jayla – included their friends in the celebration. And that 1940 Massey-Harris tractor played a role as well. “My Baba ended up selling that tractor to me and I got it restored,” Sopel said. “My goal was to one day win the Stanley Cup and drive the tractor with the Stanley Cup on there.”

So Sopel fired up that red tractor, put one hand around the steering wheel, the other hand around the top of the Cup and led a parade through the west suburban town. “Obviously I knew all the police officers in town and everybody knew who I was,” Sopel said. “Everybody was good and fine and respectful. We had a little train of cars trailing behind us. It was a lot of fun.” Now, if this were the Hollywood version of Sopel’s life, the story ends here. The boy pushes the tractor up the hill…the man rides same tractor through town to celebrate reaching the peak of his career. But professional athletes’ lives don’t end when the credits roll. Over the last few years, Sopel has begun carving out new career paths for himself. “Brent Sopel’s Defense Academy” is a series of week-long clinics exclusively for defensemen. He hosted camps in Saskatoon and Syracuse last summer and plans to add Chicago this summer. “Last year I had kids from 15 states and seven provinces,” Sopel said. “I’m on the ice every day working with these kids about the position. It’s the details and the corner and the front of the net. We also bring in a sports psychologist and a sports nutritionist and a strength coach. I try to run the camp the way I run my career – professional.” Then there’s his burgeoning interest in serving as a hockey analyst for the media. When the Blackhawks made their run to the Stanley Cup in 2013, Chicago’s NBC affiliate tapped Sopel to lend his expertise. He has built on that relationship and you can expect to see Sopel appear regularly this winter and spring on NBC’s “Sports Sunday” show after the 10 p.m. newscasts. In addition, when the Wolves’ schedule allows, Sopel takes


Your Path is Clear

5 CONVENIENT CHICAGOLAND LOCATIONS: 5848 W. Montrose Ave Chicago, IL 60634 773.777.2606

39 E. Belvidere Rd Hainesville, IL 60030 847.752.0420

1636 North Aurora Rd Naperville, IL 60563 630.219.2440

9525 W. Irving Park Rd Schiller Park, IL 60176 847.678.9525

21660 S. La Grange Rd Frankfort, IL 60423 Opening This Fall


the 4 p.m. to midnight shift for 120Sports – a new Sports Illustrated-affiliated internet network (120Sports.com) that capitalizes on the nation’s shift to smartphones and other mobile access. “I love him,” said Laurence Holmes, who hosts daily sportstalk shows in Chicago at WSCR-AM and 120 Sports and worked with Sopel at NBC. “He’s honest. He’s natural. He has a great sense of humor. He’s got wonderful stories and he explains things in a very simple way. He makes it very easy to understand. That’s a lot of his appeal on TV. That, and he looks like Ashton Kutcher…if Ashton Kutcher had been taking pucks in the face for 10 years.” “I’d love to get a full-time job and be in the hockey world and teach fans on a nightly basis what we see as a player or as a coach,” Sopel said. “Try to build their awareness of the game. Then they pass it along to the next fan and it’s another way of building this great game.” But playing the game comes first. Sopel, who has seized upon the hashtag #EnjoyTheSkate while building his social media profile, still loves going to the rink every day. On most practice mornings, he arrives before any of his teammates so he can work out with Wolves strength and conditioning coach Evan Levy. Sopel, whose 38th birthday is Jan. 7, understands it requires more time and effort to stay a step ahead. He also stays as long as it takes in order to make himself or his teammates better. After a recent Wolves practice, assistant coach Brad Tapper kept five forwards on the ice for some extra work. Though all of the defensemen were done for the day,

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU DO, WHERE YOU’VE BEEN OR HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN IN THE GAME, YOU ALWAYS LEARN.

#ENJOYTHESKATE

Sopel stuck around to watch the drill with hopes of learning something. Instead, he wound up changing a few things in the drill. “It doesn’t matter what you do, where you’ve been or how long you’ve been in the game,” Sopel said. “You always learn. Everybody has different ideas and it’s all about what’s going to fit. Brad’s doing a drill and I’m watching it. Maybe there’s something I can learn from him. Maybe I see something different they don’t see.” For a player who was invited to preseason camp in September with no guarantee of making the Wolves, Sopel has been darn near irreplaceable all the way around. “He was such a leader on and off the ice in camp,” said Wolves general manager Wendell Young. “He was our best player in the exhibitions, so it was a no-brainer when to bring him in when a vet spot opened. He could mail it in every night, but he comes to work and he’s prepared. Brent is the first guy to block a shot, first guy to confront somebody, all that. That says something for his character, that’s for sure.” “I’ve watched him for years,” said Wolves head coach John Anderson. “He’s very judicious with the puck. He’s not the greatest skater in the world, but the plays he makes with the puck make up for it. He’s just that much smarter than everybody.”


International 4300 4x2

International ProStar

PREVIOUSLY OWNED, QUALITY TRUCKS FOR YOUR BUSINESS – AVAILABLE AT YOUR INTERNATIONAL USED TRUCK CENTER ILLINOIS: International Used Truck Center of Chicago • 2050 North Mannheim Road • Melrose Park, IL 60160 • 888-781-5076 INDIANA: International Used Truck Center of Indianapolis • 1429 Harding Court • Indianapolis, IN 46217 • 888-311-2462 MICHIGAN: International Used Truck Center of Detroit • 37750 Northline Road • Romulus, MI 48174 • 888-481-5942 OHIO: International Used Truck Center of Columbus • 10967 Columbus Expressway Park East • Etna, OH 43018 • 888-219-7216 Get Used to International Used Truck Centers VALUE, SELECTION AND EXPERTISE. visit www.InternationalUsedTrucks.com

GO WOLVES HOCKEY! 25


y a w a k a e r b a e ! y a Tak d y r e v e e h t fromse into entertaining with Ea

r

you help from

Skate away with savory party trays! Ham & Turkey Bundles

Cheese & Sausage Tidbit Tray

Shaved ham and turkey breast on golden and wheat dinner rolls served with pitted black olives.

Eckrich® hard salami, beer salami, Busch summer sausage, Wisconsin American, Muenster, Swiss cheeses and bread and butter pickles.

Hye Roller Tray Roast beef, Turkey or Italian Hye Rollers made on cracker bread with lettuce and cheese, served with assorted relish center.

Fruit & Cheese Tray

Stawberries, red and green seedless grapes, cantaloupe and honeydew melon chunks, Muenster, Cheddar and Swiss cheeses with whipped fruit dip.

Wolves fans will love these packs, too! *Party Package includes your choice of side salads and King’s Hawaiian Rolls. See deli associate for further details.

48 Piece Chicken 12 of each: Breasts, Wings, Legs and Thighs • Fried or Grilled Chicken Serves 20-24

• Party Package* Serves 20-24

96 Piece Chicken

24 of each: Breasts, Wings, Legs and Thighs • Fried or Grilled Chicken Serves 40-48

• Party Package*

Serves 40-48


ASSISTANT COACH

MEET MARK HARDY MARK HARDY HAS BIG PLANS FOR THE CHICAGO WOLVES. Named as one of the assistants under head coach John Anderson this summer, Hardy knows the level of excellence that is expected when you don the burgundy and gold. “I was ecstatic to get the call,” he said. “Coming to a great organization like the Wolves where they’ve won four championships, all under John Anderson, it’s just an honor to be here and I can hardly wait to get working with Don (Levin), Wendell (Young) and John. This team needs to work on another championship.” The 55-year-old defensive and penalty kill specialist joins a Wolves team coming off a historic season on the back end that saw them post the fewest goals allowed (191) and third-best penalty kill (85.6 percent) in franchise history. With a handful of players returning from last season’s group of blueliners, Hardy has high expectations and looks forward to working with and developing the group of skaters. “I yell when I have to and I talk when I have to,” Hardy said of his coaching style. “I think you have to work with different players in different ways, and when you get to know them and build relationships you figure out how to handle each and every player.” Not unfamiliar with success himself, Hardy brings a long list of accolades to the team, including an 18-year playing career – 15 of those in the National Hockey League – and another decade of NHL coaching experience.

The Samedan, Switzerland, native got his start behind the bench in the now-defunct International Hockey League with the Wolves’ former foes the Detroit Vipers and Long Beach Ice Dogs. Hardy then served two stretches with the Los Angeles Kings coaching staff (1999-2006 and 2008-10) and two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks (2006-08) before his most recent gig as an assistant with the ECHL’s Ontario Reign. Despite enjoying his time with Ontario, which included helping the team to three consecutive division titles, Hardy looks forward to returning to Chicago and facing a new challenge with the Wolves. “We love the city,” he said. “The people are fantastic sports fans and when they get behind their team I know how passionate the fans are here. And it’s a great place to live... It’s going to be a great time getting back to the city again.”

“I THINK YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT PLAYERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS,” - MARK HARDY

Although he has not yet been behind the bench for an American Hockey League team, Hardy sees the transition as a smooth one. “I think coaching is coaching,” he said. “I think at every level if you make sure the coaches and players are accountable, good things are going to happen. So all the little things hopefully that we can teach the young players make them successful and hopefully get them to the next level and, before they get to the next level, win a championship here in Chicago with the Wolves.”

Wolves photos by Ross Dettman. Behind the bench photo courtesy of the Ontario Reign.

27


We’re fans too. Chicagoland Allstate Agents live and work here just like you. And their goal is to help you make sure you have the right protection and get all the discounts you deserve.

Talk to a Chicagoland Allstate Agent today.

Proud sponsor of the Chicago Wolves

Š 2014 Allstate Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. Marks are registered trademarks of their respective owners.


RECORD BREAKERS

ONE FOR THE BOOKS THE 2013-14 CHICAGO WOLVES

ALL-TIME POINTS LEADERS 1. STEVE MALTAIS 2. ROB BROWN 3. DARREN HAYDAR 4. JASON KROG 5. BRETT STERLING 6. BOB NARDELLA 7. STEVE LAROUCHE 8. CHRIS MARINUCCI 9. STEVE MARTINS 10. DEREK MACKENZIE

951 483 368 342 308 298 228 220 193 184

ALL-TIME WINS LEADERS (GOALTENDERS)

17 191 85.6 6 28.72

Consecutive games at Allstate Arena in which the Wolves collected at least one point (a franchise record) spanning Dec. 8, 2013, to March 2, 2014.

Goals the Wolves allowed last season, the fewest in the team’s 20-season history.

Success rate of the Wolves’ regular-season penalty-killing unit (292 for 341), the third-highest percentage the team has posted.

Shorthanded goals allowed by the Wolves, tied for second-fewest in a regular season (1998-99, 2007-08).

Average shots per game allowed by the Wolves last season, the second-lowest number in team history.

S I N G L E-SEASON FRANCHISE RECORDS GOALS • 60 STEVE MALTAIS (1996-97)

PENALTY MINUTES • 336 KEVIN MACDONALD (1994-95)

ASSISTS • 91 ROB BROWN (1995-96)

PLUS/MINUS • +47 ARTURS KULDA (2009-10)

GAME-WINNING GOALS • 10 CHRIS MARINUCCI (1998-99) BRETT STERLING (2007-08) MARK MANCARI (2011-12)

WINS • 38 KARI LEHTONEN (2004-05)

1. WENDELL YOUNG 2. KARI LEHTONEN 3. MICHAEL GARNETT 4. MATT CLIMIE 5. RAY LEBLANC 6. ONDREJ PAVELEC 7. NORM MARACLE 8. PETER MANNINO 9. JAKE ALLEN 10. FRED BRATHWAITE DREW MACINTYRE

169 61 56 55 53 51 43 42 33 32 32

ALL-TIME GAMES LEADERS 1. STEVE MALTAIS 2. BOB NARDELLA 3. DEREK MACKENZIE 4. KEVIN DOELL 5. ROB BROWN BRIAN SIPOTZ 7. TIM BERGLAND 8. DARREN HAYDAR 9. TIM BRESLIN 10. WENDELL YOUNG

839 476 377 375 369 369 361 342 330 322

SHUTOUTS • 7 JAKE ALLEN (2013-14) 29


HOCKEY 101

BOARDING

CHARGING

CROSS-CHECKING

DELAYED PENALT Y

ELBOWING

HIGH-STICKING

HOLDING

Called for any action which causes opponent to be thrown violently into the boards.

Called for taking three or more strides before checking opponent.

Called for hitting opponent with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice.

Call is made when the penalized team gains control of the puck or upon a stop in play.

Called when using the elbow to impede an opponent.

Called for making contact with an opponent when carrying the stick above the shoulder.

Called for using the hands, arms or legs to hold an opponent.

HOOKING

ICING

INTERFERENCE

MISCONDUCT

ROUGHING

SLASHING

Called for using stick or blade to hook opponent.

Called when a player on his team’s side of the red center line shoots the puck down the ice, it crosses the red goal line at any point (other than the goal) and is touched first by an opposing player other than the goalie.*

Called for having contact with an opponent not in possession of the puck.

Called for an infraction that warrants a more serious penalty than a standard minor or major penalty.

Called for engaging in fisticuffs or shoving of a level that is not worthy of a major penalty.

Called for swinging the stick at an opponent.

SPEARING

TRIPPING

Called for using the stick like a spear.

Called for using the stick, arm or leg to cause an opponent to trip or fall.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT Called for the abuse of an official or other such misconduct.

*Under hybrid icing rules, it’s called when an opposing player (other than the goalie) is the first to reach the face-off dot closest to the goal line.

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE


Get there before the puck drops. You won’t miss a second of the action when you ride the Pace Allstate Arena Express to Chicago Wolves games. It departs the Rosemont CTA station 60, 40 and 20 minutes before game time, and then heads back to the station 20 minutes after the game. Get on the bus and you’ll be on Pace to see a winner. Allstate Arena Express—only $1.75 per person (each way). ©2014 Pace

PaceBus.com


, We re never far from the fun.

ŠConAgra F Foods, Inc. All rights reserved.


BY THE NUMBERS

TERRY BROADHURST #37 | FORWARD TWITTER FOLLOWERS

1,600 400

TEXTS A DAY

TOO MANY

U

FASTEST MILE TIME: TIMES/DAY PHONE IS CHECKED: TOO MANY

0

EMAILS IN THE INBOX

24

5:35 215

SIBLINGS

1O0

HO

B R O K EN P

APP

ED

APPS

3

1

W IT H O U T S LE IN G

E

RS

EP

DUC T S PR O O

HONE S:

TWEETS SENT

WN

L

@Tbroadhurst17

1O

2 COUNTRIES VISITED

POUNDS BENCHED

1

VIDEO GAMES OWNED N-H

O CK E Y J

O

BS

NO

PAIRS OF SHOES SHOE SIZE

SUITS OWNED

CHAMPIONSHIPS

3

3 2

YEARS PRO PRO TEAMS

4

2 TRAFFIC TICKETS RECEIVED

4,000

CALORIES PER DAY

ES

T G O LF S C O R

74

E

HATS OWNED

10

74

B

ONE BROKEN BONE

NHL ‘15 PLAYER RATING

5 CITIES LIVED IN

4

SPORTS PLAYED GROWING UP 33


FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

BACK IN BLACK:

THE WOLVES TAKE ON CANCER AGAIN BY LINDSEY WILLHITE

In a more just world, there would be no reason for the Chicago Wolves to devote another specialty jersey to the crucial battle versus cancer.

was responsible for the Fight Against Cancer theme in 2011 as well, so she had to come up with a completely different concept aside while retaining the color.

But just four years after wearing black Fight Against Cancer jerseys for the first time, the Wolves are doing it again during their home games on Jan. 16, 17, and 31 in order to lend their financial and emotional support to everyone affected by this cursed scourge.

Moritz, who donates her time and pours endless hours into each jersey design, came up with a brilliant idea. To convey the message of how cancer can affect anyone – with no regard for name or station in life – she drew up plans to have the numbers and the nameplate in a slightly different shade of black than the jersey. Unfortunately, that didn’t fulfill American Hockey League rules. It’s necessary to be able to read the numbers and names.

It’s only the second time the franchise has revisited a theme during its 18 years of wearing commemorative jerseys to raise money for charity, but there are compelling reasons to do so. “I wish we didn’t have to do this, to be honest, but it resonated with a lot of our fans,” said Wolves senior vice president of operations Courtney Mahoney, who determined the need for another Fight Against Cancer campaign. “I continue to hear so many stories of people who’ve gone through it or have family members who’ve gone through it, it seemed only right to raise more awareness and raise more funds.” Every player and coach on the Wolves roster will don one jersey for the Fight Against Cancer games except for popular defenseman Brent Sopel, who’ll wear a different jersey in each of the three games in order to maximize the proceeds for cancer-related charities as well as Chicago Wolves Charities. In addition to participating in the high-spirited bid auction that begins on Jan. 16 and closes during second intermission on Jan. 31 in Allstate Arena’s Southeast Lobby, Wolves fans can win these jerseys via raffle, online auction, silent auction and blind auction. Former Wolves creative services manager Christina Moritz stepped forward to design this jersey, which marks the 15th specialty jersey she has delivered for the team. She

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

So Moritz went with her strong backup plan: Medieval armor that one might wear when going into battle. “I looked a lot at medieval armor and different patchwork that was found on crests and carved-through metal and things like that to get inspiration for this one,” she said. “The chainmail patterns you see with the armor when knights jousted, that’s the background texture.” Season-ticket holders and other fans who’ve made a habit of making donations and winning Wolves specialty jerseys over the years know that Moritz has a habit of hiding “easter eggs” in her designs – flourishes that go undetected from your seat in the stands or in front of the TV, but become apparent once you win the jersey and hold it in your hands. That’s the case again this year. “It’s a little bit of a reward to the people who do take the time to bid on the jerseys and get involved with the charities,” Moritz said. “Because, behind all this, it’s all for charity.” “She sees it as a privilege to design them,” Mahoney said. “Her designs have such attention to detail. I think it’s a really cool, strong jersey.”


50 off %

* · CLOTHING

· SHOES · ACCESSORIES · BED & BATH

Mon., Jan. 19 9am to 9pm

*See store for details.

Save up to 30% when you donate! Ask for your Donor Appreciation Card today! New Year, New You! Savers has everything you need to start the New Year right! Designer label and name brand clothing, housewares, furniture, books, toys and more! After you stock up on great deals, donate the items you no longer need at Savers!

Donations Benefit:

Arlington Heights 780 W Dundee Rd • Carol Stream 1231 N Gary Ave Crystal Lake 230 W Virginia St • Downers Grove 2900 Highland Ave Franklin Park 10205 W Grand Ave • Glenview 9840 Milwaukee Ave – Unit A Hoffman Estates 26 Golf Center • Naperville 204 South Route 59 • Orland Park 15625 94th Ave JOIN THE CLUB See store for details!

INDOOR KART RACING

LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE

GREAT FAMILY FUN! K1SPEED.com

SKYBOX BAR AND GRILL

MEETING ROOMS

CATERING

AUTHENTIC ATMOSPHERE

2381 W Army Trail Road, Addison, IL 60101, (630) 433-3700 301 Hastings Dr, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089, (847) 941-9400

AZ - PHOENIX, CA - CARLSBAD . IRVINE . ANAHEIM . TORRANCE . ONTARIO . SANTA CLARA . SAN FRANCISCO . SACRAMENTO FL - FT. LAUDERDALE, IL - BUFFALO GROVE . ADDISON, TX - AUSTIN . HOUSTON . SAN ANTONIO . DALLAS, WA - SEATTLE35


Breathe easier about lung cancer. Get a low-dose CT scan at NCH. A national trial* demonstrated a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality among current or former heavy smokers when cancer was detected by a low-dose CT scan versus a chest x-ray. The screening is quick and painless. And it’s only $99. So your wallet can breathe easier too. Request your screening today. Call 847-618-3700.

nch.org/lung

*National Lung Cancer Screening Trial, American College of Radiology Imaging Network and National Cancer Institute, November 2010


GAME TIME

WHAT'S THE DIFF?

TIC-TAC-TOE

Can you find the 10 differences in the two photos below?

Challenge your friends and family! Three in a row wins!

DO YOU KNOW A SPECIAL HOCKEY MOM? To nominate a mom for the Little Debbie速 Hockey Mom of the Month, visit ChicagoWolves.com/HockeyMom or the Customer Service Booth.

37


JOIN FOR FREE! ROOkIE mEmbERshIp INcludEs:

• •

One free ticket tO a select game autOgraphs frOm skates and a WOlves player

bEcOmE aN all-staR! fOr Only $9.95, upgrade tO the all-star membership tO receive everything in the rOOkie membership, plus: • free ticket tO One game each mOnth • invitatiOn tO party With the players • Official skates mates t-shirt • chance tO take a shOt On skates 1415-S&W_Breakaway_Half.pdf

1

12/22/14

10:17 AM

fOr mOre details Or tO sign up, visit chicagOWOlves.cOm/skatesmates

away_Quarter.indd 1

9/15/14 4:38 PM

WIN A PLAYER’S GAME-WORN JERSEY!

PROCEEDS BENEFIT

AVAILABLE AT THE CHICAGO WOLVES CHARITIES TABLE IN THE SOUTHEAST LOBBY BEHIND SECTION 116


GAME TIME

NEW YEAR’S WORD SEARCH A Y R A U N A J F A

C L O R A E U A I R

R N W O D T N U O C

P A R A D E O R G I

S A D F A M I L Y T

Fireworks Kiss Candles Family Party

S E R N E T S L R A

K S I T E N E E O I

Search for all the words below by looking in the grid forward, backward, up, down, and diagonally. When you find one, circle it and cross it off the list!

R C D R Y L M T I O

O E F N O I A K N O

W L S F E M K C D R

Friends Memories Celebration Father Time Resolution

E E N O U I E I M E

R B O A L F R M S N

I R I T E U S F R S

F A T H E R T I M E

Hats Midnight Confetti Noisemakers Toast

T T I I S F A I T L

M I D N I G H T O D

H O A F E K N C A N

A N R I N D L A S A

I T T E F N O C T C

January Calendar Countdown Parade Traditions

See how many words you can make out of HAPPY NEW YEAR!

LITTLE DEBBIE® HOCKEY MOM OF THE MONTH

NICOLE LOVETT HOMETOWN: NEW LENOX, IL | CLUB TEAM: SABRES HOCKEY To nominate a mom for the Little Debbie® Hockey Mom of the Month, visit ChicagoWolves.com/HockeyMom or the Customer Service Booth.

39


AUTOGRAPHS

PHILIP

M c RAE H: 6-2 W: 196 BORN: 03.15.90 HOMETOWN: MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE


Š 2014 Oldemark LLC



Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.