FAMILY MATTERS
For Wolves owner Don Levin, winning championships comes secondary to maintaining an organization that caters to families–on and off the ice.
OPERATIONS
Courtney Mahoney President of Operations
Dan Harris Vice President of Operations
Mark Abernethy Marketing
Chris Kuc Director of Public Relations
Imran Javed Creative Director
Charlie Cinnamon Community Relations Manager
Claire Barresi Community Relations Coordinator
Stephanie Stremplewski SocialMediaCoordinator
Michael Roche Video Production Coordinator
Tim Wiemann Public Relations Assistant
LeByron Dudley Graphic Designer
Kristin Ostrowski Graphic Designer
Eugene Lee Motion Designer
Jason Shaver Play-by-Play Broadcaster
Bill Gardner Color Analyst
Ryan Mason Mascot Coordinator
Johnny Sciabica Operations Intern
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Jon Sata President of Business Operations
Samantha Davis Vice President of Ticket Sales
Eric Zavilla Executive Director of Ticket Sales
Jackie Schroeder Senior Director of Ticket Retention and Services
Stefanie Evans Senior Director of Program Development
Anna Wagner E-Business Specialist
Colette Hankin TicketSalesandServicesCoordinator
Matthew Becker Account Executive
Parker Graham Account Executive
Rebecca Erken Inside Sales Representative
Collin Harrison Inside Sales Representative
Drew Vozza Inside Sales Representative
Lydia Novak Group Sales Manager
Scott Baackes Group Sales Account Executive
Jacob Patzelt Group Sales Account Executive
Ben Pierce Group Sales Account Executive
Greg Sprott Vice President of Partnership Sales
Chris Friederich Assistant Director of Corporate Partnerships
Anissa Patterson Senior Manager, Client Services Corporate Partnerships
Liam Kerrigan Client Services Coordinator
Tim Weaver Senior Manager, Partnerships and Media Sales
Sydney Rosinski Corporate Partnerships Executive
FRONT OFFICE & HOCKEY OPERATIONS
Wayne Messmer Senior Executive Vice President
Seth Gold Director
Norine Gillner Hockey Operations Assistant
GAMEDAY STAFF
Chris Dubiel Public Address Announcer
Hannah Arbitman In-Arena Host
Nick Alaimo, Tommy Acierno, Ryan Apter, Katie Castillo, Anthony Chicalace, Morgan Chicalace, Lily Freedman, Tom Fumagalli, Matt Glavach, Nolan Kacer, Steve Laures, ClarissaMessina,JonMidlock,RachelMullany,EmilyMurdach, SethNovoselsky,KellyO'Connor,JustinSata,NathanScheibe, Lauren Stoeck, Kelly Tragas, Dean Valera
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
Editorial Producer: Courtney Mahoney
Publication Writer: Chris Kuc
Publication Photographer: Ross Dettman
Publication Designers: Morgan Prato, Christina Moritz, Imran Javed
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CHICAGO WOLVES CHAMPIONSHIPS
CHAMPIONSHIP NO. 1
1998
TURNER CUP
5 TITLES IN 29 SEASONS
2022 CALDER CUP
After finishing the 1997-98 regular season with franchise records in wins (55) and points (113), the Wolves dispatched the Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals and Long Beach Ice Dogs in the playoffs to secure the team’s first berth in the IHL’s Turner Cup Finals.
Facing the Detroit Vipers, the Wolves fell into a 3-2 series deficit only to storm back with consecutive victories and capture the first championship in franchise history.
Wolves center Alexander Semak was awarded the N.R. “Bud” Poile Trophy as the postseason’s most valuable player after notching 10 goals and 17 assists in 22 games.
CHAMPIONSHIP NO. 2
2000 TURNER CUP
On the final day of the regular season, the Wolves defeated the defending Turner Cup champion Houston Aeros to capture their first Fred A. Huber, Jr. Memorial Trophy, awarded to the winner of the IHL’s regular season.
En route to the Turner Cup Finals, the Wolves conquered Long Beach in four games—the franchise’s first sweep of a best-of-seven series—and Houston in six for the right to face the Grand Rapids Griffins for the IHL title.
After dropping Game 5 in front of an IHL postseason attendance record of 18,412 at Allstate Arena, the Wolves took Game 6 in Grand Rapids to earn their second Turner Cup Championship in three years.
Wolves goaltender Andrei Trefilov was named MVP of the postseason after posting a goals-against average of 1.35 and a save percentage of .950.
CHAMPIONSHIP NO. 3
2002 CALDER
CUP
The Wolves entered the AHL postseason as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and worked their way to the Calder Cup Finals with series wins over the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Grand Rapids, Syracuse Crunch and Houston Aeros. In the process, the Wolves became the second team in the league’s 66-year history to play three winner-takeall games—and the first to win all three.
In the Calder Cup Finals, center Yuri Butsayev scored 2:05 into the second overtime of Game 5 to defeat Bridgeport 4-3 and capture the championship at Allstate Arena.
Goaltender Pasi Nurminen was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the postseason MVP after posting a franchise-high 15 wins.
CHAMPIONSHIP NO. 4
2008
CALDER CUP
Behind center Jason Krog’s stellar effort that earned him the Willie Marshall Award as the regularseason goal-scoring leader (39) and the John D. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL’s regular-season scoring leader (112 points), the Wolves were the top seed in the Western Conference.
Chicago roared through Milwaukee, the Rockford IceHogs and Toronto Marlies before facing the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the finals.
The Wolves collected their fourth league title in 11 seasons behind Krog’s Game 6 hat trick in front of 9,808 fans at Allstate Arena. Krog earned postseason MVP honors after scoring 12 goals and adding 26 assists in 24 contests.
CHAMPIONSHIP NO. 5
2022 CALDER CUP
The Wolves took home the Central Division crown for the fifth time in six years—and captured their first Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy awarded to the AHL team with the best regular-season record—before embarking on a postseason run for the ages.
Chicago blitzed Rockford in three games, Milwaukee in four and the Stockton Heat in six games before squaring off against the Springfield Thunderbirds in the Calder Cup Finals.
After dropping Game 1 in overtime, the Wolves reeled off four consecutive victories to capture their fifth league title in franchise history.
Josh Leivo established a franchise postseason record with 15 goals to go with 14 assists and was named postseason MVP.
2008 CALDER CUP
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DON LEVIN 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.
Levin dedicates a good portion of his time and energy to helping dogs find forever homes. The Wolves host Adopt-a-Dog Night one Saturday each month during the season and make it easy for fans to adopt homeless dogs.
The Adopt-A-Dog program has found homes for 1,500 dogs in its first 18 seasons. In 2003, Levin purchased and donated the Animobile — a mobile adoption unit and a modern clinic staffed by Chicago of Animal Care and Control veterinarians and adoption specialists. In 2014, he pledged a $2 million donation to CACC to spur an $8.2 million renovation.
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 four championships. Before beginning his business career, Levin served in the United States Marine Corps, from which he was honorably discharged.
BUDDY MEYERS 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 46 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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WENDELL YOUNG GENERAL MANAGER
Wendell Young is in his 15th season as the Chicago Wolves general manager. Since being hired as GM in August 2009, the Wolves have 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.
Young stands as the Wolves’ all-time leader among goaltenders in games (322), wins (169), saves (8,467), minutes (17,912) and shutouts (16), and was a member of Chicago’s 1998 and 2000 Turner Cup championship squads. His jersey number “1” was retired on Dec. 1, 2001 — becoming the first Wolves player to receive the honor.
He is currently the only player in hockey history to have won the Memorial Cup, Calder Cup, Turner Cup and Stanley Cup.
BILL BENTLEY ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
Bill Bentley is in his 15th season as the Chicago Wolves assistant general manager and stands as one of a handful of people who have been with the organization since the team’s inception in 1994.
Bentley has been instrumental in the hockey operations department for more than 16 years, which includes all 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. Bentley spent 12 seasons as the director of hockey administration — handling team travel, immigration and accounting for the hockey operations department — before assuming the assistant general manager role in August 2009.
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.
GENE UBRI ACO SR. ADVISOR / DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATION S
Gene Ubriaco has been with the Wolves since the franchise’s inception in 1994 and has served for the last 26 seasons as the team’s director of hockey operations and the last 14 as senior advisor.
Ubriaco served as the Wolves’ first head coach and guided the 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 guide an expansion team into the postseason.
In 1988-89, Ubriaco moved 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.
The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native also played professional hockey for 10 years, which included three seasons in the NHL with the Penguins (1967-68), Oakland Seals (1968-69) and Chicago Blackhawks (1969-70).
KEVIN KACER
Head Athletic Trainer
BOB NARDELLA HEAD COACH
One of the most accomplished players in Chicago Wolves history, Bob Nardella was promoted to head coach on June 13, 2023, after serving as a full-time assistant coach for six seasons.
During his time as an assistant, Nardella helped lead the Wolves to the 2022 Calder Cup championship, the 2019 Calder Cup Finals and four Central Division crowns—2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
As a player, 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 contributor when Chicago captured the 1998 and 2000 Turner Cups as well as the 2002 Calder Cup.
The 55-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.
Nardella, who is the 13th head coach in franchise history, was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame on Dec. 10, 2021.
DAVE BARR ASSISTANT COACH
Dave Barr is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Chicago Wolves after being named to the position on July 25, 2023.
Following a lengthy playing career that included 614 career NHL games with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars from 1981-94 as well as stints in the AHL and IHL, Barr joined the coaching ranks.
He has been an assistant coach with five NHL teams, including the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks. Barr also spent five seasons as the head coach and general manager of the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) from 2004-08, three seasons (1997-2000) as an assistant coach with the Houston Aeros and one season as the team’s general manager and head coach (2000-01).
Prior to joining the Wolves, Barr was head coach of the Vienna Capitals of the Austrian ICE Hockey League for two seasons.
STAN DUBICKI
Goaltending Coach
(NOT PICTURED)
CHANDLER BIGGAR
Video Coach
JAKE NITSCHE
Strength and Training Coach
RANDY WOLF
Skating and Skills Coach
ROB KENNEDY
Head Equipment Manager
CJ REIF
Assistant Equipment Manager
AUSTIN KASPER
Assistant Athletic Trainer
HOCKEY OPS & SPECIALTY COACHES
FORWARDS
PETER ABBANDONATO
H: 5-10 W: 194
March 25, 1998
Laval, Quebec
2022-23: Laval (AHL)
CORY CONACHER
H: 5-8 W: 185
Dec. 14, 1989
Burlington, Ontario
2022-23: Belleville (AHL), Charlotte (AHL)
HANK CRONE
H: 5-9 W: 160
Feb. 19, 1998
Dallas
2022-23: Ontario (AHL), Allen (ECHL)
KYLE MARINO
H: 6-3 W: 225
June 1, 1995
Niagara Falls, Ontario
2022-23: Henderson (AHL)
CONNOR MCCLENNON
H: 5-8 W: 164
June 25, 2002
Wainwright, Alberta
2022-23: Winnipeg (WHL)
JOSH MELNICK
H: 5-10 W: 175
July 10, 1995
Annandale, New Jersey
2022-23: Chicago (AHL)
JOSH MELNICK
After setting AHL career highs in goals (16), assists (19), points (35) and penalty minutes (20) with the Wolves in 2022-23, the 28-year-old from Annandale, N.J., returns for his second season with the organization. Melnickaddedthreegame-winninggoalsand ashorthandedscorelastseasonwhileleading Wolves forwards with a plus-9 plus-minus rating.FollowingastandoutcareerwithMiami University(Ohio),Melnickspentfourseasons withtheTexasStarsduringwhichheposted24 goals and 29 assists in 160 contests.
CHRIS TERRY
H: 5-10 W: 200
April 7, 1989
Brampton, Ontario
2022-23: Bridgeport (AHL)
NATHAN SUCESE
The 27-year-old forward returns for his secondseasonwiththeWolves.Duringthe 2022-23 season, Sucese set AHL career highs in games (69), goals (11), assists (12), points (23) and penalty minutes (32). Sucese led the Wolves with two shorthanded goals, scored in backto-back games against the Rockford IceHogs on Nov. 18-19, 2022. After starring four seasons at Penn State Universitywherehegraduatedasthe Nittany Lions' all-time leader in goals (61)andpoints(140),theFairport,New York, native spent one season each withtheTucsonRoadrunnersandIowa Wild before joining the Wolves.
TIM DOHERTY
H: 6-0 W: 185
July 10, 1995
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
2022-23: Maine (ECHL)
HUDSON ELYNUIK
H: 6-5 W: 194
Oct. 12, 1997
Calgary, Alberta
2022-23: Tucson (AHL)
DOMINIC FRANCO
H: 6-5 W: 218
Jan. 7, 1996
Scituate, Rhode Island
2022-23: Charlotte (AHL), Florida (ECHL)
ISAAC RATCLIFFE
H: 6-6 W: 200
Feb. 15, 1999
London, Ontario
2022-23: Lehigh Valley (AHL), Milwaukee (AHL)
COLE SCHNEIDER
H: 6-1 W: 201
August 26, 1990
Williamsville, New York
2022-23: Milwaukee (AHL)
NATHAN SUCESE
H: 5-9 W: 174
July 12, 1996
Fairport, New York
2022-23: Chicago (AHL)
This is the second stint with the Wolves for the veteran forward. The 28-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ontario, was a key member of the Wolves' runtothe2022CalderCupchampionship.During the historic '21-22 campaign, Marino had two assists and 82 penalty minutes in 24 regularseason games before making two appearances in the playoffs. Last season, Marino had two goals-including a game-winner- two assistsand91 penalty minutes in 50 games with the Henderson Silver Knights. Prior to turning pro in 2020, Marino spent four years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, recording nine goals, 18 assists and 198 penalty minutes across 101 games.
DEFENSEMEN
TORY DELLO
H: 6-0 W: 200
Feb. 14, 1997
Lakewood, Ill.
2022-23: Laval (AHL)
MATT DONOVAN
H: 6-0 W: 205
May 9, 1990
Edmond, Oklahoma
2022-23: Mannheim (DEL)
TYSON FEIST
H: 6-2 W: 181
January 14, 2001
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
2022-23: Syracuse (AHL), Orlando (ECHL)
OWEN HEADRICK
H: 6-0 W: 183
August 23, 1997
Garden River, Ontario 2022-23: Texas (AHL), Idaho (ECHL)
AUSTIN STRAND
H: 6-3 W: 215
Feb. 17, 1997
Calgary, Alberta
2022-23: Anaheim (NHL), San Diego (AHL), Rochester (AHL)
CAVAN FITZGERALD
H: 6-1 W: 200
Aug. 23, 1996
Boston
2022-23: Chicago (AHL)
ALEX GREEN
H: 6-2 W: 197
June 18, 1998
Chicago
2022-23: Laval (AHL), Chicago (AHL)
ALEX GREEN
A fourth-round (121st overall) selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Chicago native spent two seasons with the Syracuse Crunch before joining the Laval Rocket at the start of the 2022-23 campaign. On Dec. 2, 2022, Green was acquired by his hometown team via a trade and played 35 games with the Wolves, recording a goal-the gamewinner against the Cleveland Monsters on Feb. 18 at Allstate Arena-and adding four assists along with 41 penalty minutes over 35 games. The 25-year-old defenseman displayed his versatility by shifting to forward during various times of the season.
CAVAN FITZGERALD
The Boston native has been an integral part of the Wolves’ defensive group for three seasons. Sidelined until January while recovering from an injury, Fitzgerald made an immediate impact upon his return during the 2022-23 season. With Fitzgerald proving to be a steadying force on the back end, the Wolves went 19-72-2 down the stretch as they chased a postseason berth. In April, Fitzgerald was named the winner of the 2023 Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award.
MITCH VANDE SOMPEL
H: 5-11 W: 190
Feb. 11, 1997
London, Ontario
2022-23: Colorado (AHL)
GOALTENDERS
KEITH KINKAID
H: 6-2 W: 195
July 4, 1989
Farmingville, New York
2022-23: Boston (NHL), Colorado (NHL), Providence (AHL), Colorado (AHL)
ADAM
SCHEEL
H: 6-4 W: 190
May 1, 1999
Lakewood, Ohio
2022-23: Texas (AHL), Idaho (ECHL)
FAMILY MATTERS
FAMILY MATTERS
By Chris Kuc, Photos by Ross Dettman
For Wolves owner Don Levin, winning championships comes secondary to maintaining an organization that caters to families–on and off the ice. It's the Wolves Way.
Don Levin's love of hockey began in the park across from his childhood home.
Not a huge fan of baseball and too small in stature to play basketball, the owner of the Chicago Wolves thrived when the park was flooded in the winter so kids could lace up ice skates.
"I liked skating and hockey was a sport I could play," Levin said. "I wasn't good at it, but I liked it."
His fondness for the sport blossomed even further when he began attending NHL games with long-time friend and eventual business partner Buddy Meyers,
who had season tickets at Chicago Stadium. The pair quickly became close with those seated around them.
"We knew all the people and knew their birthdays and their kids' names," Levin said. "But as prices started to go up, we started losing the people that we knew and it became more of the nice-sweater crowd. They were there because it was a place to go and we lost that feeling of family."
As his stature as a successful businessman grew, Levin-along with Meyers and former NHLer Grant Mulvey-
found themselves in position to launch the Wolves franchise in 1994.
Just as important to Levin & Co. as winning championships was making sure the Wolves were affordable and family friendly.
"When the opportunity occurred to get the hockey team, we made a determination that we wanted this to be a family friendly organization," Levin said. "We were remembering what we felt going to those games and we wanted to keep it that way."
Now, with the organization embarking
Now, with the organization embarking on its historic 30th season, those ideals remain as firmly in place as they did during the inaugural 1994-95 season.
"We have two core covenants: Family first and keeping things affordable for the entire family to come to a game," Levin said. "No matter what happens on our hockey team, the first thing that every player is taught is your family is first. If you have a family issue, you deal with that first and we'll worry about the team later. We want you to be part of our team, but we want your family to be the most important thing in your life.
"And then we always look to remain affordable so we can bring young people into hockey," Levin continued. "We welcome families that don't want to spend a fortune or can't afford to spend a fortune to come to sporting events."
Those ideals are not lost on longtime members of the organization.
General manager Wendell Young has been a part of the Wolves, including as a player, coach and executive, for nearly the entirety of the franchise's existence and said the Wolves Way "starts at the top with Don. He set the stage from Day 1 what we're going to be about. First of all, he's caring. He epitomizes one of our core covenants of family first.
"And then he wants to win all the time," Young continued. "Don has set the bar that we want to try to win every year and he gives us every asset to do that. He's rare in the business by being an owner who puts the person first while maintaining the want to win and also developing players to reach the NHL."
Oh, yes-the winning.
There have been plenty of victories-and championshipsduring the first 29 seasons of Wolves hockey.
Five championship banners hang from the rafters of Allstate Arena, designating league titles in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2008 and 2022. While all have been memorable, the first championship will always have a special place in Levin's heart.
"The first time we won a title-and I got in serious trouble from my wife for this one-I said, 'that is the most exciting thing since my son was born,' " Levin said with a laugh. "I didn't know what to expect and it was difficult to breathe. It was disorienting. It was wonderful."
Perhaps just as gratifying as winning titles are the relationships Levin has fostered along the way. He remains close to many of the former Wolves players and staff members throughout the 29 seasons.
"All the championships are special," Levin said. "And I remember the players on all those teams. The commonality of the titles is the quality of the players and the closeness of the room.
"Unquestionably, the one thing you know when you go into a room of a championship team, the room is one group," he added. "If you go into a room that doesn't win a championship, typically that room is more than one group."
A new group has taken the ice for the Wolves' 30th season, leaving Levin with a sense of accomplishment that was only a dream back in 1994.
"Thirty
is an amazing number,"
Levin said. "That means that we've had good people in the front office, good coaches and good players. It's been a lot of fun."
And what is he most proud of when looking back on the first 29?
"People who walk into the building wearing a Wolves jersey or a hat," Levin said. "We're part of the community now. It's not a business. People live it. It's been a joy in my life. It's been a wonderful experience."
Being an integral part of the community through charitable initiatives-including helping animals in need that is among Levin's priorities in life-carries a sense of pride throughout the organization.
"In 29 seasons we've accomplished a lot on the ice with the championships but I think more so it's about who we are in the community and within the schools and with the charitable work we've done over the years," Young said. "We've really reached out and touched a lot of people in the community through our endeavors. I think we're a championship team off the ice, too, and that starts with Don."
With a myriad of successful business ventures in his portfolio, being a hands-on owner of the Wolves is Levin's passion.
"It's an escape more than a business," Levin said. "Sometimes, I get depressed that it's not going as well as hoped but then I go to the games and people are excited and come up to me and I'm seeing a third generation of fans. We had parents who came with their kids at the beginning and now the kids are coming with their kids.
"It's a nice thing," he continued slowly. "It feels that when I die there's something left that I built. A lot of people can't say they've done something that will outlast them."
THIS IS 30
JANUARY 25, 1994
The International Hockey League grants franchise rights to Don Levin, Buddy Meyers and Grant Mulvey to operate a team in Chicago, called the Chicago Wolves, with home games at the Rosemont Horizon. Ex-Blackhawks player Mulvey is named president/general manager and Wayne Messmer is chosen as senior vice president.
OCTOBER 14, 1994
A sellout crowd of 16,623 celebrates the Wolves’ first home game and 4-2 victory against Detroit. The event begins with the emotional return of Messmer, who sings the national anthem publicly for the first time since being shot in the throat during a robbery attempt April 9, 1994.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1996
Grant Mulvey is named head coach of the Wolves and continues to serve as president and general manager.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1997
The Wolves name John Anderson as the fifth head coach in team history after Alpo Suhonen decides not to return due to personal commitments in Europe. Kevin Cheveldayoff is named general manager while Gene Ubriaco shifts his role in the organization to director of hockey operations/assistant general manager.
JUNE 15, 1998
Backed by 16,701 fans, the second-largest crowd in Turner Cup Final history, the Wolves shut out the Detroit Vipers 3-0 in Game 7 to capture their first Turner Cup Championship. The triumph caps the IHL’s first seven-game championship series in 13 years. Chicago wins the last two games of the series to become only the sixth team in the IHL’s 53-year history to rebound from a 3-2 deficit in the Final.
JUNE 5, 2000
After the Wolves and Griffins play a scoreless first period, center Derek Plante notches two goals 26 seconds apart in the second period to set the tone for a 3-1 Game 6 victory at Van Andel Arena and the Wolves’ second Turner Cup Championship in three years. With the victory, Chicago becomes the 16th team in league history to capture multiple IHL championships (1998 and 2000).
JUNE 4, 2001
After seven years in the IHL and two Turner Cup Championships in the last four, the Wolves join the American Hockey League. The Wolves sign a multi-year agreement to become the primary affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers of the National Hockey League.
DECEMBER 1, 2001
The Wolves retire former goaltender Wendell Young’s jersey (No. 1), the first time in Wolves history that a number is retired.
JUNE 3, 2002
The Wolves clinch their third championship in five years when center Yuri Butsayev scores 2:05 into the second overtime of Game 5 to defeat Bridgeport 4-3 and capture the Calder Cup championship at Allstate Arena. Goaltender Pasi Nurminen is awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the playoff MVP as he posts a league-leading and franchise-high 15 wins.
OCT. 5, 2003
From humble beginnings to their historic 30th season, the Wolves have become a staple in the Chicago hockey community.
Six days after suffering major head injuries in a car accident, former Wolves center Dan Snyder passes away. Snyder devoted himself to community work during his two seasons.
FEB. 10, 2005
Former player Tim Breslin passes away from appendiceal cancer. He is honored the rest of the season with shamrockshaped stickers bearing his initials.
JUNE 10, 2008
The Wolves collect their fourth league title in 11 seasons and second Calder Cup title with a 5-2 Game 6 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Allstate Arena. Center Jason Krog posts a hat trick as part of a four-point night and earns the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the MVP of the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs. Rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec registers his 16th postseason win, the most in club history and tied for the most in AHL history for one postseason.
OCTOBER 20, 2009
The Wolves announce the signing of 25-year NHL veteran Chris Chelios.
JANUARY 27, 2013
Wolves chairman of the board Don Levin and former players Tim Breslin and Bob Nardella are inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.
JANUARY 26, 2014
Wolves vice chairman Buddy Meyers is inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame.
25, 2022 MARCH 3, 2023 JUNE 13, 2023 WHAT'S NEXT? WHAT'S NEXT?
After suffering an overtime loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals, the Wolves overwhelm the Thunderbirds with four straight wins capped by a 4-0 triumph in Game 5 at MassMutual Center in Springfield. Goaltender Alex Lyon stops 28 shots as he and Pyotr Kochetkov become the first pair in AHL history to each fashion a shutout in Finals play. Leivo earns the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the postseason Most Valuable Player.
Pyotr Kochetkov becomes the 20th goaltender—and second Chicago Wolves netminder—in AHL history to score a goal when he fires a puck the length of the ice and into the net during Chicago’s 4-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose. Wolves legend Bob Nardella is named the 13th Head Coach in franchise history after serving as an assistant for six seasons.
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ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORDS & AWARDS
GOALS LEADERS
BY THE NUMBERS
1
Sweater number of former goaltender and current Wolves general manager 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). His number was the first-ever retired by the organization.
WINS LEADERS
GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE LEADERS
5
Number of times the Chicago Wolves have won the league championship, with the club’s most recent Calder Cup trophy coming in the 2021-22 season. No other professional hockey team in North America has won as many over the last 25 years.
6
Over the course of the past 10 seasons, the Chicago Wolves have claimed the Central Division crown six times, the most division titles across the American Hockey League regardless of division.
GAMES LEADERS
LEO LAMOUREUX MEMORIAL TROPHY
(IHL REGULAR-SEASON SCORING CHAMPION)
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)
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)
STEFAN NOESEN (2021-22)
YANICK DUPRE MEMORIAL AWARD
(AHL MAN OF THE YEAR)
KURTIS FOSTER (2003-04) SCOOTER VAUGHAN (2017-18)
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)
THOMAS EBRIGHT AWARD
(CAREER CONTRIBUTIONS TO AHL)
WENDELL YOUNG (2017-18)
13
Bob Nardella was named the 13th head coach in Chicago Wolves franchise history on June 13, 2023. Nardella became the head coach after serving as a full-time assistant coach for the previous six seasons, helping lead the Wolves to the 2022 Calder Cup, 2019 Calder Cup Finals and four Central Division crowns.
30
This season, the Chicago Wolves are commemorating their 30th campaign. During that span, the team owns a record of 1,206-763-24 for an impressive .611 winning percentage.
476
750
839
Number of games played by Bob Nardella, the most by a Wolves defenseman.
Number of players who have suited up for the Chicago Wolves throughout the history of the team.
Forward Steve Maltais’ record for most games played in a Wolves uniform.
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Hall of Famer Dan Hampton
WATCHING MADE FOR WOLVES
