Breakaway Magazine - Volume 13 - Issue 2

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHICAGO WOLVES

VOL. 13 ISSUE 2

THE HAPPY CAPTAIN ANDREW POTURALSKI’S SMILE CONCEALS AN IRON WILL

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AWAY

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ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL. DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR BROADCASTS, CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS. ALL GAMES AVAILABLE ON AHLTV.COM

CHICAGO WOLVES 2021-22 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE SATURDAY, NOV. 20

SATURDAY, FEB. 12

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

• RED KETTLE GAME, PRESENTED BY SALVATION ARMY • ADOPT-A-DOG NIGHT, PRESENTED BY PREMIER VETERINARY GROUP

• STAR WARS NIGHT • ADOPT-A-DOG NIGHT, PRESENTED BY PREMIER VETERINARY GROUP

• SALUTE TO MILITARY FAMILIES, PRESENTED BY KIA • YEAR-END MERCHANDISE SALE

SATURDAY, NOV. 27 • POSTGAME SKATE

SATURDAY, FEB. 19

SUNDAY, APRIL 3

• FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP NIGHT • SALVATION ARMY DAY OF SERVICE

• SKATES MATES KIDS CLUB SLAPSHOT SUNDAY, PRESENTED BY RAISING CANE’S

SUNDAY, FEB. 20

• WOLVES GOALIE MASK BANK GIVEAWAY, COURTESY OF MY50 CHICAGO

SATURDAY, DEC. 18 • SUPERHERO NIGHT • WOLVES WALL CALENDAR GIVEAWAY, PRESENTED BY ROSE PEST SOLUTIONS • ADOPT-A-DOG NIGHT, PRESENTED BY PREMIER VETERINARY GROUP • CHICAGO WOLVES BLOOD DRIVE WITH VITALANT • SKATES MATES KIDS CLUB SLAPSHOT SATURDAY, PRESENTED BY RAISING CANE’S

SATURDAY, JAN. 1 • CHICAGO NEW YEAR’S CLASSIC, PRESENTED BY PLANET FITNESS

SATURDAY, JAN. 8

• PRIDE DAY

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 • WOLVES SNOW GLOBE GIVEAWAY, COURTESY OF JEWEL • ADOPT-A-DOG NIGHT, PRESENTED BY PREMIER VETERINARY GROUP • POSTGAME SKATE

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

• ADOPT-A-DOG NIGHT, PRESENTED BY PREMIER VETERINARY GROUP

• ST. PATRICK’S DAY JERSEYS, PRESENTED BY JEWEL-OSCO, BENEFITING EASTERSEALS METROPOLITAN CHICAGO

FRIDAY, JAN. 28

SUNDAY, MARCH 13

• HEALTHCARE HEROES JERSEYS, PRESENTED BY TURTLE WAX

• ST. PATRICK’S DAY JERSEYS, PRESENTED BY JEWEL-OSCO, BENEFITING EASTERSEALS METROPOLITAN CHICAGO

SATURDAY, JAN. 29

SATURDAY, APRIL 9 SATURDAY, APRIL 23 • FIRST RESPONDERS NIGHT, PRESENTED BY TURTLE WAX • ADOPT-A-DOG NIGHT, PRESENTED BY PREMIER VETERINARY GROUP

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 • WOLVES TRADING CARDS, PRESENTED BY VIENNA BEEF

EVERY WEEKNIGHT • CRAFT BEER NIGHT

EVERY SUNDAY • PAPA JOHN’S FAMILY SUNDAYS

• HEALTHCARE HEROES JERSEYS, PRESENTED BY TURTLE WAX

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 1-800-THE-WOLVES (800-843-9658), VISIT CHICAGOWOLVES.COM OR VISIT US DURING THE GAME AT THE TICKET TABLE BEHIND SECTION 109

18

THE HAPPY CAPTAIN OPERATIONS Courtney Mahoney Dan Harris Imran Javed Troy Mueller Ross Dettman Mark Abernethy Ron Storto Jason Shaver Bill Gardner Gabriel McDonagh Lindsey Willhite Samantha Cobb Andrew Gallagher Gabby Hogan Leo Theodore Alli Vellucci Tristen Wilbers Austin Zima

President of Operations Senior Director of Operations Digital Content Manager Creative Services Manager Team Photographer Marketing Executive TV Producer Play by Play Announcer Color Analyst Production Assistant Director of Public Relations Media Relations Coordinator Community Relations Coordinator Community Relations Coordinator Mascot Coordinator Social Media Coordinator Motion Designer Graphic Designer

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

FRONT OFFICE & HOCKEY OPERATIONS

Jon Sata Kevin Dooley Greg Sprott Jackie Schroeder

Seth Gold Wayne Messmer Norine Gillner

Stefanie Evans Eric Zavilla Tim Weaver Pawel Sienko Brett Bennick Chris Friederich Mike Jucaban Leslie Metcalf Anissa Patterson Colette Hankin Nick Aikman Brett Bavcevic Joshua Katz Abigail Kruzel Spencer Lhotka Kevin Horan Jake Schneider

President of Business Operations Sr. Executive Director of Ticket Sales Sr. Director of Partnership Sales Sr. Director of Ticket Retention and Services Sr. Director of Program Development Executive Director of Ticket Sales and Retention Sr. Manager of Partnerships and Media Sales Sales Development Manager Client Services Manager, Partnerships Partnerships Sales Executive E-Business Specialist B2B and Group Event Specialist Client Services Coordinator, Partnerships Sales and Services Coordinatoror Account Executive Group Sales Account Executive Group Sales Account Executive Group Sales Account Executive Account Executive: Group Sales and Youth Hockey Inside Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative

Director Senior Executive Vice President Hockey Operations Assistant

MEDICAL STAFF Scott Logue, MD A.J. Acierno, DDS

Team Physician/Orthopedics Team Dentist Jolie Holschen Caravello, MDEmergency Medicine/Sports Medicine David Hamming, MD Serafin DeLeon, MD

GAMEDAY STAFF Chris Dubiel Brittney Hillebrand

Public Address Announcer In-Arena Host

Nick Alaimo, Tommy Acierno, Ivanne Bandera, Gianna Belcastro, Danielle Biewald, Stephanie Breakey, Ben Campbell, Joe Capozzi, Anthony Chicalace, Morgan Chicalace, Maggie Christy, Tyler Cristofaro, Nate DeBolt, Ian Dwyer, Rebecca Erken, Hailey Falat, Lily Freedman, Tom Fumagalli, Matt Glavach, Peter Gniech, Jessica Golden, Jessica Gonzalez, Alex Gordon, Christopher Jackson, Nolan Kacer, Steve Laures, Alexia Matthews, Jon Midlock, Esmeralda Natividad, Seth Novoselsky, Kelly O’Connor, CJ Reif, Justin Sata Lauren Stoeck, Kelly Tragas, Dean Valera, Alex Vara, Jillian Windbiel

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

Editorial Producer: Courtney Mahoney Publication Writer: Lindsey Willhite Publication Photographer: Ross Dettman Publication Designers: Christina Moritz, Morgan Prato Creative Support: Imran Javed, Troy Mueller

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  1

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SECTION 109 OR SIGN UP ONLINE AT CHICAGOWOLVES.COM/SKATESMATES

2021-2022 SEASON

Dear Fans, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2021-22 American Hockey League season, the latest chapter in a tradition of excellence that can be traced back more than eight decades.

SCOTT HOWSON PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

We’re thrilled to have 31 teams back on the ice this fall, and we’re especially excited to have our passionate fans back to cheer on our players inside arenas across North America. Our clubs remain dedicated to ensuring everyone’s health and safety, allowing us to continue our role as the top development league for nearly all of the players, coaches, executives, trainers, broadcasters and officials in the National Hockey League today.

On behalf of all of our teams across the United States and Canada, thank you for your continuing support of the AHL, and I will see you at the rink.

Sincerely,

SCOTT HOWSON PRESIDENT & CEO | AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  3

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Michigan City

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Classic Kia

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Bob Rohrman Schaumburg Kia

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2022 Sorento SX Prestige with X-Line AWD package shown with optional features.

Not all optional features available on all trims. Quantities limited. Professional driver on a closed course. Do not attempt.

WOLVES HIS TORY // FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS // The Chicago Wolves are extremely proud of their four league championships.

They’re a testament to the vision of Wolves founders Don Levin and Buddy Meyers and their willingness to provide the resources and support necessary to try to win it all every year.

They’re a tribute to the ability of the Hockey Operations Department, led for 12 years by general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, to find great players all over the world and bring them together in Chicago.

They’re proof of longtime head coach John Anderson’s tactical excellence during games — and how his choice to treat his players like men instead of machines brought out the best in them.

Most important, the four league championships are a lasting monument to all of the Wolves players who dedicated their lives to the pursuit of excellence.

While no championship happens without countless years of toil and sweat, all that work culminates in a specific day when the final series is won and the Cup is finally lifted toward the sky. These are the four dates when the Wolves woke up with high expectations and went to bed (eventually) as champions!

1998 TURNER CUP FINALS: GAME 7 //

Monday, June 15 • Rosemont Horizon • vs. Detroit Vipers One night after Michael Jordan sank a last-second jumper in Utah to set off the Bulls’ sixth NBA championship celebration in eight seasons, Chicago’s eyes turned toward the Wolves as they tried to secure the franchise’s first International Hockey League title.

Considering the Wolves and the Vipers had three days between Games 6 and 7 to allow their emotions and their nerves to build, both teams were particularly on edge while more than 16,000 revved-up fans filed into the arena.

The fireworks started just as warmups ended. Detroit tough guy Andy Bezeau, as he headed off the ice, fired a puck into the Wolves net while goaltender Stephane Beauregard was still there. That drew the ire of Wolves backup goaltender (now general manager) Wendell Young and others, which led to a brawl at the west end of the rink as players from both teams left the locker room to return to the ice and exchange blows. The Rosemont police had to break up the melee, which delayed the start of the game.

When play finally began, the tension built to a nearly unbearable level as neither team scored during the opening 40 minutes.

But early in the third period, defenseman Bob Nardella raced down the slot and flipped a shot that Vipers goaltender Jeff Reese steered into the corner. Nardella chased down the rebound and centered it quickly to Chris Marinucci for a redirect that gave the Wolves the lead with 14:56 to play. Postseason MVP Alexander Semak added two insurance goals and Beauregard rejected all 29 shots he faced to wrap up a 3-0 win and set off a wild celebration in Rosemont.

“I JUST REMEMBER STEPHANE BEAUREGARD COMING IN (TO THE DRESSING ROOM AFTER THE FIGHT) AND HE WAS OUR GOALIE THAT NIGHT & HE SAID, ‘THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE PISSED ME OFF.’ ”

— Wolves defenseman Bob Nardella

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  5

2000 TURNER CUP FINALS: GAME 6 //

Monday, June 5 • Van Andel Arena • at Grand Rapids Griffins After producing the IHL’s best record and scoring the most goals during the 1999-2000 regular season, the Wolves were favored to win their second championship in three years. But the Griffins, who posted the league’s second-best record, didn’t make it easy on their rivals.

The Wolves had a chance to wrap up the title in Game 5 and a franchise-record 18,412 wins showed up at Allstate Arena to watch it happen, but Grand Rapids spoiled the party with a 6-4 win. That forced the Wolves (and a bunch of their fans) to make the three-hour drive to Grand Rapids for Game 6.

The Griffins drew a sellout crowd of their own and the hosts rode their energy to a scoreless draw through the first 20 minutes, but then late-season acquisition Derek Plante swung into action.

Plante slapped home a loose puck at 6:54 for the game’s first goal, then added another just 26 seconds later when goaltender Jani Hurme was wiped out of the play because a Griffins defender threw Wolves center Guy Larose into Hurme.

Grand Rapids sliced the Wolves’ lead to 2-1 by the end of the second period, but All-Star center Chris Marinucci gave Chicago some breathing room with an unassisted goal at 12:25 of the third.

Goaltender Andrei Trefilov took it from there — finishing with 26 saves to earn his third win of the Finals as well as the Most Valuable Player honors.

2002 CALDER CUP FINALS: GAME 5 //

Monday, June 3 • Allstate Arena • vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers Though the final result couldn’t have been any sweeter, the Wolves’ shift from the International Hockey League to the American Hockey League didn’t always go as smoothly as everyone hoped.

The Wolves needed extra time to blend their legendary veterans with the Atlanta Thrashers’ promising youngsters, which meant the team settled for the Western Conference’s seventh seed and had to win a best-of-three qualifying round just to get to the quarterfinals.

Chicago went the distance in each of its first three playoff series, but needed just five games to dispatch Houston in the Western Conference Finals to set up a shot at a Calder Cup. More than 15,000 fans turned out to see whether the Wolves would wrap up the title in Game 5.

The crowd’s roars got progressively louder as Wolves all-time leading scorer Steve Maltais produced two goals in the first eight minutes and added a third at 3:07 of the second. Not only did that stake the Wolves to a 3-0 lead, it inspired dozens of fans to fling their hats to the ice. But Bridgeport rallied to score three goals in the second period to pull even.

The suspense kept building as Wolves goalie Pasi Nurminen and Sound Tigers goalie Rick DiPietro didn’t allow any more goals for more than 40 minutes. Then Wolves forward J.P. Vigier raced up the left wing and sauced a perfect pass ahead to Yuri Butsayev, who spied open space between DiPietro’s skates and made history in the second overtime.

2008 CALDER CUP FINALS: GAME 6 //

Tuesday, June 10 • Allstate Arena • vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins John Anderson’s 2007-08 Wolves were dominant from Day 1. Six weeks into the season, they owned a 13-0-1 record and wound up with the Western Conference’s best record.

It’s hard to imagine anyone in the organization doubted the team’s worthiness to be a champion, especially after taking the first three games of the Calder Cup Finals against Wilkes-Barres/ Scranton by a combined 15-6 margin. But when the Penguins rallied to take Games 4 and 5, it added a little bit of tension to Game 6 in Rosemont.

The Wolves raced to a 2-0 lead as defenseman Nathan Oystrick whistled home a power-play goal and Jason Krog buried a bad Penguins pass into the back of the net. But Wilkes-Barre/Scranton made it 2-2 after two periods.

That’s when the Wolves’ overwhelming skill took over again. Jesse Schultz led a 2-on-2 rush but, instead of feeding the puck ahead to Darren Haydar, he spotted Krog open trailing the play and the league MVP wristed it home from the faceoff dot for a 3-2 lead 4:44 into the third.

Then defenseman Arturs Kulda lobbed a pass 100 feet ahead to Krog, who was waiting alone at the blue line. He zipped a forehand past goaltender John Curry with 4:37 left in regulation to complete his hat trick and send the crowd into hysterics. When Brett Sterling stuffed home a rebound with 2:18 remaining, everyone knew the Wolves’ fourth championship was in the bag.

6

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BE SOCIAL.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD / GOVERNOR

/ DON LEVIN //

founded DRL Enterprises, Inc., in 1969. The Glenview-based 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 since the franchise’s inception. Levin donates his time and energy extensively and serves on the board of directors for several charitable organizations.

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 20 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.

VICE CHAIRMAN

/ BUDDY MEYERS // a principal owner of the Wolves who founded the franchise with Don Levin and Grant Mulvey in January 1994, has been involved in the world of hockey for more than 45 years. He is a former certified agent of the National Hockey League Players’ Association and is 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.

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.

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#WEARETHEWOLVES

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.

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GENERAL MANAGER

/ WENDELL YOUNG // is in his 13th season as the Chicago Wolves general manager. Since being hired as GM in August 2009, the Wolves have compiled a .597 regular-season winning percentage and captured seven division titles: the 2010 West, 2012 Midwest, 2014 Midwest, 2017 Central, 2018 Central, 2019 Central and 2021 Central. The Wolves also reached the 2019 Calder Cup Finals.

Young has been a member of the Wolves organization in virtually every capacity – 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.

The 58-year-old 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.

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER

/ BILL BENTLEY // is in his 13th season as the Chicago Wolves assistant general manager and stands as one of a handful of people who has been a part of the organization since the team’s inception in 1994. Bentley has been instrumental in the hockey operations department for more than 15 years, which includes all four seasons that ended with a championship.

The Chicago native joined the organization as a statistician in 1994 and was promoted to team services manager a year later. The 50-year-old 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.

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.

SENIOR ADVISOR / DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS

/ GENE UBRIACO //

who has been with the Wolves since the franchise’s inception in 1994, is in his 25th season as the team’s director of hockey operations and 13th as senior advisor.

Ubriaco was hired in 1994 as the Wolves’ first head coach and guided the expansion team to a 34-33-14 record and a berth in the 1995 Turner Cup playoffs.

“Ubie” began his coaching career at Lake Superior State University in 1972-73. Four years later, he led the Milwaukee Admirals to the Turner Cup playoffs to become the first International Hockey League coach to lead an expansion team into the postseason.

In 1988-89, Ubriaco moved on to the National Hockey League to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins. Under his tutelage, the Penguins shattered several team records and advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a seven-year absence. Ubriaco gained international coaching experience by heading up the Italian Olympic Team during the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France.

The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native also played professional hockey for 10 years, which included three seasons in the NHLwith the Pittsburgh Penguins, Oakland Seals and Chicago Blackhawks. He posted 39 goals and 35 assists in 177 NHL games.

10

#WEARETHEWOLVES

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

FEATURED TO HEAR WOLVES FORWARD DAVID GUST TELL THE STORY, he has

I’m a football player!’ But I went and put on some rental skates and Mike said, ‘Just stand by the net and don’t fall on any of the kids.’”

loved hockey since he was a preschooler in south suburban Orland Park — when he’d visit his buddy James Bonaguro and try this game that nobody in his family had experienced before.

“Me and my neighbor were attached at the hip,” David said. “His cousin would always come over and we would play hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey. I would say I was probably 2 or 3 years old.”

IT’S A HOMETOWN HOCKEY AFFAIR FOR THE GUST FAMILY

Those street hockey experiences inspired David to go to Orland Park Ice Arena for Learn To Skate and Introduction to Hockey sessions — and that went great, too.

(Here’s where we’ll let David’s father, Dave, pick up the story.

Dave Gust, by the way, wasn’t a hockey guy — he was a football player. To be specific, he was a 6-foot-3, 295-pound offensive lineman who lettered for three years at Northern Illinois University in the mid-80s.)

“David was having a blast,” Dave said. “He was skating well and progressing along. He was loving it. And at some point he goes, ‘Dad, I wanna get on a team.’ So we signed him up for house league. So it’s the first weekend of house league. We go there, he goes to his pre-hockey session before the team practice, skates around, has a good time, gets off the ice.

“It’s time for him to go out for the team practice and he just cries. As a parent, you start by telling him, ‘Oh, go on out. Have a good time.’ So the first week, we tried the nice approach.

But he just cried. The second week, we tried bribery with ice cream or whatever. That didn’t work. The third week, we tried threatening him. That didn’t work.

“So then Mike Barrett, the guy who was coaching the team, says, ‘Hey, will you come on the ice if your dad comes out here?’ He goes, ‘Yeah!’ And I look at him and go, ‘I can’t skate.

hockey player might need to succeed.

David (and Kara) couldn’t have been happier. Two or three days a week, they’d rush from school to the rink to get in an extra hour of time with coach Darren McCluskey. David would follow that with his team’s practice. Then, after a break for homework and dinner at home, he’d strap on his roller blades to do more shooting on his family’s backyard Sport Court.

“I just loved it,” David said. “A lot of fun times.”

David and Kara both worked their way up the ladder. David competed for the AA Vikings and the AAA Chill and Fury before being picked in the USHL Draft and playing for the Fargo Force.

Kara played for the Chill, Fury and Mission before landing at Ohio State University, which inspired David to play at Ohio State.

Now in his fifth season as a pro, 27-year-old David has found a home with the Wolves — which allows his family and friends to see his games much more easily. The Gusts were in the stands on Oct. 23 and Oct. 27 when David delivered highlight goals to spark Wolves victories.

“He can put the puck in the net, that’s for sure,” said Wolves head coach Ryan Warsofsky. “He’s a very, positive upbeat guy, so he’s very good for the younger players. He has carved out a nice little path for himself.”

“HEY, WILL YOU COME ON THE ICE IF YOUR DAD COMES OUT HERE?” 12

#WEARETHEWOLVES

From there, David and his family fell hard for hockey.

David’s older sister, Kara, started playing because she saw how much fun her brother was having. Their parents, Dave and Kelly, saw their love of the game and decided to purchase Orland Park Ice Arena.

Rechristened Arctic Ice Arena, the Gusts added a third sheet of ice, a restaurant, a stateof-the-art training center and, really, anything that a

WHO WANTS TO PARTY IN THE ONLY ICE-LEVEL HOSPITALITY SPACE IN CHICAGO SPORTS? AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 1-800-THE-WOLVES (800-843-9658), VISIT CHICAGOWOLVES.COM OR VISIT US DURING THE GAME AT THE TICKET TABLE BEHIND SECTION 109

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/ MEET THE WOLVES //

2

4

5

D // ERIC GELINAS

D // JOEY KEANE

8

9

H: 6-4 W: 220 May 8, 1991 Vanier, Ontario

D // MAX LAJOIE

H: 6-1 W: 190 Nov. 5, 1997 Quebec City, Quebec

H: 6-1 W: 185 July 2, 1999 Chicago, Illinois

LW // C.J. SMITH

H: 5-11 W: 183 Dec. 1, 1994 Des Moines, Iowa

6

D // JALEN CHATFIELD H: 6-1 W: 196 May 15, 1996 Ypsilanti, Michigan

12

RW // STELIO MATTHEOS

7

C // RYAN SUZUKI H: 6-1 W: 190 May 28, 2001 London, Ontario

15

C // JACK DRURY

H: 6-1 W: 200 June 14, 1999 Winnipeg, Manitoba

H: 6-0 W: 185 Feb. 3, 2000 Winnetka, Illinois

LW // DAVID COTTON H: 6-3 W: 190 July 9, 1997 Parker, Texas

17

C // MAXIM LETUNOV H: 6-3 W: 186 Feb. 20, 1996 Moscow, Russia

/ HOCKEY OPERATIONS //

KEVIN KACER

RYAN SHOUFER

STAN DUBICKI

LESTER TIU

Head Athletic Trainer

Equipment Manager

Goaltending Coach

Assistant Equipment Manager

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 15

PRESENTED BY

PROCEEDS BENEFIT

VISIT THE CHICAGO WOLVES CHARITIES TABLE BEHIND SECTION 105 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THE CHANCE TO WIN!

/ MEET THE WOLVES //

18

20

F // SPENCER SMALLMAN

D // CAVAN FITZGERALD

26

27

H: 6-1 W: 200 Sept. 9, 1996 Summerside, Prince Edward Island

C // JAMIESON REES

H: 5-10 W: 182 Feb. 26, 2001 Hamilton, Ontario

34 G // ALEX LYON

H: 6-1 W: 201 Dec. 9, 1992 Baudette, Minnesota

H: 6-1 W: 200 Aug. 23, 1996 Boston, Massachusetts

RW // DAVID GUST

H: 5-10 W: 175 Feb. 21, 1994 Orland Park, Illinois

35 G // EETU MAKINIEMI H: 6-3 W: 195 April 19, 1999 Vantaa, Finland

22 C // ANDREW POTURALSKI

H: 5-10 W: 185 Jan. 14, 1994 Williamsville, New York

28 D // JOSH JACOBS

H: 6-2 W: 220 Feb. 15, 1996 Shelby Township, Michigan

36 F // KYLE MARINO

H: 6-3 W: 225 June 1, 1995 Niagara Falls, Ontario

23

24

RW // STEFAN NOESEN H: 6-1 W: 207 Feb. 12, 1993 Plano, Texas

29

D // ARTYOM SERIKOV H: 6-1 W: 203 Dec. 28, 2000 Dmitrov, Russia

32

LW // DOMINIK BOKK

H: 6-1 W: 190 Feb. 3, 2000 Schweinfurt, Germany

D // JESPER SELLGREN

H: 5-11 W: 186 June 11, 1998 Ornskoldsvik, Sweden

37 LW // SAM MILETIC H: 6-1 W: 196 May 4, 1997 Detroit, Michigan

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 17

TH H C

HE HAPPY CAPTAIN

BY LINDSEY WILLHITE

PHOTOS BY ROSS DETTMAN

ANDREW POTURALSKI’S SMILE CONCEALS AN IRON WILL

CHICAGO WOLVES CAPTAIN ANDREW POTURALSKI BOASTS A BEAUTIFUL SET OF TEETH. How do we know?

Because he displays them all the time.

Judging by the pictures on his Instagram account (@apots94), the 27-year-old Buffalo, New York, resident lives his best life every day. There he is smiling with his bride, Haley, on vacation.

He’s grinning with his golf buddies on one of their trips to a Top 100 course. He’s beaming over the latest big fish he landed.

He’s cheesing while holding the 2019 Calder Cup aloft.

There he is at the zoo. Attending a Buffalo Bills game.

Courtside at a Charlotte Hornets game. Modeling inspired Halloween costumes with Haley. Smile. Smile. Smile. Smile.

But he’s not a carefully curated social media creation. During a recent 40-minute conversation, Poturalski smiled virtually the entire time as he shared stories of his life. When the American Hockey League’s Player of the Month for October flashes those pearly whites, you can’t help but smile along.

“He’s always super-optimistic about things,” said Haley, who has been together with Andrew since they met in 2009 at the prestigious Maria Love Charity Ball for Buffalo-area high school students. “It’s a nice balance in our relationship because I like to think he calms me down when we have a lot

of things going on. He’s always in a good mood and smiling.

That’s for sure his personality.”

Poturalski’s perpetual good mood helps explain why Wolves head coach Ryan Warsofsky decided he’d make the perfect captain for this year’s team.

(To be fair, it also helped that Poturalski is really, really good at hockey. In 2016 during his sophomore year at the University of New Hampshire, he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award that goes to the nation’s best college player. When his Charlotte Checkers defeated the Wolves in the 2019 Calder Cup Finals, he won the Jack A. Butterfield Award that goes to the postseason Most Valuable Player. He led the AHL in points last year while playing for the San Diego Gulls and opened this season by scoring 14 points in six October games — three more points than any other AHL player.)

“He’s got that personality that people want to be around him,” Warsofsky said. “They want to golf with him. They want to go out to dinner with him. They want to be friends with him and see what he’s all about. He’s a good person who lives the same way off the ice as he does on the ice. He’s a good role model for these younger players.”

Many of his teammates happily spent part of their day off Nov. 3 sharing in the gender reveal for the Poturalskis’ first child. Andrew teed up a tricked-up golf ball that, when he hit it with his driver, revealed that they’ll be expecting a boy on Easter Sunday. Haley jumped for joy while nearly every Wolves player smiled while taping the event on their phone.

“That’s the most nervous I’ve been over a tee shot,” Andrew said. “It was awesome to have all of the boys there as well. I had my pro from my course back home text me and say my swing looks good. It was a special moment.

We’re pumped.”

It’s the first grandchild on both sides of the family — and they all live within 15 minutes of each other in the Buffalo area.

“Our parents are super-excited,” Haley said.

A TOP 100

In the middle of summer, Andrew P booked a golf trip to Wisconsin.

Why there? Because the land of beer bunch of great golf courses — and the challenge of playing any of Golf Diges

“It’s like an ongoing joke,” Poturalski s friends whenever they invite me somew But it’s obviously fun to knock them off

In July, he and his friends played Whistl (site of the recent Ryder Cup), Erin Hills Milwaukee Country Club and Blackwolf R That knocked four Top 100s off his list.

In 2019, he and his father-in-law (Buffalo attorney John Fromen) and several friend flew to Northern California to play Pebble Cypress Point, Spyglass and more. Last ye Fromen took Poturalski to play Shinnecock

Throw in a visit to Oakmont here, a visit to Pi there and Poturalski has enjoyed the opportu more than a dozen of the Top 100. Oh, he also two Buffalo-area country clubs: Crag Burn Golf and Buffalo Country Club.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Poturalski

If Baby Poturalski retains Andrew’s traits, then we’ve already established he might become the smilingest baby in North America. But here’s something we haven’t shared with you yet: He might also become the most competitive baby in North America.

Behind Andrew’s smile is a will of iron. Whether it’s because he’s listed at 5-foot-10 in a sport that treasures bigger forwards — or because he just hates to lose —the Wolves captain never lacks for motivation to excel.

Jake Rosen, whose father is best friends with Haley’s father, is one of Andrew’s best buddies from Buffalo.

They grew up playing hockey together, they’ve spent a lot of time working out together, they’ve taken golf trips all over the States together in order to tackle the nation’s best courses. In short, he knows Andrew — and Chicagoans know well the person Andrew reminds him of.

“Did you watch the ‘Last Dance?’ ” Rosen said. “He has that Michael Jordan type of competitiveness where he’s got to win all the time. He’s the most competitive person I’ve met in my entire life. But that’s why he is where he is, right? That’s why he’s so successful. I really admire that about him.

Sometimes it drives me nuts. It’s not a normal thing that people have, but it’s amazing.

Haley confirms Jake’s take.

20

#WEARETHEWOLVES

“I have to say I’m a hockey player with a golf problem, for sure,” Andrew said with a laugh.

“I’ve always had a passion for golf.

My mom would always take me to the course and drop me off as a kid. We’d play our town muni and have fun. Once I started playing pro and I could afford a country club, I joined country club. That’s where the addiction kind of star

“We have a pretty good crew of pro hockey players in Nick DeSimone (Calgary), Cole Schneider (Milwaukee’s Dennis Gilbert (Colorado) and a couple of our other frie played Division 3. We all joined the same club at the sam so it was usually workout, skate and then we’d go right t course every day. We had a really good group, so it got fu

For Poturalski, fun means excelling at the game. Longtim friend Jake Rosen, who owns a 2.7 handicap and was part Wisconsin and Pebble Beach golf trips, declares “Pots” to better than him.

“He shot a 67 at the District championship this year,” Rosen said. “He hits the ball 340 yards off the tee.”

To put that into perspective, 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau led the PGA Tour in driving distance this year wit 323.7-yard average. So…is Poturalski a scratch golfer?

“I like to say I’m anywhere from a 2 to a 3,” he said with anothe laugh. “Depends who’s asking, though. If we’re playing for money, I’ll say I’m a 3. If not, maybe a little lower.”

Poturalski and three buddies

r and cheese also boasts a e Wolves captain LOVES the st’s Top 100 courses.

said. “I’ll always say to my where, “Is it a Top 100?’ f the list.”

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“I HAVE TO SAY I’M A HOCKEY PLAYER WITH A GOLF PROBLEM, FOR SURE.”

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BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  21

@APOTS94 22

#WEARETHEWOLVES

“That’s the top trait I would describe him as,” she said. “He’s just so competitive and he strives in everything he does to be the best. With golf. With fishing. With anything. I’m actually pretty competitive, too, and it’s funny. We’ll go mini-golf or do other things I’ll try to beat him at, but he’s just good at everything. I don’t mean to pump his tires and grow his head a little bit bigger, but he’s just super-competitive. He’ll work at something until he’s the best.

“HE HAS THAT MICHAEL JORDAN TYPE OF COMPETITIVENESS WHERE HE’S GOT TO WIN ALL THE TIME.” “I was beating him at Scrabble for two years. But the more we played, the more he started to pick things up and now he’s starting to beat me. That was, like, my only thing I had over him.”

That’s why he spent the summer training not just like a hockey player, but like an Olympic sprinter. In addition to his usual work with trainer Trevor Taggart at Cutting Edge Sports Training in suburban Buffalo, he reconnected with David Ellis, a sprint coach he met in Charlotte.

“He helped me a ton working on my sprinting form and firing the proper muscles,” Andrew said. “When I would sprint before, I would run how I skate — and technically my form wasn’t great.

At first, I was really quad-dominant. But then you get your glutes and your hamstrings firing and that generates more power. I saw huge gains in my speed and in my form.”

Andrew also worked with Buffalo trainer Rich Gicewicz, the father of one of his best friends. Gicewicz transformed himself from a walk-on tight end at Michigan State into time with some NFL teams, so he understands athletes like Andrew who go undrafted and overlooked but refuse to accept limits.

Perhaps Andrew has been memorizing dictionaries in his spare time in order to improve?

“We did a lot of agility and speed work on the turf with him,” Andrew said. “Pretty much all of my workouts this summer were tailored to speed and footwork instead of lifting weights.

I figured, I’m 27. I’m strong enough to play at this level. At the NHL level, it’s all about getting faster.

“Maybe,” Haley allowed. “Who knows? But he always has to be the best.”

“I didn’t tell the Canes or anyone that I was doing this. But as soon as I got to training camp, they noticed.”

This, of course, applies to hockey, too. Remember, this is a guy who scored 43 points in 44 games last season to win the AHL’s scoring title. And a guy who produced 12 goals and 11 assists in 18 postseason games — most of them while playing with a broken foot — to win the 2019 AHL postseason MVP award. He has accomplished plenty. He could prepare the same way every season and remain ahead of his AHL peers.

Warsofsky certainly did.

But Andrew has only two NHL appearances (both with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2016-17 season) on his resume.

While he’s plenty interested in leading the Wolves to another Calder Cup, he also wants another NHL chance.

“His speed has really improved since he was at Charlotte,” Warsofsky said. You can see the difference in his skating and his speed and his play away from the puck. He really stuck out in training camp.”

And Andrew has carried it over into the AHL season. In the Wolves’ first six games, the team’s top-line center piled up five goals and nine assists to earn AHL Player of the Week and Player of the Month honors.

“It’s good to see the hard work pay off,” Andrew said.

Then he smiled. What else would you expect him to do?

Photo courtesy of Andrew Poturalski

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  23

SAM

MILETIC

THANK YOU FRONTLINE AND HEALTHCARE HEROES

NOMINATE THE

HOMETOWN HERO IN YOUR LIFE TODAY!

Do you know someone who goes beyond the call of duty in your community?

Each Hometown Hero will be recognized prior to select home games and join Wayne Messmer on the ice for the National Anthem.

You can also help support our Hometown Heroes by donating blood at Vitalant Blood Centers. Visit vitalant.org for more information.

CHICAGOWOLVES.COM/HOMETOWNHERO

HEAD COACH

/ RYAN WARSOFSKY // is in his second season as Chicago Wolves head coach after leading the team to the 2021 Central Division title.

The 33-year-old North Marshfield, Massachusetts, native ranks as the American Hockey League’s youngest head coach and launched his coaching career in 2012 at Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts.

After one season as a Curry assistant, Warsofsky became an assistant coach for the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays working with current Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Spencer Carbery. After three years as an assistant, Warsofsky was promoted to head coach and led South Carolina to the Kelly Cup Finals in his first year.

Warsofsky posted an 88-44-10-2 record (.653) in two seasons at South Carolina before joining the Charlotte Checkers prior to the 2018-19 season. Serving as an assistant for Mike Vellucci, Warsofsky helped lead the Checkers to the 2019 Calder Cup championship.

Upon Vellucci’s departure, Warsofsky became Charlotte’s head coach on July 10, 2019, and directed the Checkers to a 34-22-5-0 mark (.598) during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season.

ASSISTANT COACH

/ PATRICK DWYER // is in his second season as a Chicago Wolves assistant coach. He rejoined the organization in Sept.

2020 after serving as the Charlotte Checkers’ assistant alongside Ryan Warsofsky in 2019-20.

Dwyer, 38, is no stranger to the Wolves. Selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft Dwyer graduated from Western Michigan University in 2005 and spent his first full year in professional hockey with the Wolves. The right wing posted 16 goals, 29 assists and a +15 plus/ minus rating during the 2005-06 season. He ranked fifth on head coach John Anderson’s squad with 45 points.

The Spokane, Washington, native then moved to the Carolina Hurricanes organization, where he split the next nine seasons between Carolina and the AHL’s Albany River Rats. Dwyer delivered 42 goals and 51 assists in 416 NHL regular-season games from 2008-15. He added 94 goals and 102 assists in 354 AHL appearances for the Wolves, Albany (2006-10) and the Charlotte Checkers (2016-17).

After wrapping up his professional playing career for the EIHL’s Belfast Giants in 2019, Dwyer launched his coaching career with Charlotte in 2019-20. He helped guide the Checkers to a 3422-5-0 record (.598) and a third-place finish in the AHL’s Atlantic Division.

ASSISTANT COACH

/ BOB NARDELLA // one of the most accomplished players in Chicago Wolves history, was promoted to assistant coach on July 12, 2017, after serving for two seasons as skills development coach and three seasons as a part-time assistant for the franchise. During his four seasons as a full-time assistant, Nardella has helped to lead the Wolves to the 2018, 2019 and 2021 Central Division crowns along with the 2019 Calder Cup Finals.

Nardella ranks second on the team’s all-time regular-season list for games (476), fifth in assists (239) and sixth in points (298) after spending six full and three partial seasons with the Wolves.

He was a key player when Chicago captured the 1998 and 2000 Turner Cups as well as the 2002 Calder Cup. The 53-year-old Melrose Park native made his Wolves debut during the team’s inaugural season in 1994-95. After spending one season in Italy and another in Germany – punctuated by his first of two appearances in the Winter Olympics with Italy’s national team – Nardella returned to the Wolves from 1997 to 2002.

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  27

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BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  29

/ TIM BRESLIN // When the Chicago Wolves began in 1994, the hockey operations department made it top priority to find proven professionals who knew what it took to build a new franchise. Prospective Wolves needed to good on the ice AND in the community — and if they grew up in the Chicago area, even better.

Therefore, it was no surprise when Addison native Tim Breslin, three years of International Hockey League experience on his resume, became one of the first three players signed by the Wolves.

For five years, the versatile forward gave everything he had to the Wolves organization. He stacked up 37 goals and 82 assists in 330 regular-season games — and appeared in 21 of the 22 postseason games when the Wolves seized their first league championship in 1998.

Off the ice, Breslin never passed up a chance to help others. He operated hockey clinics for adults (“Hockey Skilz”) and for children (“Breslin on Blades).” He spoke at libraries, visited hospitals and donated his time freely to raise money for multiple charities. The International Hockey League recognized his efforts by naming Breslin its Man of the Year for the 1996-97 season.

Breslin retired after the 1998-99 season, which enabled him to spend more time with his wife, Jami, and their young children: Shane, Paige and Chase. But in late 2004, he was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer. With unforgiving haste, the cancer spread through his body and claimed his life on Feb. 9, 2005, at the age of 37.

The Chicago hockey community rushed to help the family of the man who had helped so many others. On June 10, 2005, the Wolves alumni team and the Chicago Blackhawks alumni hosted an exhibition game that drew 10,000 fans to Allstate Arena to raise money for the Breslin family.

In addition, the Wolves honored Breslin’s life by creating the Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award — given annually to the Wolves player who best exemplifies his on-ice spirit, team-first attitude and level of community involvement.

TIM BRESLIN UNSUNG HERO AWARD WINNERS: 2019-20: D Jake Bischoff

2015-16: D Andre Benoit

2011-12: D Mark Matheson

2007-08: D Brian Sipotz

2018-19: D Zac Leslie

2014-15: D Brent Regner

2010-11: D Jaime Sifers

2006-07: D Brian Fahey

2017-18: C T.J. Tynan

2013-14: D Brent Regner

2009-10: F Matt Anderson

2005-06: C Kevin Doell

2016-17: F Bryce Gervais

2012-13: F Bill Sweatt

2008-09: C Steve Martins

2004-05: D Tim Wedderburn

/ DAN SNYDER // Dan Snyder joined the Chicago Wolves two years after Breslin retired — arriving just as the Wolves moved from the IHL to the AHL. While Snyder and Breslin didn’t necessarily have matching personalities, they were remarkably similar when it came to being great teammates who also devoted themselves to helping the Chicago community.

Among the highlights of Snyder’s two seasons with the Wolves: He tied the AHL’s all-time postseason record with five game-winning goals to help Chicago capture the 2002 Calder Cup. His ability to produce goals earned him a midseason promotion to the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers in 2002-03 —and he was all set to be on their Opening Night roster for 2003-04.

But on Sept. 29, 2003, Snyder was critically injured after the Ferrari 360 Modena driven by his teammate, Dany Heatley, struck a wall along Atlanta’s Lenox Road. Both players were ejected from the car, which was split in half by the force of the impact. Snyder suffered a fractured skull and internal brain

injuries due to the car’s rapid acceleration and deceleration. The 25-year-old lapsed into a coma following emergency surgery, and died six days later on Oct. 5.

Snyder made a difference everywhere he went — as proven by the numerous organizations that established permanent awards in the Elmira, Ontario, native’s memory. The Wolves created the Dan Snyder Man of the Year award, which remains the highest honor a Wolves player can receive. The Snyder Award commemorates the player each year who demonstrates the most dedication to the Chicago community.

DAN SNYDER MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS:

30

2019-20: G Oscar Dansk

2013-14: F Michael Davies

2007-08: D Nathan Oystrick

2018-19: F Tyler Wong

2012-13: F Michael Davies

2006-07: D Brian Sipotz

2017-18: F/D Scooter Vaughan

2011-12: RW Darren Haydar

2005-06: LW Karl Stewart

2016-17: LW Brett Sterling

2010-11: RW Spencer Machacek

2004-05: LW Karl Stewart

2015-16: C Pat Cannone

2009-10: LW Brett Sterling

2003-04: D Kurtis Foster

2014-15: RW Shane Harper

2008-09: LW Jordan LaVallee

#WEARETHEWOLVES

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ALL-TIME POINTS LEADERS

GOALS LEADERS

1. STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 951 2. ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483 3. DARREN HAYDAR. . . . . . . . . . . . 368 4. BRETT STERLING. . . . . . . . . . . . 362 5. JASON KROG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342 6. BOB NARDELLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298 7. STEVE LAROUCHE . . . . . . . . . . . 228 8. CHRIS MARINUCCI. . . . . . . . . . . 220 9. STEVE MARTINS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 10. DEREK MACKENZIE. . . . . . . . . . . 184

1. STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454 2. BRETT STERLING. . . . . . . . . . . . 193 3. ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 4. DARREN HAYDAR . . . . . . . . . . . 128 5. CHRIS MARINUCCI . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 6. JASON KROG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 7. STEVE LAROUCHE . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 8. J.P. VIGIER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 DEREK MACKENZIE. . . . . . . . . . . . 83 10. SCOTT PEARSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

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ALL-TIME WINS LEADERS

GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE LEADERS

(GOALTENDERS)

(MINIMUM 25 APPEARANCES)

1. WENDELL YOUNG. . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 2. MATT CLIMIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 3. KARI LEHTONEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 4. JORDAN BINNINGTON . . . . . . . . 59 5. OSCAR DANSK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 6. MICHAEL GARNETT . . . . . . . . . . . 56 7. RAY LEBLANC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 8. ONDREJ PAVELEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 9. NORM MARACLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 10. PETER MANNINO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

1. RICHARD SHULMISTRA. . . . . . . . 1.89 2. JAKE ALLEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 3. KARI LEHTONEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.33 4. ANDREI TREFILOV . . . . . . . . . . . 2.36 5. KASIMIR KASKISUO. . . . . . . . . . 2.38 6. EDDIE LACK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.46 7. OSCAR DANSK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.50 8. MATT CLIMIE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.52 9. PHEONIX COPLEY. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.59 10. MAX LAGACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.60

ALL-TIME GAMES LEADERS

LEO LAMOUREUX MEMORIAL TROPHY

1. STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 839 2. BOB NARDELLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476 3. BRETT STERLING. . . . . . . . . . . . 408 4. DEREK MACKENZIE . . . . . . . . . . 377 5. KEVIN DOELL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375 6. ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369 BRIAN SIPOTZ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369 8. TIM BERGLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361 9. DARREN HAYDAR. . . . . . . . . . . . 342 10. TIM BRESLIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330

(IHL REGULAR-SEASON SCORING CHAMPION)

LES CUNNINGHAM AWARD (AHL REGULAR-SEASON MVP)

DARREN HAYDAR . . . . . . . . (2006-07) JASON KROG . . . . . . . . . . . . (2007-08) KENNY AGOSTINO . . . . . . . . . (2016-17) DANIEL CARR . . . . . . . . . . . . (2018-19)

WILLIE MARSHALL AWARD (AHL’S LEADING GOAL-SCORER)

BRETT STERLING . . . . . . . . (2006-07) JASON KROG . . . . . . . . . . . . (2007-08) WADE MEGAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2016-17)

YANICK DUPRE MEMORIAL AWARD (AHL MAN OF THE YEAR)

KURTIS FOSTER. . . . . . . . . . (2003-04) SCOOTER VAUGHAN . . . . . . . (2017-18)

ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1995-96) ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1996-97) STEVE MALTAIS . . . . . . . (1999-2000) STEVE LAROUCHE. . (2000-01) Shared

JOHN B. SOLLENBERGER TROPHY (AHL’S LEADING REGULAR-SEASON SCORER)

STEVE MALTAIS . . . . . . . . . (2002-03) DARREN HAYDAR . . . . . . . . (2006-07) JASON KROG. . . . . . . . . . . (2007-08) KENNY AGOSTINO . . . . . . . . . (2016-17)

IHL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD (OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE)

TIM BRESLIN . . . . . . . . . . . . (1996-97) CHRIS MARINUCCI . . . . . . . (1998-99) WENDELL YOUNG . . . . . . . . (2000-01)

THOMAS EBRIGHT AWARD (CAREER CONTRIBUTIONS TO AHL)

WENDELL YOUNG (2017-18)

Since the Wolves joined the American Hockey League prior to the 2001-02 season, four Wolves have earned the Most Valuable Player award: Darren Haydar (2006-07), Jason Krog (2007-08), Kenny Agostino (2016-17) and Daniel Carr (2018-19). No other AHL team has produced as many MVPs over the last 20 years.

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The Wolves led the Central Division race from start to finish in 2021, which earned the organization’s fourth Central Division title in the last five years and their ninth division crown since joining the AHL in 2001. No other AHL franchise has won more than six division titles over that time.

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Wolves legend Darren Haydar owns the American Hockey League record for longest point streak as he scored at least one point in 39 consecutive games to start the 2006-07 season.

Haydar piled up 24 goals and 55 assists from Oct. 7, 2006, to Jan. 6, 2007, to tie Wayne Gretzky for the fourth-longest point streak in professional hockey history.

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The Wolves roster features top-flight prospects every year — as evidenced by the 54 National Hockey League first-round draft picks who have played for the Wolves over the years. Four first-rounders wore the burgundy and gold last season: Dominik Bokk, Seth Jarvis, Ryan Suzuki and Phil Tomasino.

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Left winger Brett Sterling burst on the scene in 2006-07 and stacked up an American Hockey League-leading 55 goals in 77 games. Not only did Sterling earn the AHL’s Rookie of the Year award, he was voted to the First All-Star Team.

397 /

Of the 691 players who have suited up for the Wolves since the team’s first game on Oct. 1, 1994, a remarkable 397 of them have played in the National Hockey League. That means more than 57 percent of all Wolves have reached the NHL. Defenseman Joey Keane, a native of south suburban Homer Glen, became No. 397 when he made his debut with the Carolina Hurricanes on May 10.

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