Breakaway Magazine - Volume 14 Issue 1

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHICAGO WOLVES

VOL. 14 ISSUE 1

CHASING THE CALDER CUP THE ANATOMY OF AN AHL CHAMPIONSHIP

NOVEMBER S

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CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS

OPPONENTS KEY CLEVELAND MONSTERS - CLE GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS - GR IOWA WILD - IA MANITOBA MOOSE - MB

MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS - MIL ROCKFORD ICEHOGS - RFD TEXAS STARS - TEX TUCSON ROADRUNNERS - TUC

HOME

AWAY

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

ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL. DATES, AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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PAGE 18

CHASING THE CALDER CUP THE ANATOMY OF AN AHL CHAMPIONSHIP

OPERATIONS

Courtney Mahoney Dan Harris Imran Javed Austin Zima Motion Designer Graphic Designer Chris Kuc Holly Bihlman Tassos Kukos Ross Dettman Mark Abernethy Ron Storto Kurtis Wothe Jason Shaver Bill Gardner Gabby Hogan Charles Cinnamon

President of Operations Sr. Director of Operations Creative Director Graphic Designer Lexi Richardson Sam Bochnia Director of Public Relations Social Media Coordinator Public Relations Coordinator Team Photographer Marketing Executive TV Producer Production Assistant Play by Play Announcer Color Analyst Sr. Community Relations Coordinator Community Relations Coordinator

BUSINESS OPERATIONS Jon Sata Greg Sprott Jackie Schroeder Stefanie Evans Eric Zavilla Tim Weaver Pawel Sienko Anissa Patterson Liam Kerrigan Chris Friederich Shannon Gadomski Anna Wagner Leslie Metcalf Colette Hankin Abigail Kruzel Spencer Lhotka Kevin Horan Jake Schneider Tyler Cristofaro Jake Elliott

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

FRONT OFFICE & HOCKEY OPERATIONS Seth Gold Wayne Messmer Norine Gillner

Director Senior Executive Vice President Hockey Operations Assistant

GAMEDAY STAFF

Chris Dubiel Brittney Hillebrand

Public Address Announcer In-Arena Host

Nick Alaimo, Tommy Acierno, Stephanie Breakey, Joe Capozzi, Anthony Chicalace, Morgan Chicalace, Ian Dwyer, Rebecca Erken, Madylin Finegan, Jaimie Frake, Lily Freedman, Tom Fumagalli, Matt Glavach, Nolan Kacer, Steve Laures, Alexia Matthews, Jon Midlock, Emily Murdach, Seth Novoselsky, Kelly O’Connor, Nathan Olson, CJ Reif, Justin Sata, Nathan Scheibe, Lauren Stoeck, Will Tarpey, Kelly Tragas, Dean Valera, Jillian Windbiel

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

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

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  1

2022-2023 SEASON

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Fans, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2022-23 American Hockey League season, the latest chapter in a tradition of excellence that can be traced back to our league’s founding more than eight decades ago.

SCOTT HOWSON PRESIDENT AND CHIEFEXECUTIVEOFFICER AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

The AHL is as proud as ever of its role in developing nearly all of the players, coaches, executives, trainers, broadcasters and officials who you see throughout the National Hockey League today. Generations of our great fans have cheered on future superstars, Stanley Cup champions and Hockey Hall of Famers as they have come through the AHL. This season is sure to be another exciting one as for the first time ever we drop the puck in 32 cities across North America, all vying to become the next Calder Cup champion.

On behalf of all of our teams, thank you for your continuing support of the AHL. Sincerely,

Scott Howson President & CEO | American Hockey League

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  3

ONE FOR THE THUMB On June 28, thousands of Chicago Wolves fans streamed into Allstate Arena to celebrate the 2022 Calder Cup championship with the players, coaches and hockey operations staffers who created the Wolves’ magical season.

The rally kicked off with an on-ice presentation emceed by Wolves color analyst Bill Gardner, then transformed into a lengthy opportunity for the fans to meet the players and coaches, collect autographs, take pictures and hoist the Calder Cup. It was the perfect conclusion to a season that delivered undisputable proof that the 2021-22 Chicago Wolves ranked among the greatest teams in the American Hockey League’s 86-year history.

Not only did head coach Ryan Warsofsky’s squad earn the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the team with the best regular-season winning percentage, Chicago swept through the Calder Cup Playoffs with the greatest goal differential in AHL history: The Wolves scored 75 goals in their 18 postseason games while allowing just 34.

Let’s take a moment to relive Chicago’s journey through Rockford, Milwaukee, Stockton and Springfield to capture the fifth league championship in franchise history.

CENTRAL DIVISION SEMIFINALS WOLVES 3, ICEHOGS 0 (BEST OF 5) / MAY 12-15

“For having 12 days off, we thought (a sluggish start) might happen, but it didn’t,” Warsofsky said. “Credit to the guys. They put the work in those 12 days.”

As Chicago prepared to face Rockford, there were a few potential concerns. First, because the Wolves clinched an opening-round bye by winning the Central Division, they didn’t play for 11 days while fourth-seeded Rockford tuned up for the series with two wins over fifth-seeded Texas. Would the Wolves be rusty? Second, despite getting outshot badly in almost every game, the IceHogs won eight of the 12 regular-season meetings with the Wolves. Would Rockford find more ways to pull off inexplicable wins?

In Game 2, the Wolves kept swarming as they fired the first 14 shots on the way to a 4-1 victory. The scene shifted to Rockford the next day, but the results stayed the same.

Rookie forward Ivan Lodnia scored 2:27 into Game 3 and goaltender Alex Lyon rejected 29 shots as Chicago finished the sweep with a 4-1 triumph.

The second worry became reality when Chicago outshot Rockford 9-1 in the first six minutes of Game 1 — similar to their regular-season clashes — but the IceHogs took a 1-0 lead at 6:16 when Lukas Reichel took a turnover in for a breakaway goal.

CENTRAL DIVISION FINALS

But the Wolves kept working and it paid off in the final minute of the first period. Defenseman Cavan Fitzgerald snapped a one-timer at 19:04, then AHL First Team All-Stars Andrew Poturalski and Stefan Noesen teamed up for a power-play goal at 19:50 and Rockford never led in the series again.

After floating into the first intermission with momentum, the Wolves built on it swiftly as rookie forwards Jamieson Rees and Jack Drury scored during the first seven minutes of the second period and Chicago went on a convincing 6-2 victory.

WOLVES 3, ADMIRALS 1 (BEST OF 5) / MAY 21-27 Once again, Wolves fans carried a level of caution into this series. While Chicago won nine of the 14 regular-season meetings with Milwaukee, the Admirals claimed five of the last seven and regained top scorer Rocco Grimaldi for the playoffs.

Not to worry. Drury scored 32 seconds into Game 1 at Allstate Arena. Then Josh Leivo, Rees and Poturalski reeled off three consecutive Wolves goals in the final 11 minutes of the second period to trigger a 6-2 victory.

Game 2 got out of hand even sooner. David Gust scored twice in the first period to spark a 3-1 lead, then the Wolves ripped off

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  5

five goals in the second period as Noesen recorded three for the 12th postseason hat trick in Wolves history. Chicago cruised to an 8-2 win.

“It’s incredible,” Poturalski said. “Every single guy has contributed. It’s just so much fun coming in every day. We all truly love each other in there.”

Milwaukee rallied on home ice for a 4-2 win in Game 3 — the only time in the playoffs that the Wolves never led in a game — but Chicago was all business two days later when making the bus ride back to Panther Arena for Game 4. The Wolves needed just 21 minutes to race out to a 4-0 lead. Leivo’s empty-net goal with 2:07 to play, the 13th hat trick in Chicago’s postseason history, wrapped up a 5-1 victory and ended the series.

CALDER CUP FINALS

“We’ve responded all year long to losses, backs-against-thewall situations (and) adversity,” Warsofsky said. “They’re a good group of guys that play for each other. And when you do that, special things can happen.”

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS WOLVES 4, HEAT 2 (BEST OF 7) / JUNE 3-14 On April 30, the final day of the AHL’s regular season, Chicago defeated Rockford while Stockton lost in regulation to Bakersfield. That combination enabled the Wolves to edge past the Heat to claim the league’s best record and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

During Game 1 at Allstate Arena, the Heat’s team speed made an early difference as Stockton reeled off three goals to claim a 3-1 lead in the opening 25 minutes. The Wolves answered with three goals of their own, but the Heat forced overtime. That’s when Rees swatted home a rebound 2:26 into extra time to give the Wolves a 1-0 series lead.

Stockton outplayed Chicago for much of Game 2, but Leivo scored a breakaway goal with 17 seconds left to deliver a 3-2 victory. Lyon moved the Wolves one win from a sweep with a 23-save Game 3 shutout in California, but Stockton rallied for overtime victories in Games 4 and 5.

That brought the series back to Chicago and sparked a remarkable battle between rookie goaltenders: Chicago’s Pyotr Kochetkov and Stockton’s Dustin Wolf. Nobody solved them until Lodnia’s one-timer at 8:35 of the third. When captain Poturalski added a breakaway goal with 1:20 left, the party started in Rosemont. The Wolves became the first team since 2010 to qualify for consecutive Calder Cup Finals.

6

FIVE-TIME LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

WOLVES 4, THUNDERBIRDS 1 (BEST OF 7) / JUNE 19-25 Considering Chicago posted the league’s best regular-season record and Springfield’s .625 winning percentage shared fifth-best, most AHL experts expected the Wolves to establish control of the Finals immediately.

Then Game 1 happened. The Wolves owned a 4-2 lead early in the third period, but the Thunderbirds pulled their goalie and tied the game with 1:28 left in regulation. When rookie defenseman Matthew Kessel scored his first pro goal 5:09 into extra time, Springfield skated away with the upset at Allstate Arena.

It was the last time the Thunderbirds held a lead in the series.

Irked by their Game 1 performance, the Wolves returned to the ice 24 hours later and shredded Springfield with four goals in the opening 11 minutes — Richard Panik, Spencer Smallman, Joey Keane and Leivo lit the lamp — to spark a 6-2 victory.

The scene shifted to Massachusetts and the Wolves kept pouring it on. Kochetkov notched his second shutout in nine days with 36 saves as Chicago claimed Game 3 by a 4-0 count to take the series lead.

Kochetkov backstopped the Wolves to another decisive victory in Game 4 — Drury and Panik scored early powerplay goals to inspire a 4-2 win — then veteran Alex Lyon took over in Game 5. Lyon stopped all 28 shots he faced as he and Kochetkov became the first pair of goalies in AHL history to post shutouts in the Finals. Meanwhile Poturalski, Gust, Leivo and defenseman Max Lajoie scored in the 4-0 triumph that triggered a wild celebration on the MassMutual Center ice.

“Credit to these players, man, they’re something special,” Warsofsky said. “We wanted to get a group together to do something special. You have to play for each other and you have to want something bigger than yourself.

“Every guy in there bought into it. We preached it day-in and day-out and they probably can’t stand me for it. But this is the moment we wanted right here.”

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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 serves on the board of directors for several charitable organizations.

DON LEVIN

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 hosted a scout night each year for the Northwest Suburban Council since 2000.

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 19992000 season, which concluded with the franchise’s second of five championships.

Before beginning his business career, Levin served in the United States Marine Corps, from which he was honorably discharged.

VICE CHAIRMAN

Buddy Meyers, 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.

BUDDY MEYERS

8

FIVE-TIME LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

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.

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GENERAL MANAGER

Wendell Young is in his 14th season as the Chicago Wolves general manager. Since being hired as GM in August 2009, the Wolves have compiled a .608 regularseason points percentage and captured eight American Hockey League division titles: the 2010 West, 2012 Midwest, 2014 Midwest, 2017 Central, 2018 Central, 2019 Central, 2021 Central and 2022 Central. The Wolves also won the 2022 Calder Cup (after earning the 2022 Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy for recording the league's best regular-season record) and 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.

WENDELL YOUNG

The 59-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 14th season as the Chicago Wolves assistant general manager and stands as 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 15 years, which includes all five 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 51-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.

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.

SENIOR ADVISOR / DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS

Gene Ubriaco, who has been with the Wolves since the franchise’s inception in 1994, has served for the last 25 seasons as the team’s director of hockey operations and the last 13 as senior advisor.

Ubriaco served as the Wolves’ first head coach and guided the expansion team to a 3433-14 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.

GENE UBRIACO

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. He posted a 50-479 record with Pittsburgh. 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 NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1967-68), Oakland Seals (1968-69) and Chicago Blackhawks (1969-70). He posted 39 goals, 35 assists, and 74 points in 177 regular-season games.

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FIVE-TIME LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

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WOLVES COACH BROCK SHEAHAN WAS SEEMINGLY BORN TO MAKE AN IMPACT BEHIND THE BENCH

BY CHRIS KUC

Brock Sheahan has hockey running through his veins.

The Chicago Wolves head coach has been told that somewhere in his family tree is a link with arguably the greatest defenseman to ever play the sport.

“I’m very, very loosely related to Bobby Orr,” Sheahan said. “When I was a little guy, I always asked to play ‘D’ and I think that might have been why. It’s kind of in my blood.”

That distant relation and an affinity for the sport at a young age has led Sheahan on a journey that started as a talented junior player, continued with a storied stint at the University of Notre Dame, was followed by a professional career and finally landed as a successful head coach.

12

FIVE-TIME LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

On August 23, 2022, Sheahan was named the 12th head coach in Wolves franchise history, taking over a team that had captured the Calder Cup a couple of months earlier.

At 38, Sheahan already had a championship pedigree, having guided the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League to the Clark Cup as league champions in 2021.

Aiding his coaching resume is a love for the sport that was discovered early on in life in his hometown of London, Ontario, and later while growing up in Lethbridge, Alberta.

“I’ve always loved being on the ice and skating,” Sheahan said. “There’s just something about it, a

freedom to it. But more of it is the interactions with people and how the game connects everybody.

“The reason I'm still involved in hockey is I feel like the impact that coaches had on me have made me the person I am today, especially the staff at Notre Dame,” he continued. “I feel like the husband, the parent, the friend, and the coach I am today has a lot to do with those interactions.”

Sheahan appeared in 161 games as a defenseman for the Irish from 2004-08 and was an alternate captain during his senior year, helping lead the team to the 2008 National Championship game. He then embarked on a professional playing career that took him to Wheeling, West Virginia (ECHL), Cincinnati (ECHL), Houston (AHL), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Oberbayen, Germany (German League) and finally Ontario, Canada (ECHL).

Eventually, “an undersized defenseman in an era that was not conducive to being an undersized ‘D’ ” turned to coaching, something for which he seemed destined.

playing, coaching is something that I could see myself doing,’ ” Sheahan said. “All because of the impact that I felt those guys had on me.”

Now, Sheahan is the one making an impact behind the bench using perhaps his biggest attribute.

“I think my communication skills with the players and the relationships that I've built are a strength of mine,” he said. “I can communicate clearly and articulate what needs to be done in certain situations.”

Everything that has led Sheahan to this point in his career has only raised expectations for his success at this level. Managing those high expectations is something he fully embraces.

“You want those expectations,” Sheahan said. “My expectations are to develop the individual players and the team, but at the end of the day, you want to win. I feel like if you do things the right way, you can reach the end goal.” 

“When I was in college, I was a leader -- an alternate captain – and I remember saying, ‘whenever I'm done

"THE REASON I'M STILL INVOLVED IN HOCKEY IS I FEEL LIKE THE IMPACT THAT COACHES HAD ON ME HAVE MADE ME THE PERSON I AM TODAY."

Photo Credit: Fighting Irish Media

Photo Credit: Chicago Steel

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  13

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MEET THE WOLVES JAMIESON REES

FORWARDS JACK DRURY

IVAN LODNIA

H: 6-0 W: 180 Feb. 3, 2000 Winnetka, Illinois 2021-22: Chicago (AHL), Carolina (NHL)

H: 6-0 W: 195 Aug. 31, 1999 Los Angeles, California 2021-22: Chicago (AHL)

RYAN DZINGEL

H: 6-2 W: 193 March 9, 1994 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 2021-22: Springfield (AHL), St. Louis (NHL)

H: 6-0 W: 190 March 9, 1992 Wheaton, Illinois 2021-22: Arizona (NHL), San Jose (NHL)

NOEL GUNLER H: 6-2 W: 176 Oct. 7, 2001 Lulea, Sweden 2021-22: Chicago (AHL), Brynas IF (Swedish League)

JOSEPH LABATE H: 6-5 W: 213 April 16, 1993 Eagan, Minnesota 2021-22: Milwaukee (AHL)

MACKENZIE MACEACHERN

STELIO MATTHEOS H: 6-1 W: 200 June 14, 1999 Winnipeg, Manitoba 2021-22: Chicago (AHL)

JOSH MELNICK H: 5-10 W: 180 July 10, 1995 Rahway, New Jersey 2021-22: Texas (AHL)

BLAKE MURRAY H: 6-2 W: 187 July 5, 2001 Uxbridge, Ontario 2021-22: Norfolk (ECHL)

A second-round pick (44th overall) by the Hurricanes in the 2019 NHL Draft, Rees appeared in three preseason games with Carolina before joining the Wolves for the 2021-22 season. The 21-year-old center went on to score seven goals and add 17 assists in 61 regular-season games. The Hamilton, Ontario, native produced a fivegame points streak (four goals, two assists) from March 25-April 2. In 17 postseason contests, Rees had two goals, including the game-winner in overtime of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against Stockton.

STEFAN NOESEN H: 6-1 W: 205 Feb. 12, 1993 Plano, Texas 2021-22: Chicago (AHL), Carolina (NHL)

JAMIESON REES

ALEXANDER PASHIN

MALTE STROMWALL

H: 5-8 W: 154 July 28, 2002 Priyutovo, Russia 2021-22: Toros Neftekamsk (Supreme Hockey League)

H: 6-0 W: 191 Aug. 24, 1994 Lulea, Sweden 2021-22: Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

LANE PEDERSON

H: 6-0 W: 176 May 28, 2001 London, Ontario 2021-22: Chicago (AHL)

H: 6-0 W: 190 Aug. 4, 1997 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2021-22: San Jose (AHL), San Jose (NHL)

VASILIY PONOMAREV

IVAN LODNIA After scoring four goals in 38 regularseason games – including his first two-goal game as a pro on April 15 against Texas -- the 23-year-old forward turned his game up a notch during the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs. In 11 postseason contests, the Los Angeles native potted four goals to help the Wolves claim the AHL championship. Lodnia was a winner off the ice, too, serving as the organization’s nominee for the Yanick Dupre Award, given to the AHL’s 2021-22 Person of the Year.

H: 5-11 W: 172 Feb. 26, 2001 Hamilton, Ontario 2021-22: Chicago (AHL)

H: 5-10 W: 180 March 13, 2002 Moscow, Russia 2021-22: Chicago (AHL), Moscow Spartak (KHL)

RYAN SUZUKI

TUUKKA TIEKSOLA H: 5-10 W: 146 June 22, 2001 Oulu, Finland 2021-22: Karpat (Finnish Liiga)

MACKENZIE MACEACHERN This is the second stint with the Wolves for the veteran forward. The 28-year-old from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, played 101 games with Chicago from 2016-18 and had 11 goals and 10 assists during that span. Last season, MacEachern had 12 goals and 13 assists in 47 regular-season games with Springfield before adding six goals and seven assists in 18 postseason games. He also spent time with the St. Louis Blues, appearing in 14 NHL games and recording two assists. A thirdround pick (67th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, he has 11 goals and eight assists and is a plus-4 in 115 career NHL games with St. Louis.

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  15

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WILLIAM LAGESSON H: 6-2 W: 207 Feb. 22, 1996 Gothenburg, Sweden 2021-22: Bakersfield (AHL), Edmonton (NHL), Montreal (NHL)

DEFENSEMEN

MAXIME LAJOIE H: 6-1 W: 196 Nov. 5, 1997 Quebec City, Quebec 2021-22 Chicago (AHL), Carolina (NHL)

GRIFFIN MENDEL The 6-foot-6-inch defenseman should provide a hulking presence on the Wolves blue line. The Kelowna, British Columbia, native inked an amateur tryout contract with Chicago after playing in college with the University of Denver followed by a year at Quinnipiac as a graduate transfer. He made his professional debut April 3 against Texas and earned his first point as a pro by assisting on Stefan Noesen’s game-winning goal April 6 against the Stars. Mendel finished with two assists in 10 regularseason games and made his first playoff appearance as a pro during Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals against Springfield.

GRIFFIN MENDEL H: 6-6 W: 220 Feb. 18, 1999 Kelowna, British Columbia 2021-22: Chicago (AHL), Quinnipiac University

RONAN SEELEY H: 6-0 W: 176 Aug. 2, 2002 Yellowknife, Northwest Territories 2021-22: Everett (WHL)

ETHAN BEAR

CAVAN FITZGERALD

H: 5-11 W: 197 June 26, 1997 Regina, Saskatchewan 2021-22: Carolina (NHL)

H: 6-1 W: 190 Aug. 23, 1996 Boston, Massachusetts 2021-22: Chicago (AHL)

JALEN CHATFIELD

JAKE GARDINER

H: 6-1 W: 196 May 16, 1996 Ypsilanti, Michigan 2021-22: Chicago (AHL), Carolina (NHL)

H: 6-2 W: 203 July 4, 1990 Minnetonka, Minnesota 2021-22: Did not play

DAVID FARRANCE

H: 5-10 W: 179 Oct. 5, 2000 Jyvaskyla, Finland 2021-22: JyP HT (SM-liiga)

ANTTONI HONKA

H: 6-0 W: 191 June 23, 1999 Victor, New York 2021-22: Milwaukee (AHL)

GOALTENDERS PYOTR KOCHETKOV H: 6-0 W: 176 June 25, 1999 Penza, Russia 2021-22: Chicago (AHL), Carolina (NHL), Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

CALE MORRIS H: 6-1 W: 193 May 22, 1996 Larkspur, Colorado 2021-22: Rockford (AHL), Indy (ECHL)

ZACH SAWCHENKO H: 6-1 W: 185 Dec. 30, 1997 Calgary, Alberta 2021-22: San Jose (AHL), Carolina (NHL)

VASILIY PONOMAREV The forward from Zelenograd, Russia, joined the Wolves on April 3 after a stint with Moscow Spartak of the KHL and made his North American professional debut three days later, recording an assist in the Wolves’ 4-2 victory over Texas. He added helpers in each of the next two games before notching his first pro goal in North America on April 19 against Rockford. The 20-year-old played 11 regular-season games during which he had three goals and seven assists. In the playoffs, the center was a valuable member of the penalty kill and finished with a goal and five assists in 18 games.

HOCKEY OPS

KEVIN KACER

RYAN SHOUFER

STAN DUBICKI

LESTER TIU

STEVE POLITO

Head Athletic Trainer

Equipment Manager

Goaltending Coach

Asst. Equipment Manager

Strength and Training Coach

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  17

THE ANATOMY OF AN AHL CHAMPIONSHIP

CUP CHASING

THE CALDER

ON A WARM JUNE NIGHT IN

Springfield, Mass., locals out on the town suddenly found themselves amidst a small group of Chicago Wolves players celebrating winning the Calder Cup. “Four or five of us were walking down the street in the middle of downtown Springfield where it probably wasn't the safest place to be while wearing all kinds of Wolves stuff and we were hoisting the Cup,” forward Stefan Noesen recalled.

“People were like, ‘what the heck is that?’

We yelled, “it’s the Cup!” The moment became even more sweet when several members of the Springfield Thunderbirds, the team the Wolves had defeated 4-0 in Game 5 of the 2022 Calder Cup Finals on Saturday, June 25 to claim the fifth championship in franchise history, were seated in an Uber.

“They saw us walking by and one of them, a buddy of mine I played with last year, just shook his head,” Noesen said. “I just laughed because I was carrying the Cup.” One of Noesen’s cohorts on the street that night, center Andrew Poturalski, added, “we were just trying to soak in everything that we went through all season as much as we could.”

What the group – along with their teammates, coaches, training staff, team personnel and diehard Wolves fans -- went through during the historic 2021-22 campaign that resulted in the organization’s first title since 2008 is the stuff of fairytales.

BY CHRIS KUC | PHOTOS BY ROSS DETTMAN

THE BEGINNING

The architect of the eventual 2022 Calder Cup champions wasn’t sure just how good the Wolves would be when they broke training camp. The team was made up of prospects of the Carolina Hurricanes – the Wolves’ NHL affiliate – and other players looking to showcase their talents with designs to take the next step in their careers.

“Our philosophy and one of our agreements of affiliation is that we're going to develop and win at the same time,” said Wendell Young, the Wolves’ general manager since 2009. “We were sitting back and seeing what we had as far as prospects and what we needed to go out and get to put a top team on the ice. It’s a whole chess match putting a formula together.”

Then-coach Ryan Warsofsky scanned the group on the eve of the regular season and set expectations “to get better individually.

“A big goal of our staff was to make sure our players were getting better each day and try to develop players for the National Hockey League and along the way we wanted to win a lot of hockey games,” Warsofsky added. “I thought Game One even though we lost (5-3 to the Rockford IceHogs) we showed we’re a team that played at a high pace and that played with good detail and good structure. We needed to work on a few things from there on out, but we had a good foundation that was set.

We just needed to kind of untap a few other things that were going to get us across the finish line.”

Poturalski knew a little something about assessing a team’s chances, having helped the Charlotte Checkers capture the 2019 Calder Cup championship.

“Having been there before and winning a Cup you kind of know what it takes and I for sure thought we had the right group,” Poturalski said. “But needless to say, there are so many things that have to come together. Everyone needs to buy in in order to win a championship and that’s a long process.”

THE TURNING POINT

The Wolves had enough talent to win eight of their first 12 games, but didn’t forge a true team identity until a watershed moment on the day after Thanksgiving in Grand Rapids, Mich.

After a lackluster effort through two periods resulted in a 3-0 deficit, Warsofsky entered the visiting dressing room at Van Andel Arena and threw down the gauntlet.

“I probably had some choice words for them, but more so the message was that we wanted to see what type of competitors we had in the locker room,” Warsofsky said. “We wanted to see how competitive we were on a Friday in Grand Rapids. Are we just going to pack it in and be that type of team or are we going to be a team that keeps fighting and is ultra-competitive? I really challenged the group and they responded from there on out.”

They responded with five goals in the third period to skate to a 5-3 victory, marking the first time in team history the Wolves were victorious in regulation after trailing by three goals in the third. “(Warsofsky) challenged us to be competitors and figure out the group we were going to be,” said center Jack Drury, who grew up in Winnetka. “And after that win we went on a 12-game winning streak that led into Christmas and it was during that break that we all kind of realized the type of group we had and the things we could do.”

Added Young: “It was a waking moment for not just our staff, but I think for the players in the dressing room that there is something here.”

The franchise-tying 12-game winning streak that followed flashed the first sign that no matter the deficit or circumstances, the Wolves were never out of games.

I T WA S A WA K ING MOME N T F OR NO T JUS T OUR S TA F F, BU T I T HINK F OR T HE P L AY E R S IN T HE DR E S SING ROOM T H AT T HE R E IS S OME T HING HE R E .

– W E ND E L L Y O U N G

“I FELT LIKE WE COULD SCORE ON COMMAND WHENEVER WE SET OUR MINDS TO IT ONCE WE PLAYED A CERTAIN WAY,” Noesen said. “We had some bad bounces and things didn't always go our way, but there was never one second that anybody on the bench ever sat down and was like, ‘all right, we're out of this game.’ We always felt we’d come back and get right back into it because we had the offensive power to do it.”

When the dust had settled on the regular season, the list of accomplishments was impressive:  THE WOLVES compiled a 50-16-5-5 regular-season mark for a franchiserecord .724 points percentage and claimed their first Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, awarded to the AHL’s team with the best record.  POTURALSKI finished with 101 points to win the John B. Sollenberger Trophy, given to the AHL’s top point-producer. He became the 100th player in league history – and first since 2009-10 – to eclipse the century mark in points. Poturalski was the first player since 1998 to lead the AHL in scoring in back-to-back seasons.  NOESEN scored 48 goals – the most in the AHL since 2009-10 - to win the Willie Marshall Award, given to the league’s leading goal-scorer in the regular season.  LED BY GOALTENDER ALEX LYON, Chicago led the league in fewest goals allowed per game (2.55) for the first time in the organization’s history.

ON TO THE PLAYOFFS

Having secured home-ice advantage throughout the postseason, the Wolves had a definitive plan of action for the looming battles.

“We didn’t change a thing,” Young said. “Our focus was there even more, but we didn't change. We had good goaltending, our ‘D’ were strong, and our offense played the way they did. It's unique that we had the top scorer in the league, the top goal-scorer in the league and we had the lowest goals-against average.”

The combination worked as the Wolves swept the rival IceHogs in the first round and dispatched the Milwaukee Admirals in four games in the second. They then took a 3-0 series lead against the Stockton Heat in the Western Conference Finals before dropping two in a row to face another crossroads of their season.

“After we lost Game 5 against Stockton we came home and we were pretty banged up, but we were up 3-2 and just had to win one game,” Drury said. “Coach Warsofsky came in the day in between games – we had a day off with just a meeting in the morning -- and he gave a good speech. And then, kind of a glue guy on the team that had been all year, Kyle Marino, had a couple funny comments and I think that relaxed everyone.”

Warsofsky had had his own reassurance following the Game 5 defeat and considers it among his most cherished moments of the season.

“I remember vividly seeing Noesen and Poturalski in the airport and ‘Potsie” saying, “Hey, ‘Wars,’ don't worry about it, we got it.’

“That was a moment that I look back on and saw the calm confidence with this group, especially those two players – as well as Josh Leivo -- who knew they needed to get the job done. They had great mental toughness to not let the two games affect them and we came out and we played probably one of our best games of the year against Stockton in that Game 6.”

They won that Game 6 to reach the 2022 Calder Cup Finals against the Thunderbirds. After dropping Game 1, the Wolves swept the next four to win the title. The final moments of the 4-0 Game 5 victory resulted in waves of emotions from all involved.

“The countdown for the last 20 or 30 seconds was so special,” Poturalski said.

“It’s just everything rushing together and all your emotions coming together from the entire season of hard work and everything you've been through during a long season. To be able to have the game locked and take those emotions in and then celebrate with all the boys is what it's all about.”

Added Drury: “My favorite time was those last 10 seconds and throwing all your gear off and just hugging every teammate and looking them in the eyes and telling them you love them and what a fun year it was.”

Leivo’s 14 goals and 15 assists in the 18 postseason games earned him the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP. For Young, it was another highlight for the only man in hockey to have won all four North American championships: the Stanley Cup, Turner Cup, Calder Cup and Memorial Cup. “I’ve been very fortunate,” Young said. “Some people don't ever experience it and I've had the overabundance of opportunity and good fortune of being able to experience it a lot. You enjoy and appreciate every moment because it is so hard to win. It's hard to make the playoffs and it’s even harder to win the championship.”

M Y FAV OR I T E T IME WA S T HO SE L A S T 10 SE COND S A ND T HRO W ING A L L Y OUR GE A R OF F A ND JUS T HUGGING E V E R Y T E A MM AT E A ND L OOK ING T HE M IN T HE E Y E S A ND T E L L ING T HE M Y OU L O V E T HE M A ND W H AT A F UN Y E A R I T WA S .

– JACK DRURY

THE AFTERMATH

Eventually, that ragtag group running on pure adrenaline on the streets of Springfield following the Game 5 victory joined the rest of their teammates and in the wee hours boarded the flight back to Chicago.

Three days later, they celebrated with diehard Wolves fans at a championship rally at Allstate Arena.

“Being able to celebrate with the Chicago fans who supported us all year long was really cool,” Poturalski said. “We got to bring a championship back for them and hopefully it’s something that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

Only one question remains: What do the Wolves do for an encore?

“Our owner, Don Levin, was asking that five minutes after we won it,” Young said with a laugh. “It’s a tough follow-up, especially because we’ve lost a lot of players who went on to hopefully better opportunities to play in the NHL. It’s hard, but we’re going to try to win it again.”

YOUTH SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES YOUTH HOCKEY ANTHEM SKATE

• Sit on the Wolves bench for player introductions • Stand on the Blue Line for the National Anthem

YOUTH CHAMPIONS

• Open to all sports • Dry Fit shirt for all participants • Team photo published on ChicagoWolves.com

INTERMISSION

• Video of your team playing a scrimmage posted to Wolves YouTube • Matrix Board Message • Hats for all group members

For more information, call 1 (800)-THE-WOLVES or email wolvestix@chicagowolves.com YouthSportsAd-HalfPage.indd 1

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BEHIND THE BENCH

Brock Sheahan was named the 12th Head Coach in Wolves history on August 23, 2022.

The 38-year-old spent the previous four seasons -- including two-plus as head coach -- with the Chicago Steel of the USHL. During his tenure with the Steel, the organization won two Anderson Cups as the USHL’s regular-season champions (2019-20, 2020-21) and also captured the Clark Cup as league champions in ‘21.

The Lethbridge, Alberta, native joined the Steel as an assistant coach for the 201819 season and Associate Coach for ’19-20. As head coach, he posted a 100-27-12-3 regular-season record and added an 8-3 mark in the playoffs.

Prior to joining the Steel, Sheahan spent four seasons on the coaching staff at Holy Cross, including two as Associate Head Coach.

Sheahan got his first taste of coaching when he served as an assistant at the University of Notre Dame, in 2013-14. That followed a career as a defenseman when he appeared in 161 games for the Irish from ’04-08 and recorded four goals and 29 assists.

He later played five years of professional hockey in the AHL, ECHL and Germany.

BROCK SHEAHAN

Sheahan resides in the western suburbs with his wife, Ashley, and their children, Beau and Evelyn.

Patrick Dwyer enters his third season as a Chicago Wolves assistant coach. He helped guide the Wolves to one Calder Cup championship, one Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy (representing the best regular-season record in the AHL) and two Central Division titles during his first two seasons as a Wolves assistant.

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

Dwyer, 39, graduated from Western Michigan University in 2005 and was the Atlanta Thrashers’ fourth-round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his first full year in professional hockey with the Wolves in 2005-06 and posted 16 goals and 29 assists in 73 games.

PATRICK DWYER

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 Checkers (2016-17).

After wrapping up his playing career for the EIHL’s Belfast Giants in 2019, Dwyer launched his coaching career in ’19-20 with Charlotte. He helped guide the Checkers to a 34-22-0-5 record (.598) and a third-place finish in the AHL’s Atlantic Division.

One of the most accomplished players in Wolves history, Bob Nardella was promoted to assistant coach on July 12, 2017, after serving for two seasons as skills development coach and three as a part-time assistant.

During his five seasons as a full-time assistant, Nardella has helped to lead the Wolves to the 2022 Calder Cup championship, the 2022 Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, the 2019 Calder Cup Finals and four Central Division crowns — 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Nardella ranks second on the team’s all-time regular-season list for games played (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 54-year-old Melrose Park native made his Wolves debut during the team’s inaugural season in 1994-95 and 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.

BOB NARDELLA

He was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on Dec. 10, 2021.

Nardella lives in Rosemont with his wife, Alicia, and their sons, Bobby and Nicholas.

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  27

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2022-23 AHL TEAM MAP

Abbotsford Canucks • Bakersfield Condors • Belleville Senators • Bridgeport Islanders • Calgary Wranglers • Charlotte Checkers • Chicago Wolves • Cleveland Monsters • Coachella Valley Firebirds • Colorado Eagles • Grand Rapids Griffins • Hartford Wolf Pack • Henderson Silver Knights • Hershey Bears • Iowa Wild • Laval Rocket • Lehigh Valley Phantoms • Manitoba Moose • Milwaukee Admirals • Ontario Reign • Providence Bruins • Rochester Americans • Rockford IceHogs • San Diego Gulls • San Jose Barracuda • Springfield Thunderbirds • Syracuse Crunch • Texas Stars • Toronto Marlies • Tucson Roadrunners • Utica Comets • Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  29

UNSUNG HERO & MAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 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 be good on the ice AND in the community — and if they grew up in the Chicago area, even better.

Wolves player who best exemplifies his on-ice spirit, team-first attitude and level of community involvement. The Wolves also provide the Tim Breslin Scholarship each year — a $7,500 stipend for college tuition — for one high school senior who thrives despite overcoming obstacles in his or her life.

That made Addison native Tim Breslin, three years into his professional career, an ideal candidate to play for the Wolves. In the summer of 1994, he became one of the first three players signed by the Wolves and the versatile forward gave everything he had to the Wolves organization for five years.

TIM BRESLIN UNSUNG HERO AWARD WINNERS:

On the ice, he produced 37 goals and 82 assists in 330 regularseason games — and played in 21 postseason games when the Wolves captured their first league championship in 1998.

2021-22: D Max Lajoie

2008-09: C Steve Martins

2019-20: D Jake Bischoff

2007-08: D Brian Sipotz

2018-19: D Zac Leslie

2006-07: D Brian Fahey

2017-18: C T.J. Tynan

2005-06: C Kevin Doell

Off the ice, Breslin never missed a chance to help others and promote good causes. He conducted 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.

2016-17: F Bryce Gervais

2004-05: D Tim Wedderburn

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. The cancer spread through his body quickly and claimed his life on Feb. 9, 2005, at the age of 37.

2011-12: D Mark Matheson

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.

2015-16: D Andre Benoit 2014-15: D Brent Regner 2013-14: D Brent Regner 2012-13: F Bill Sweatt 2010-11: D Jaime Sifers 2009-10: F Matt Anderson

TIM BRESLIN

In addition, the Wolves honored Breslin’s life by creating the Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award — given annually to the

DAN SNYDER MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS: 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’s personalities weren’t necessarily the same, they were mirror images when it came to being great teammates devoted to helping Chicagoans and their causes.

2019-20: G Oscar Dansk

2006-07: D Brian Sipotz

2018-19: F Tyler Wong

2005-06: LW Karl Stewart

2017-18: F/D Scooter Vaughan

2004-05: LW Karl Stewart

2016-17: LW Brett Sterling

2003-04: D Kurtis Foster

Among the highlights of Snyder’s two seasons with the Wolves: Tying 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.

2015-16: C Pat Cannone

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 split in half from the force of the impact. Snyder suffered a fractured skull and internal brain injuries due to the car’s rapid deceleration. The 25-year-old lapsed into a coma following emergency surgery and died six days later on Oct. 5.

2011-12: RW Darren Haydar

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.

30

FIVE-TIME LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2014-15: RW Shane Harper 2013-14: F Michael Davies 2012-13: F Michael Davies 2010-11: RW Spencer Machacek 2009-10: LW Brett Sterling 2008-09: LW Jordan LaVallee 2007-08: D Nathan Oystrick

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A L L-T IME F R A NCHISE

RECORDS & AWARDS 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

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. ALEX LYON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.16 4. KARI LEHTONEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.33 5. ANDREI TREFILOV . . . . . . . . . . . 2.36 6. KASIMIR KASKISUO. . . . . . . . . . 2.38 7. EDDIE LACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.46 8. OSCAR DANSK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.50 9. MATT CLIMIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.52 10. PHEONIX COPLEY. . . . . . . . . . . 2.59

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

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) ANDREW POTURALSKI . . . . (2021-22)

IHL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD (OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE)

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

BY THE NUMBERS This was the perfect uniform number for former goaltender Wendell Young, who ranks No. 1 on the team’s all-time lists for wins (169), saves (8,467), minutes played (17,912), shutouts (18) and assists (14). Upon his retirement following the 2000-01 season, Young’s No. 1 became the first jersey retired by the Wolves.

When the Wolves hoisted the Calder Cup on June 25 in Springfield, Massachusetts, it marked the organization’s fifth league championship since 1998. No other professional hockey team in North America has won as many over the last 25 years.

The Wolves won their fifth Central Division title in the last six years in 2021-22 — and their 10th since joining the AHL in 2001. No other AHL franchise has won more than six division titles over that time.

AHL First-Team All-Star Stefan Noesen scored a league-leading 48 goals last year — eight more than the second-place finisher and the most for anybody in the AHL since 2010.

AHL First-Team All-Star Andrew Poturalski scored a league-leading 101 points last year to become the 100th player in AHL to reach the century mark — and the first in 12 years.

Of the 727 players who have suited up for the Wolves since the team’s first game on Oct. 1, 1994, a remarkable 423 of them have played in the National Hockey League. That means more than 58 percent of all Wolves have reached the NHL. Charismatic rookie goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov became No. 423 when he made a victorious debut with the Carolina Hurricanes on April 23, 2022.

(AHL’S LEADING GOAL-SCORER)

BRETT STERLING . . . . . . . . (2006-07) JASON KROG . . . . . . . . . . . . (2007-08) WADE MEGAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2016-17) STEFAN NOESEN. . . . . . . . . . (2021-22)

YANICK DUPRE MEMORIAL AWARD (AHL MAN OF THE YEAR)

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

THOMAS EBRIGHT AWARD (CAREER CONTRIBUTIONS TO AHL)

WENDELL YOUNG . . . . . . . . . . (2017-18)

Steve Maltais will stand forever as the greatest scorer in Wolves history with 454 goals and 497 assists during his 11 seasons in Chicago. Maltais paced the Wolves in goals in each of the franchise’s first six seasons and led the way to three championships. Upon his retirement following the 2005 Calder Cup Finals, Maltais’ No. 11 was raised to the Allstate Arena rafters.

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE  33

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FIVE-TIME LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

SKATES