THE ULTIMATE TEAMMATE
BRAINS AND BRAWN: FORWARD KYLE MARINO EMBRACES HIS ROLE AS THE WOLVES' ENFORCER, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO THE MAN THAN FISTICUFFS.
THE ULTIMATE TEAMMATE
Brains and Brawn:
Forward Kyle Marino embraces his role as the Wolves' enforcer, but there is so much more to the man than fisticuffs.
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
Johnny Sciabica Operations Coordinator
Heather Hidden Social Media Coordinator
Michael Roche Video Production Coordinator
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
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
Jack Metz Director of Season Tickets
Anna Wagner E-Business Specialist
Colette Hankin TicketSalesandServicesCoordinator
Parker Graham Account Executive
Rebecca Erken Inside Sales Representative
Drew Vozza Inside Sales Representative
Jake Lesiak Group Sales, Youth Hockey
Jacob Patzelt Group Sales Account Executive
Ben Pierce Group Sales Account Executive
Sam Kuchta 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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Choose six of the following salads: Sensational Seafood, Honey Fruit & Nut Chicken Salad, Crunchy Chinese Chicken, Crunchy Vegetable, Pasta Italiano, Sour Cream Macaroni & Cheddar, Variety Bean, Deluxe Cole Slaw or Broccoli Salad.
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A classic array of entertaining favorites featuring Sharp Cheddar Cheese Ball, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, Provolone, Cheddar, Gouda, Genoa Salami, Summer Sausage, Red & Green Grapes, and crackers.
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).
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.
GRIFFIN MENDEL
D // H: 6-4 W: 224 2/18/1999
Kelowna, BC
COLE SCHNEIDER
LW // H: 6-1 W: 204 8/26/1990
Williamsville, N.Y.
ALEX GREEN
D // H: 6-2 W: 197 6/18/1998 Chicago, Ill.
G // H: 6-3 W: 192 5/1/1999 Lakewood, Ohio
TORY DELLO
D // H: 6-0 W: 200 2/14/97 Lakewood, Ill.
RYAN WAGNER
LW // H: 5-8 W: 185 4/15/1996 Park Ridge, Ill.
RATCLIFFE LW // H: 6-5 W: 203 2/15/1999
FENSORE D // H: 5-7 W: 151 9/7/2001
TYSON FEIST
D // H: 6-3 W: 208 1/14/2001
Dawson Creek, BC
NATHAN SUCESE
LW // H: 5-9 W: 174 7/12/1996 Fairport, N.Y.
TERRY F // H: 5-10 W: 202 4/7/1989 Brampton, ON
C // H: 6-2 W: 218 6/1/1995 Niagara Falls, ON
ZACH JORDAN
RW// H: 6-3 W: 216 11/12/1996
Collinsville, Ill. RONAN SEELEY
D // H: 6-1 W: 192 8/2/2000
Olds, AB
CAVAN FITZGERALD
D // H: 6-1 W: 200 8/23/1996 Boston, Mass. DOMINIC FRANCO
VANDE SOMPEL
D // H: 5-10 W: 190 2/11/1997 London, ON
MELNICK
C // H: 5-10 W: 175 7/10/1995 Annandale, N.J.
C // H: 6-5 W: 218 1/7/1996
Scituate, R.I.
G // H: 6-2 W: 195 7/4/1989 Framingville, N.Y.
LW // H: 6-2 W: 215 1/8/1999 Longueuil, PQ
MATT DONOVAN
D // H: 6-1 W: 200 5/9/1990
Edmond, Okla.
HUDSON ELYNUIK
F // H: 6-5 W: 207 10/12/1997
Calgary, AB
CORY CONACHER
RW // H: 5-8 W: 182 12/14/1989
Burlington, ON
ROCCO GRIMALDI
RW // H: 5-6 W: 160 2/8/1993
Anaheim, Calif.
Moscow, Russia
HOCKEY OPS & SPECIALTY COACHES
KEVIN
CHANDLER
JAKE NITSCHE
RANDY WOLF
THE ULTIMATE TEAMMATE
Brains and Brawn: Forward Kyle Marino embraces his role as the Wolves' enforcer, but there is so much more to the man than fisticuffs.
By Chris Kuc, Photos by Ross Dettman
Kyle Marino dropped his gloves, grabbed his opponent's sweater and exchanged haymakers before skating away, arms raised triumphantly.
It was Marino in his element, only this time the fighting wasn't real as the forward was merely mocking a melee with Wolves teammate Dominic Franco following a recent practice. While the punches were fake, the smiles that accompanied both players weren't.
That is Marino is a nutshell: Ready and willing to brawl to defend a teammate while also keeping Wolves players in good spirits.
In his second stint with the organization, the 28-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ontario, has again transformed into the heart and soul of the Wolves.
He has done so by not only putting himself in harm's way for his teammates, but by being a beloved figure-on and off the ice.
"He's the ultimate teammate," said Andrew Poturalski, Marino's teammate on the 202122 Wolves squad that captured the Calder Cup championship. "Everybody loves to have him around the room and on the ice."
While pummeling opponents who take a run at Wolves skill players makes him a favorite among teammates and fans alike, there is much more to Marino than being the team's so-called enforcer.
This is a man who:
• Overcame having dyslexia to become a three-time member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic Team while majoring in Business Administration at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
• Loves to cook, including making his own tomato sauce that he has been known to hand out to teammates.
• Plays DJ in the Wolves dressing room.
• Is an exceptional golfer.
• Above all else, is a family man.
To understand Marino is to understand his journey to become a professional hockey player.
He grew up in a close-knit family in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the son of Lori and Mel and sibling to sister, Alyssa, and brother, Jared.
After each victory, a Wolves player is presented with a robe with the team’s logo on it signifying he was the player of the game in the minds of his teammates. Here, Kyle Marino receives it from teammate Chris Terry.
"Our family is super-tight,"
Kyle Marino said. "Growing up, we did everything togetherdinners at home, church on Sundays. A big part of our lives is making a point to talk to each other as much as we can."
While Alyssa was a competitive figure skater, Kyle and Jared shared a passion for hockey.
"We were always at the rink," Kyle Marino said. "With my sister being a figure skater and me and my brother playing hockey, we pretty much lived at that Niagara Falls arena."
Marino was so passionate about hockey that he decided at a young age that he would pursue it as a career-no matter the odds.
"I always wanted to play pro hockey," he said. "Growing up and going to NHL games (the Sabres were his favorite team) and seeing them play, it became 100 percent my goal."
So, a determined Marino took it step by step.
"There were times along the road when I didn't think I was going to get there," he said. "So, I took the professional hockey thing out of it and just concentrated on making it to the next level. When I was playing high school hockey, I wanted to play Junior B hockey. And then I was like, 'OK, next step, let's try to get the Junior A.' When I got to
Junior A, I was like, 'OK, next goal is to try to get a scholarship to play at university' and I made that jump. When I was in university, I was like, 'OK, you're close, let's get to pro hockey.'
"I started off in the East Coast Hockey League (with the Wheeling Nailers during the 2020-21) and from there a goal of mine was to make it to the American Hockey League," Marino continued. "Ultimately, I got on that championship-winning team with the Wolves and it's been awesome."
All this from a player who has three career goals in 95 American Hockey League games, first with the Wolves in '21-22, then with Henderson last season followed by a return to the Wolves this season. It is a testament to the personality, dedication and willingness to put his body on the line for his mates.
"When a guy like me or some of the younger prospects are in the lineup and aren't necessarily tougher guys who will want to fight, we love having a guy like Kyle in the lineup because we know the other team's tough guys aren't running around," Poturalski said.
"Because if they do, they know they're going to have to answer the bell against a guy like him. The everyday fan might not notice something like that, but we love having a guy like that in the lineup and we know he's always going to do what's best for the team."
Added current teammate Nathan Sucese: "He's incredible. He does everything. He supports you, he sticks up for his teammates and he goes to war every single night. I've got nothing but good things to say. He cheers everybody on, he wants everybody to do well and he comes to work every single day with a smile on his face. And when he comes to gametime he's probably the meanest one out there.
He's kind of got two different personalities but he's one of the best teammates I've ever had."
Marino is the type of player Wolves general manager Wendell Young had at the top of his list when he began assembling the roster for the '23-24 season. While it would be nice to stock the team with 30-goal scorers, players such as Marino are just as valuable-if not more.
"It's something that analytics can't quantify, how a guy makes your team better by feeling more confident that they're going to be protected," Young said. "You need a dressing room guy, a leader, a guy who speaks up, a guy who has your back and holds guys accountable. You need certain guys who bring that element and he brings that."
Bringing that physical element is something that Marino embraces. He doesn't shy away from the fact that he is a member of the Wolves more because of his physicality than his scoring ability.
"It was always something that I was willing to do," the 6-feet-2-inch, 218-pound Marino said of being a protector of teammates.
"I had a coach when I was about 13 or 14 who got me into boxing and I gained a lot of confidence doing that.
"I always found it was something that I could add that a lot of other guys didn't want to do and it gave me an advantage," he continued. "A lot of guys have been better than me or faster or more skilled, but I was willing to do things that other guys weren't-I'm still willing to do it. I feel like it's given me a place to play and allowed me to reach this level."
According to hockeyfights.com, Marino has been in 22 fights during his AHL career, and countless other skirmishes-most of them for coming to the defense of a teammate.
For lack of a better word, Marino is the Wolves' enforcer, a term he embraces.
"Some people say it like it's a bad thing, but I think it's a compliment," he said. "I'm recognized as the one able to protect our guys and make sure everyone is safe out there."
Those teammates are also quick to point out that there is more to Marino's game than providing protection.
"He can also play the game," Sucese said. "He plays the game direct, he plays simple, hard, gets in on forechecks and drops the gloves when he feels the bench needs it."
During his first stint with the Wolves, Marino played an integral role in the run to the 2022 Calder Cup championship. Though he only played in 28 regular-season games and two during the postseason run, Young described Marino as "probably the most-liked guy on the team."
MARINOMARINARA
COOKING UP MEMORIES
Each September, Kyle Marino gathers his closest teammates for an important session to prepare for the long hockey season ahead.
It’s time to make the tomato sauce.
One of Marino’s passions is cooking and with the Wolves forward that means it’s a family affair.
“Growing up, I always helped my mom cook and I learned a lot from her,” Marino said. “We’re mainly heavy Italian cooks in our family but my wife, Jen, is Polish so we’re learning a whole new style. Cooking is something we’ve always bonded over as a family.”
While hosting barbecues during the summer is one of Marino’s favorite offseason pastimes, the family bond is never more apparent than when the Marino clan gathers at his home in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in the fall to can and preserve tomato sauce.
The group includes Kyle and Jen, grandparents Gloria and Angelo, parents Mel and Lori, sister Alyssa, brother, Jared, and other family members living in the area.
“My grandparents started it at the end of the summer when we’d harvest the tomatoes from their massive garden,” Marino said. “It’s a full-day process and it’s our whole family so there’s about 10 of us usually doing it.”
The result means a supply of sauce for the family— and Wolves teammates.
“It’s nice to have some homemade sauce when we get into the season,” Marino said. “I’ll give some to the guys and they just can’t believe how good it is.”
Poturalski, who now plays for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, said Marino played a massive role in the fifth championship in Wolves history.
"During that Cup run we'd be going into the coaches' office wanting him to be in the lineup," Poturalski said. "Things get pretty tense during those series and I'm sure he would have loved to have been on the ice with us, but for him to still make an impact speaks volumes about his character.
"I can't say enough good things about having him in the room and on the ice," Poturalski added. "When you're done playing hockey you remember all the guys you played with and all the different personalities and to be able to have an impression like that even when you're not on the ice that much says all you need to know."
Though Marino craved more ice time, he embraced his role and has a memory of a lifetime.
"When you're on winning teams and championship teams, you have selfless guys doing selfless things and they may not get the recognition they deserve or want, I guess, but at the end of the day, you're all winners and no one can take that away from you," Marino said. "It's really cliche to say, but if you talk to any championship-winning team, they all say, 'oh, we're a really close group.' And you can't win if you're not. And we had so much fun, whether we were at the rink or away from it at dinner, it didn't matter, we were just having fun.
"I heard a good quote the other day," Marino added. " 'There are some guys who want to win and there are some guys who have to.' And that group had to win."
If Marino sounds intelligent, it's no accident. He's no brainless goon as he studies film intensely in an effort to improve his game and displays smarts in other ways.
"I think he's finishing the crossword puzzles before everyone else in the room," Young said. "Some people have the misconception just because a guy is tough he's not smart. I've seen some pretty tough guys who are brilliant people and I think Kyle falls in that category."
Sucese concurred.
"He's a college guy, three-time academic," the forward said. "He's very smart outside of the rink. He's got the whole package. He's just a great human."
Despite his dyslexia, Marino excelled in school, something he credits to his mom, Lori.
"I was always good in school, but I had to put a ton of work at it," Kyle Marino said. "There were a lot of battles with my mom when I didn't want to go to tutoring or didn't want to go get extra help but I'm so thankful that she kept on me to make sure I had great marks and it paid off in the end."
Marino, who married longtime girlfriend, Jen, during the summer, hopes to remain with the Wolves for the duration of his career.
"I was so happy to come back and I really want to stay here for a while," Marino said. "Don Levin is the best owner in the league with his passion for the team and how hands-on he is and how much he cares. He cares about people's families and he goes above and beyond and the players are extremely thankful and want to play for him."
How long Marino plays remains to be seen ("I take it one season at a time"), but the passion to take the ice is as strong as ever.
"I love to play hockey," Marino said. "I love going to the rink and being around the guys every day. I'm very, very blessed to be able to play hockey for a living right now and I still feel like I have more years in me for sure."
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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
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