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VOL. 17 ISSUE 1

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

OWNERSHIP Don Levin Wendell Young Wayne Messmer Seth Gold

Chairman of the Board/Governor Vice Chairman/Governor Senior Executive Vice President Director

OPERATIONS

FEATURED: PAGE 16

LEADER OF THE PACK

JOSIAH SLAVIN’S ASCENT TO BECOME WOLVES CAPTAIN STARTS AND ENDS WITH FAMILY.

19 21 23 24

A SKATING STAR, JUSTIN ROBIDAS AIMS FOR NEW HEIGHTS

LEGAULT A BIG HIT

Courtney Mahoney Dan Harris Bill Bentley Norine Gillner Mark Abernethy Imran Javed Chris Kuc Danny Karmin Michael Roche Ian Babcock Sammy Frieri Matthew Gordon Abby Ettel Eugene Lee K.T. Lucchesi Luca Vitale Jason Shaver Bill Gardner Ryan Mason

President of Operations Vice President of Operations Assistant General Manager Hockey Operations Assistant Marketing Creative Director Director of Public Relations Public Relations Assistant Video Production Coordinator Community Relations Coordinator Operations Coordinator Community Relations Coordinator Social Media Coordinator Motion Graphics Designer Graphic Designer Graphic Designer Play-by-Play Broadcaster Color Analyst Mascot Coordinator

BUSINESS OPERATIONS Jon Sata Greg Sprott Chris Friederich Anissa Patterson

Tim Weaver Samantha Davis Eric Zavilla Jackie Schroeder Stefanie Evans Jack Metz Colette Hankin Drew Vozza Shanon Blumenfeld Robert Corritone Luke Davis Riley Duggan Andrew Grum Parker Lanczak Ethan Letwat Baltazar Mosqueda Lara Max Ramos Hannah Towe Nick Zaccagnini

President of Business Operations Vice President of Partnerships Director of Partnerships Client Services Senior Manager, Partnerships Senior Manager, Partnerships Vice President of Ticket Sales Executive Director of Tickets & Inside Sales Senior Director of Ticket Retention & Services Senior Director of Program Development Director of Ticket Sales Ticket Sales & Services Coordinator Group Sales Manager Group Sales Account Executive Inside Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative Group Sales Account Executive New Business Account Executive Client Services Coordinator, Partnerships New Business Senior Account Executive Group Sales Account Executive Corporate Partnerships Executive Account Executive

GAME DAY STAFF

Chris Dubiel Hannah Arbitman

"THERE'S NO BORING TIME HERE"

NEVER FORGOTTEN

Public Address Announcer In-Arena Host

WOLF PACK Kelly O'Connor, Katie Castillo, Morgan Chicalace, Lily Freedman, Devinai Hobbs, Clarissa Messina, Rachel Mullany, Emily Murdach GAME DAY STAFF Rachel Bonilla, Amanda Bultema, Anthony Chicalace, Emily Eisha, Matthew Espinoza, Emily Fricano, Rob Hardin, Kortney Hill, Michael Hoffman, Max Holbrook, Joe Howley, Brook Hurlbut, Sylvester Ratcliffe Jr., Steve Laures, Denis McGinty, Shayla Medows, Tommy Mikhelzon, Izzy Minor, Kyle Morrissey, Seth Novoselsky, Dan Paskon, Alex Perez, Liam Prentis, Alyssa Rogers, William Smith ICE CREW Kelly Tragas, Dave Castellanos, Christian Dimas, Thomas Fumagalli, Matt Glavach, Conor Hogarth, John Midlock, Brandon Scurto, Benjamin Sipowich, Lauren Stoeck

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

Editorial Producer: Courtney Mahoney Publication Writers: Chris Kuc, Danny Karmin Publication Photographer: Ross Dettman Publication Designers: Christina Moritz, Imran Javed

BREAKAWAY

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a message from the president Dear Fans, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the historic 90th season of the American Hockey League.

scott howson PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

american hockey league

Since we first dropped the puck in 1936, our league has grown to include 32 cities from coast to coast and a truly global community with fans cheering on our teams from around the world. And we remain proud of our commitment to being the top development league for nearly all of the players, coaches, executives, trainers, broadcasters and officials who you see throughout the National Hockey League today. For nine decades, you have cheered on future superstars, Stanley Cup champions and Hockey Hall of Famers as they have come through the AHL. This season we reflect on our past while continuing our tradition of excellence, from the excitement of opening night to the pageantry of the AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford to the pure emotion of the Calder Cup Playoffs. On behalf of all of our teams, thank you for your continuing support of the American Hockey League.

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WOLVES HISTORY: REMEMBER WHEN THE WOLVES HAVE HAD MANY SPECIAL PLAYERS TAKE THE ICE THROUGHOUT THE FRANCHISE’S STORIED HISTORY. HERE, A FEW OF THEM SHARE THEIR FONDEST MEMORIES OF PLAYING FOR THE WOLVES. REMEMBER WHEN …

STEVE MALTAIS PILED UP POINTS FOR THE WOLVES POSITION: FORWARD BORN: JAN. 25, 1969; ARVIDA, QUEBEC WOLVES CAREER: 1994-2005 – GAMES: 839; GOALS: 454; ASSISTS: 497; POINTS: 951 CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1998, 2000, 2002 FOR WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR WOLVES CAREER? “I tried to be as consistent as I could and also be a good leader. If someone was struggling, I’d try to pick them up and help. I also wanted to be the best player I could and sometimes it worked

out and sometimes it didn’t. But I kept trying to kick the door down and be better as an individual and as a group.” WHAT ARE YOUR MOST CHERISHED MEMORIES OF THE WOLVES? There were two scoring titles (19992000 and 2002-03), but the season I won the Iron Man Award (1999-2000) I took a slap shot to the mouth, lost five teeth and played the next day. If you see the picture of us after winning the Turner Cup, I have braces holding up some teeth, two shiners and a cigar in the mouth. “The three championships are all special. The first one (1998) was kind of a christening and it rewarded the owners who started the franchise and put a lot of time in, the coaching staff, management and fans.”

REMEMBER WHEN …

TOM TILLEY ROAMED THE BLUE LINE FOR THE WOLVES POSITION: DEFENSEMAN BORN: MARCH 28, 1965; TRENTON, ONTARIO WOLVES CAREER: 1997-2001 – GAMES: 231; GOALS: 17; ASSISTS: 141; POINTS: 158 CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1998, 2000 T I L L EY

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FOR WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR WOLVES CAREER? “Trying to be a good leader. When you have that much talent in the room there have to be some voices of reason about how we should be thinking. I wasn’t the captain but the letter on the

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jersey doesn’t make leadership and I think I helped keep things calm in the locker room, “Anytime there weren’t enough pucks, I would be like, ‘hey, hey, it’s going to be OK. We have lots of games and everyone is going to get lots of chances.’ That’s the difficult part of assembling such talent—you have to make sure there is one really important thing and that’s winning games.” WHAT ARE YOUR MOST CHERISHED MEMORIES OF THE WOLVES? “Just the celebrations when we won. We had so much fun when we won a series or when we won a championship and (Wolves owner) Don Levin was always so gracious about getting everybody together for a nice dinner or things like that. Those are the kind of memories that I have, just how teamoriented we were.”

BREAKAWAY

WOLVES HISTORY: REMEMBER WHEN REMEMBER WHEN …

STEVE MARTINS PLAYED FOR THE WOLVES IN THREE SEPARATE STINTS.

most of the season so I got to know him really well and in subsequent years got to know his family as well. Winning that award meant the world to me, especially knowing the type of family they are and knowing how much of a really solid human being Tim was.”

POSITION: FORWARD BORN: APRIL 13, 1972; GATINEAU, QUEBEC

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST CHERISHED MEMORIES OF THE WOLVES?

WOLVES CAREER: 1998; 2001; 20072009 – GAMES: 262; GOALS: 64; ASSISTS: 129; POINTS: 193

“In ’98 I was probably one of the youngest guys on the team. We had a lot of really good older players who led the way for us all year and it was such an amazing group of older veteran guys, some finishing up their careers, along with those who were a bit younger. Going into the playoffs against the Vipers in Game 7 of the finals ranks all-time for me. That moment standing on that blue line listening to the crowd was amazing.”

CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1998, 2008 FOR WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR WOLVES CAREER? S T EV E M 2009 TIM

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“Being awarded the Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award in 2009. I played with him my first year with the Wolves back in 1998 and played with him on the line for

REMEMBER WHEN …

CHRIS MARINUCCI GAVE THE WOLVES THE LEAD IN GAME 7 OF THE 1998 TURNER CUP FINALS POSITION: FORWARD BORN: DEC. 29, 1971; GRAND RAPIDS, MINN. WOLVES CAREER: 1997-2000 – GAMES: 240; GOALS: 99; ASSISTS: 121; POINTS: 220 CHAMPIONSHIPS: 1998, 2000

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FOR WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR WOLVES CAREER? “Winning the IHL Man of the Year award in 1999 was special. I’ve always enjoyed working with kids and it was no different in Chicago. They seem to be like sponges that just soak everything up so if I could provide a little bit of positive information about their future and get them thinking about what it takes for them to achieve their goals, then it was well worth the time and energy.”

CHICAGO WOLVES

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST CHERISHED MEMORIES OF THE WOLVES? “My time in Chicago was pretty special to myself and my wife, Lisa. The city of Chicago, obviously, is great, but the Wolves organization treated us great and the guys on the team were some of our best friends back in the day and still are.”

OWNERSHIP 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. Levin led the way in founding the Chicago Wolves 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 nearly 2,000 dogs in its first 24 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. Before beginning his business career, Levin served in the United States Marine Corps, from which he was honorably discharged.

WENDELL YOUNG VICE CHAIRMAN/GOVERNOR

After 15 seasons as general manager of the Wolves, Wendell Young was promoted to Vice Chairman/Governor on May 3, 2024. During Young’s stint as GM, which began in August of 2009, the Wolves captured the 2022 Calder Cup and reached the 2019 Calder Cup Finals. Young also helped capture eight American Hockey League division titles: the 2010 West, 2012 Midwest, 2014 Midwest, 2017 Central, 2018 Central, 2019 Central, 2021 Central and 2022 Central. 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. He is currently the only player in hockey history to have won the Memorial Cup, Calder Cup, Turner Cup and Stanley Cup.

CHICAGO WOLVES

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BEHIND THE BENCH CAM ABBOTT

HEAD COACH (2ND SEASON) Cam Abbott is the 14th head coach in Wolves history. He served as the head coach of Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League from 2017-23. He was named the ’21-22 SHL Coach of the Year after Rogle BK topped the SHL regular-season standings and captured the Champions Hockey League for the first time. Prior to coaching Rogle BK, Abbott served as head coach of Vaxjo Lakers’ Under-20 team from 2016-17. The Sarnia, Ont., native also played several seasons of professional hockey as a forward. Abbott recorded 166 points (74 goals, 92 assists) in 276 SHL/Elitserien games with Rogle BK and Lulea HF from 2008-15. He also tallied 35 goals and 30 assists in 42 games with Frisk Asker (Norway) in 2007-08 and posted 35 goals and 35 assists in 55 Central Hockey League games with Bossier-Shreveport in 2006-07. Abbott played four seasons of college hockey at Cornell from 2002-06.

SPIROS ANASTAS ASSISTANT COACH (2ND SEASON)

Spiros Anastas was named to the Wolves coaching staff Aug. 28, 2024. Prior to joining the Wolves, he worked as a head coach in international competitions for Greece and China, as well as a scout for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose during the 2023-24 season. The Toronto native has also gained head coaching experience in the ECHL with the Brampton Beast and South Carolina Stingrays, in CIS with the University of Lethbridge and in international competition with Serbia, Estonia and South Korea. He previously worked as an assistant coach in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, winning a Calder Cup championship in 2013.

DAN PRICE

ASSISTANT COACH (2ND SEASON) Dan Price joined the Wolves coaching staff Aug. 28, 2024, after eight seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals, the final seven of which as head coach. Prior to joining Victoria, Price worked as an assistant coach for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), as well as the WHL’s Tri-City Americans and Chilliwack Bruins. A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Law, Price also gained experience as a scout for the Regina Pats (WHL), an assistant coach for Team Pacific at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and a head coach and general manager of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Drumheller Dragon.

CHICAGO WOLVES

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MEET THE WOLVES FORWARDS

WOLVES SPOTLIGHT: ALEKSI HEIMOSALMI

RYAN SUZUKI H: 6-1; W: 190 5/28/2001 London, ON 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Carolina (NHL)

SKYLER BRIND’AMOUR H: 6-3; W: 190 7/27/1999 Raleigh, N.C. 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Carolina (NHL)

NOEL GUNLER H: 6-1; W: 175 10/7/2001 Lulea, Sweden 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

JOSIAH SLAVIN H: 6-3; W: 197 12/31/1998 Erie, Col. 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

FELIX UNGER SORUM H: 5-11; W: 170 9/14/2005 Trondheim, Norway 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

Heimosalmi made his AHL debut Oct. 12, 2024 vs. Milwaukee. The defenseman posted 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 56 games. Before joining the Wolves, he spent three seasons with Assat Pori in SM-liiga, Finland’s top professional league. He accumulated six goals and 25 assists in 139 games for Assat Pori. Heimosalmi was selected in the second round (44th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

BRADLY NADEAU H: 5-11; W: 172 5/5/2005 St-Francois-de-Madawaska, NB 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Carolina (NHL)

WOLVES SPOTLIGHT: JUSTIN ROBIDAS The slick-skating center tallied 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists) in 70 games during his rookie campaign in 2024-25. He ranked third on the Wolves in points, second in goals, second in assists and first in shots (161). Robidas placed fourth among all AHL rookies in points and first in shots. Before signing his entry-level contract with Carolina in 2023, Robidas spent five seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) recording 239 points (95 goals, 144 assists) in 223 games with the Val-d’Or Foreurs and Quebec Remparts. The forward also earned 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 18 postseason games, as the Remparts won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as 2022-23 QMJHL champions.

JUSTIN ROBIDAS H: 5-8; W: 180 3/13/2003 Plano, Texas 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Carolina (NHL) DENI GOURE H: 5-11; W: 185 7/15/2003 Chatham, ON 2024-25 teams: Calgary (AHL); Rapid City (ECHL)

TYLER WEISS H: 5-10; W: 170 1/3/2000 Raleigh, N.C. 2024-25 team: South Carolina (ECHL) EVAN VIERLING H: 6-0; W: 179 6/20/2002 Aurora, ON 2024-25 team: Maine (ECHL) DAVID GAGNON H: 6-0; W: 181 4/19/2000 Halifax, NS 2024-25 teams: Lindenwood U. (NCAA); Rapid City (ECHL)

WOLVES SPOTLIGHT: BRADLY NADEAU

NIKITA PAVLYCHEV H: 6-7; W: 210 3/23/1997 Yaroslavl, Russia 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

BLAKE BIONDI H: 6-1; W: 198 4/24/2002 Hermantown, Minn. 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Notre Dame (NCAA)

TYSON JOST H: 5-11; W: 190 3/14/1998 St. Albert, AB 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Carolina (NHL)

JUHA JAASKA H: 6-0; W: 191 2/9/1998 Helsinki, Finland 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Carolina (NHL)

YANICK TURCOTTE H: 6-0; W: 203 6/25/1996 Quebec, QC 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Fort Wayne (ECHL)

GLEB TRIKOZOV H: 6-1; W: 191 8/12/2004 Omsk, Russia 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

During the ’24-25 season, Nadeau became just one of five players in AHL history to register a 30-goal season before the age of 20. The Hurricanes’ first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft led all AHL rookies with 32 goals and finished second with 58 points in 64 games for the Wolves. Nadeau’s 58 points ranked second behind Ryan Suzuki’s 59 for the Wolves’ team lead and he topped Chicago with 10 power-play goals and seven game-winners. Those efforts earned Nadeau a selection to the 2024-25 AHL All-Rookie Team. The native of St-François-de-Madawaska, N.B., collected Hockey East All-Rookie honors and a Hobey Baker Award finalist nod as a freshman at the University of Maine last season. He also received a recall to the Hurricanes and had one assist in two games. In addition, Nadeau skated for Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring two goals during the tournament.

BREAKAWAY

MEET THE WOLVES DEFENSEMEN WOLVES SPOTLIGHT: CHARLES-ALEXIS LEGAULT Legault, a fifth-round selection (No. 139 overall) of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, made his AHL debut Oct. 12, 2024 vs. Milwaukee. In his first professional season, he recorded 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) and 58 penalty minutes in 63 games. He also paced all Wolves skaters with a plusminus rating of plus-11. Legault posted 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 39 NCAA games with Quinnipiac in 2023-24, leading all Bobcats defensemen in goals. He also registered a plus/minus rating of plus-36, which stood as the highest mark among all Division I skaters. Legault had 33 points in 79 NCAA games over two seasons with Quinnipiac, helping the program win its first National Championship in 2022-23.

GOALTENDERS RUSLAN KHAZHEYEV H: 6-4; W: 201 11/20/2004 Chelyabinsk, Russia 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

CAYDEN PRIMEAU H: 6-3; W: 200 8/11/1999 Voorhees, N.J. 2024-25 teams: Montreal (NHL); Laval (AHL)

AMIR MIFTAKHOV H: 6-1; W: 181 4/26/2000 Kazan, Russia 2024-25 team: Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

HOCKEY OPS & SPECIALTY COACHES Stan Dubicki, Goaltenders Coach Zach Richards, Video Coach Jack Rinzel, Strength Coach Austin Kasper, Athletic Trainer Jim Schroeder, Asst. Athletic Trainer Rob Kennedy, Head Equipment Manager Lucas Hunter, Assistant Equipment Manager 14

CHICAGO WOLVES

DOMENICK FENSORE H: 5-9; W: 175 9/7/2001 Bronxville, N.Y. 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Carolina (NHL)

RONAN SEELEY H: 6-1; W: 192 8/2/2002 Olds, AB 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

DOMINIK BADINKA H: 6-3; W: 183 11/27/2005 Chomutov, Czechia 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Malmo (SHL)

JOEL NYSTROM H: 5-11; W: 170 5/14/2002 Karlstad, Sweden 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Farjestad BK (SHL)

CHARLES-ALEXIS LEGAULT H: 6-3; W: 208 9/5/2003 Laval, QC 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

ALEKSI HEIMOSALMI H: 5-11; W: 170 5/8/2003 Pori, Finland 2024-25 team: Chicago (AHL)

BRYCE MONTGOMERY H: 6-4; W: 216 11/12/2002 Washington, D.C. 2024-25 teams: Chicago (AHL); Bloomington (ECHL) GAVIN BAYREUTHER H: 6-1; W: 196 5/12/1994 Concord, N.H. 2024-25 team: Lausanne HC (NL, Swiss League) JACOB FRIEND H: 6-2; W: 200 7/28/97 Bowmanville, ON 2024-25 teams: Vorarlberg (Austria); Dresden (DEL2 Germany)

WOLVES SPOTLIGHT: RUSLAN KHAZHEYEV Khazheyev was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fifth round (No. 158) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He made his professional debut for the Wolves Oct. 29, 2024 vs. Iowa. Khazheyev started 20 games for the Wolves in 2024-25, earning five wins, a 3.49 goals-against average and a .876 save percentage. He recorded his first AHL win Nov. 2 over Rockford. He also made 28 appearances in 2023-24 for Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk of the MHL, Russia’s top junior league, posting a 16-5-2 record, 2.19 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and two shutouts.

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LEADER OF THE PACK

JOSIAH SLAVIN’S ASCENT TO BECOME WOLVES CAPTAIN STARTS AND ENDS WITH FAMILY. By Chris Kuc

IT’S NOT ALL THAT UNCOMMON WHEN A POPULAR FILM MAKES A LASTING IMPACT ON A MOVIEGOER. In the case of the cinematic masterpiece that is the 1992 release “The Mighty Ducks,” the impact extended to an entire family and then into the highest levels of professional hockey. Justin Slavin, the oldest of a sibling group that would eventually grow to five, saw the movie starring Emilio Estevez and abandoned playing roller hockey to lace up a pair of ice skates. When the older brother in a family takes a liking to something, the rest of his siblings are sure to follow suit. Hence the launching of the hockey obsession for the Slavin family, including the fourth sibling of the bunch, Wolves captain Josiah Slavin. “I grew up in a hockey family—we had five kids and we all played hockey,” Josiah said. “When ‘The Mighty Ducks’ first came out, Justin switched to ice hockey and then we all just kind of followed along. The movie started the whole thing for the family so when I was one-and-ahalf years old I started skating and when I was two years old I started playing.” With parents Robert and Wendi Slavin providing encouragement and spaces to thrive, including a sports court at one house in Erie, Colorado, and a hockey shooting arena in the basement of another house following a move in the same area, it was a competitive environment for Slavin kids Justin, Jordan, Jaccob, Josiah and Jeremiah. “I don’t think there was one thing we’d do in our house that wasn’t competitive and so we were always just trying to make

CHICAGO WOLVES

each other better while obviously trying to win,” Josiah, 26, said. “I cried a lot as a kid trying to win everything because I hated losing. “My three older siblings (Justin, Jordan and Jaccob) played every sport you could imagine,” Josiah continued. “By the time I was born and got into hockey we were all playing ice hockey competitively. There wasn't much time for anything other than hockey. And baseball because they were two separate seasons. We all played hockey and we all played baseball.” If not for a wonky left shoulder, Josiah might be excelling on the diamond instead of the rink. “My dad always said he was going to have kids until he had a lefty pitcher and I was that lefty pitcher,” Josiah said. “Unfortunately, I threw out my shoulder for the last time the summer after my freshman year (at Erie High School). After that, I was like, ‘I have to just be done and be focused on hockey.’ ” Luckily, his intuition proved correct. “It was always going to be hockey whether I hurt myself in baseball or not,” he said. “I had way more of a passion for hockey than I did for baseball.” There was no shortage of players for family shinny games. Along with Justin’s love of the game, sister Jordan was a defenseman who played four years at the University of North Dakota, Jaccob is currently a star defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes and Jeremiah played in the USHL and BCHL and was a participant in the Hurricanes’ Development Camp in 2022. Growing up, Josiah developed an

especially strong bond with Jaccob, five years his senior. “From a young age, I learned how to compete with Jaccob in all the sports that he would play like he had done with Justin,” Josiah said. “We had to live up to the challenge of our older brothers.” Jaccob said it is Josiah’s competitive drive that made him stand out during their younger years and now into the professional ranks. “He’s always just had that competitive edge to him,” said Jaccob, a 2020 NHL All-Star and two-time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner. “Whenever he and I are together all we want to do is play games, whether it’s basketball, Spikeball, pickleball or golf and we are so competitive with each other. It’s just who he is and that drive and desire to win and always get better make him such a great hockey player.” Josiah’s development into a standout on the ice wasn’t immediate, courtesy of a slight stature in his early teen years. “I had talent as a kid and then everybody kind of outgrew me,” Josiah said. “When I was 14, I was like maybe 5-4, 100 pounds and then over the next couple of years I started to grow and by the time I was 17, I was 6-3, 180 pounds. It was about time I grew.” His game grew along with it and while a member of the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, Josiah received a surprising phone call: The Chicago Blackhawks had selected him in the seventh round (193rd overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. “I never went to the draft,” Josiah said. “I was playing in a charity hockey tournament and I got off the ice and I got

teammates. Still, it is Jaccob who has the deepest knowledge and describes his brother as “a humble, down-to-earth, hard-working man.

a call from my agent and he said, ‘did you see what just happened?’ I was like, ‘no,’ and he said, ‘Chicago just drafted you.’ I was with my teammates in the locker room at the time and we kind of just went nuts together.”

“He’s a man full of faith, character and full of integrity,” Jaccob added. “He’s going to do things the right way and he’s going to do it with joy and with a smile on his face. He does things to the best of his ability because that’s who he’s been his whole life. He’s a good father, he’s a good husband and he’s a great brother. We love each other.”

After two years at Colorado College and a stint in the AHL, Josiah made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks and appeared in 15 games during the 2021-22 season. “That was a really cool experience to be able to do that and just have that kind of be on my resume forever,” Josiah said. “Every kid dreams of playing in the NHL one day and I was very grateful that God gave me the opportunity to be able to do so. I never took that moment for granted.”

There is a dream the Slavin brothers continue to share: Playing together in the NHL. They appeared in a Hurricanes preseason game prior to the ’24-25 campaign but yearn to do so in a regularseason contest.

Stints with Rockford, San Diego and Toronto in the AHL led to Slavin signing a two-year, two-way, free-agent contract with the Hurricanes on July 7, 2024 and later being assigned to the Wolves.

“Our preseason game we had together last year was so much fun and it was such a fun thing for my parents and the rest of our family,” Jaccob said. “To be able to do that in a regular-season game and maybe even a full season someday would be so cool.”

On Oct. 25, 2024, head coach Cam Abbott called Slavin into his office and told the forward he had been named the 17th captain in Wolves franchise history.

Josiah, who concurred by saying, “that definitely would be a dream for both of us,” is happy to be with the Wolves but remains hopeful of a return to the NHL and an opportunity to take the ice with his brother.

“It’s always an honor when you are able to wear a letter for a team and be a leader for the younger guys,” said Josiah, who had 12 goals and nine assists in 66 games with the Wolves last season. “I take a lot of pride in that and I'm just very grateful that the coaches gave me that opportunity.” The news was no shock to Jaccob, who knew about his brother’s integrity and caring for others. “I wasn’t surprised at all,” Jaccob said. “Any time you have a captain, you want it to be someone who puts the work in, has the right mentality, is able to think the game, have the work ethic he has and has a good head on his shoulders. That’s just who he is; that’s how he carries himself.” Josiah, who said, “I get nervous speaking in public so when I have to talk in front of the locker room it's not the best scenario for me,” is a leader by example. That example is a good one, according to those who know him best. “He lets his work ethic and his play on the ice do a lot of his talking,” Jaccob said. “He’s not the most vocal guy but he’s there for his teammates when they

“I hope so,” Josiah said. “That’s always the goal. You always want to be at the highest level you can play.”

“MY DAD ALWAYS SAID HE WAS GOING TO HAVE KIDS UNTIL HE HAD A LEFTY PITCHER AND I WAS THAT LEFTY PITCHER” need it, whether it’s on or off the ice.” Said Wolves forward Juha Jaaska: “(Josiah) is a great leader and plays with a big heart. We are so happy to have him, especially with our young team.” Added forward Justin Robidas: “ ‘Slavo’ is a really great guy. I really got to know him and his family and they’re just great people. He’s a great captain. Everyone loves him. He’s just very calm, collected and a great player as well.”

And if that dream becomes a reality, which Slavin brother is passing the puck to his sibling to score a goal? “I’ll pass to him and he can score the goal,” Jaccob said with a laugh. “He’s a forward so I’ll shoot one from the point and he can tip it in.” True to his form, Josiah was more diplomatic. “I think it’s whatever play is given to us,” he said. “Neither one of us would be upset to pass that puck.” Photos courtesy of Slavin Family Top from left to right: Jeremiah (brother), Josiah, Wendi (mom), Jaccob (brother) and Jordan (sister). Cover photo by Ross Dettman

Josiah is a devout Christian who prays at center ice following each game and cherishes the deep bond with Wolves

BREAKAWAY

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BY DANNY KARMIN, PHOTO BY ROSS DETTMAN

A SKATING STAR, JUSTIN ROBIDAS AIMS FOR NEW HEIGHTS GROWING UP IN PLANO, TEXAS, JUSTIN ROBIDAS WATCHED HIS FATHER, STÉPHANE, AN ELECTRIFYING SKATER, ROAM THE BLUE LINE FOR THE DALLAS STARS. The 5-foot-11-inch defenseman, who played in 937 NHL games, wasn't big in stature but thrived with his quick feet, elite mind and determination. Justin couldn't have asked for a better mentor, father and coach to help him develop into the professional hockey player he aspired to be.

during the season to talk hockey and go over Justin's game tape. "He's just been really supportive," Justin said. "I'll pick up the phone after a game and call him and we'll just share ideas. And during the week if he sees a cool practice drill they did in Montreal, or what a particular player might have been working on at practice, we'll talk about it." Measuring at 5-8, Justin has his father's height genetics but, luckily for him, the natural skating ability followed as well.

Justin, who is a natural centerman, took the opposite position from his father and always preferred playing forward, despite any of Stéphane's efforts.

Watch any Wolves game and the 22-year-old center will immediately stand out. Not only is Justin fast, but he's also shifty and unpredictable, often using it to his advantage.

"There was this brick hockey tournament in Edmonton when I was younger and my dad had some contacts and was able to get me to play with Little Caesars, which was the Detroit Junior Red Wings," Justin said. "They actually didn't have any spots available at forward, but they were missing a lot on defense. My dad told them that ... I could play defense, no questions asked.

Justin credits his size to allow him to be more elusive against defenders. He has altered his skating stride over time, especially growing up attending Dallas Stars Elite Youth Hockey Club practices.

"So, my dad and I fly to Detroit for a training camp for the tournament where they pick the teams and that's kind of where I figured out that I was going to play defense there,” Justin continued. "My jersey color was with all the defensemen, and I remember being so mad at him for not telling me. That is kind of a little funny story that I remember from growing up, but he never really put any pressure on me. He's always been good about respecting me and what I want."

"Not being as tall, I think it's easier to have that (strong) stride and to kind of be more of a smooth skater," Justin said. "But the other thing for me over the years that I've been trying to work on was that my feet were very large and far apart. Something I've worked on is trying to bring them closer together. A lot of skating coaches have told me it was the main way to have that powerful stride It's being able to extend fully and then coming back to the middle of my skating stance."

Stéphane is currently an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens but often finds time

The dynamic skater keeps his opponents guessing with his elusive

"I THINK IT ALL KIND OF CAME NATURALLY TO ME. IT'S FUNNY HOW IT WORKS SOMETIMES; I GUESS YOU'RE BORN WITH IT."

BREAKAWAY

skating edges and quick turns. "I think it all kind of came naturally to me," Justin said. "It's funny how it works sometimes; I guess you're born with it. I've always been one of the top skaters on my team. But it's something that you try to continue working on every summer. You can never be satisfied with the way you skate; you can always be more powerful." A more powerful Justin Robidas is a scary thought for the league. During the 2024-25 campaign, he topped the Wolves with 161 shots on goal, ranked second in goals (20) and assists (35) and his 55 points were third on the team while placing him fourth among all AHL rookies. The rookie's transition to the AHL wasn't all a breeze. The Wolves as a whole struggled offensively, with Justin collecting eight points and four goals in his first 20 games. A game against the Stars on Dec. 13, 2024, in Texas helped turn the tide. Justin and the Wolves defeated the Stars 5-4 in overtime behind his four-point night, including the game-winning goal. The place where he fell in love with the game and where Stéphane became a fan favorite had all come full circle. If you squinted, Justin looked almost like a carbon copy of his dad -- a right-hander darting through the neutral zone and opening up for a one-timer into the back of the net. "My dad was definitely my biggest role model and someone I've always looked up to--and still do," Justin said. "Growing up and being in that professional environment, day in and day out, seeing how it is, and all the work he put in guided me. "I would always go to the rink with my dad," he added. "When I didn't have school he would bring me in the morning, and I'd be able to go on the ice after Dallas' practice and then be in the

Photos of Stephane and Justin Robidas courtesy of Robidas family.

CHICAGO WOLVES

locker room with all the guys. And as a young kid, you kind of feel like it's normal and everyone's life is like that. So I was kind of blind to how lucky I really was. Later, you realize how special it was to be around that atmosphere." From that night in Cedar Park, Texas, Justin continued to surge. In his final 50 games, he piled up 47 points (16 goals, 31 assists). The league and his teammates started to take notice. "He’s one of the smartest players that I’ve played with," Wolves captain Josiah Slavin said. "It’s so much fun to watch him. He’s so smart and so patient with the puck. He’s always in the right position. Playing with him is pretty simple." Justin found consistency on a line with fellow forwards Bradly Nadeau and Ryan Suzuki and that also translated well while skating on the power play. Justin accumulated four power-play goals (tied for 4th on the Wolves) as well as 12 assists with a man advantage (tied for second). He was often the set-up man with Nadeau converting his "MY DAD WAS DEFINITELY MY BIGGEST ROLE MODEL AND SOMEONE I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO--AND STILL DO."

signature one-timer from the left circle. Of Nadeau's teamleading 32 tallies, Justin assisted on 11 of them. "I think once things started clicking, we kind of got in a groove as a unit," Justin said. "I think our power play was really good, especially after Christmas. So that's definitely something that stood out to me and helped our team's success." 

LEGAULT A

No other Wolves defenseman had as many defensive-zone faceoff starts and 6-on-5 minutes while protecting a lead as Legault did in 202425.

BIG

HIT

“It's extremely critical to have a guy like him on a winning team,” Anastas said. “He's also just a great teammate. You don't see anyone else get more excited than him when we score or make a big play. He knows his job and he’s team-first.” DEFENSEMAN'S OLD-SCHOOL STYLE BRINGS PHYSICALITY TO WOLVES' BLUE LINE By Danny Karmin

There are many defensemen in today's game known for their dynamic scoring abilities, end-to-end rushes and unpredictability on both sides of the ice. Offensive defensemen are a premium for any team and often command the spotlight. But there’s another role—less glamorous, more bruising, yet vital to any championship team: The defensive defenseman. Insert second-year Wolves defenseman, Charles-Alexis Legault. The right-handed, 6-foot-3-inch, 208-pound defensive stalwart brings an old-school and physically imposing mentality to the blue line. He may not have a large statistical impact, but his towering presence will most definitely be felt. As the physicality in a game escalates, Legault shines. The 22-year-old strikes fear in his opponents, and he's just getting started. "I love it," Legault said about his playing style. "It's

Legault isn’t afraid to mix it up with the opposition, whether to send a message or deliver a spark to the lineup. Last season, he was involved in two fights and finished third on the team in penalty minutes (58).

a huge part of my game, being physical and hard to play against. Whenever an opposing forward comes down for a hit and they think twice about (hitting me), it's good. That's what I'm trying to do."

"It's a long season, so some games can be a bit off and you're trying to get the guys going," Legault said. "That's the way I found was efficient for getting that spark, and I pride myself a lot on doing that."

When Legault participated in the Carolina Hurricanes' rookie camp at the beginning of last season, his game came as advertised. Along with his size and tenacity, he displayed a smooth skating stride and quick feet--traits sometimes uncommon for a defenseman of his stature.

"IT'S A HUGE PART OF MY GAME, BEING PHYSICAL AND HARD TO PLAY AGAINST. "

“Right away, I knew this was a guy that I'd be really excited to work with,” Wolves assistant coach Spiros Anastas, said. “What I first saw was a really determined and intense individual who has very high expectations for himself. He knows what his role is, and he thrives in it.” Anastas runs the Wolves’ defensive core and often entrusted Legault as part of the top defensive pairing as well as penalty-killing duties.

“We always welcome that kind of presence and someone who will stand up for his teammate at any cost,” Anastas added. “His physicality definitely helped us, especially his (defensive) partner for the majority of the season.” Legault was often paired with Domenick Fensore last season. Legault’s stability gave Fensore more space to skate and carry the puck

through the neutral and offensive zones. Fensore had his best offensive season with 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists), as well as ranking second in team plus/minus rating (plus7), only to Legault’s leading plus-11. "We fed off each other all the time," Fensore said. "(Legault) was always there to back me up and be in a great defensive position. He is always eager to learn and loves to get better every day. He's a really great partner to have." Legault uses his size to his advantage while defending the opponent's rush attack or cycle play in the defensive zone. With a quick stick and strong positional awareness, he limits time and space for opponents, making it difficult to create movement or establish a net-front presence around the Wolves’ crease. In Year 2 with the Wolves, Legault is focused on growing alongside the young core on the blue line and helping build a winning culture in which both the organization and its fans can take pride. “We need to build on what we did last year as a young team,” he said. “With the new guys coming in, just showing them how we want to play and how to be a pro hockey player is going to be a big part of our success. "Playing for the Wolves is amazing," Legault continued. "It's an organization with a lot of history, and the fan base is great. I couldn't ask for a better spot to play." 

BREAKAWAY

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BE SOCIAL.

"THERE'S NO BORING TIME HERE" -- JUHA JÄÄSKÄ EMBRACING CHICAGO AFTER STANDOUT ROOKIE SEASON JUHA JÄÄSKÄ FIRST ARRIVED AT WOLVES TRAINING CAMP IN A UNIQUE POSITION. The forward was a 26-year-old elder statesman and not a normal "rookie," joined by fellow first-year standouts Felix Unger Sorum (19), Bradly Nadeau (19), Charles-Alexis Legault (20) and Justin Robidas (22). After playing nine seasons in the top professional Finnish league, Jääskä had the same number of professional North American games played as most of his counterparts.

young" and up to date on fun, pop-culture trends and videos. It was a seamless transition for the two, and it helped they could speak through their native language. "We could share our thoughts and read each other well," Jääskä said. "THE CULTURE HERE IS A BIT DIFFERENT THAN AT HOME, SO THAT HELPS A LOT. I REALLY ENJOYED IT." With an assortment of rookies and new teammates, it took time for the Wolves to gel.

He may have had four more years of life wisdom than the typical rookie, but they all came in with the unknown and trials of the American Hockey League.

Jääskä had the experience playing against professionals in Finland, but the speed and aggressive pace on North American ice made for an adjustment.

"It felt kind of weird," Jääskä said of being an older rookie. "It was great, though, being in the same place as other [rookies] so we could go through it together. I liked our group, and the experiences made us that much better."

Starting the first eight games of the 2024-25 campaign scoreless, Jääskä found an extra gear. After scoring his first AHL goal on Nov. 16, he recorded a five-game point streak in November (two goals, four assists) and followed it with a seven-game streak in early December (four goals, four assists).

A native of Helsinki, Finland, Jääskä welcomed life in his new city and country. He even had a housemate to make it feel a bit more like home: Aleksi Heimosalmi, a fellow Finn. Jääskä credits the then-19-year-old Wolves defenseman for "keeping him

"The European game style can be more puck control and a slower game," Jääskä said. "I think I found my game after a while, and then it was way more fun as a team."

BY DANNY KARMIN PHOTOS BY ROSS DETTMAN

What makes him valuable is his versatility and Swiss Army knife-like utility. He can play wing or center, be used on the power play and penalty kill as well as being a staple in key defensive zone shifts. "I've always thought I can play wherever fits the team best," Jääskä said. "I enjoy playing any different style and with any type of player, but I always want to be reliable. I always try to play with different strengths and adjust to any style of play." Jääskä finished fifth in team scoring with 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists), earning him a two-year, two-way contract extension on June 26, 2025. "I was really hoping to stay but you never know what's going to happen," Jääskä said. "I can now really start focusing on playing and developing my game. "I don't have to wonder where I'm going to be in the next few years. So that's a huge thing for me mentally and gives a little bit of peace of mind." He adores the city of Chicago and is excited to continue to explore and see new sights. On almost every off-day last season, Jääskä ventured into the city, trying new restaurants, shops and attending a comedy show. "There's no boring time here," he said.

BREAKAWAY

NEVER FORGOTTEN

TWENTY YEARS LATER, TIM BRESLIN’S LEGACY CONTINUES TO RESONATE WITH THE WOLVES BY CHRIS KUC

Two decades have passed since the world lost Tim Breslin, yet his legacy lives on. The former Chicago Wolves player passed away Feb. 9, 2005, due to complications from appendiceal cancer at the age of 37, and to those who knew him, his absence still resonates deeply. “I can’t even put my head around that it’s been 20 years that he’s gone,” Breslin’s wife, Jami, said. “We miss him every day. We never stop telling stories of all the funny and amazing things that we remember about him. My kids are always craving those kinds of memories, especially my youngest, Paige and Chase. When Tim died, they were ages two and 15 months so they love hearing stories. It means so much to them to keep his memory alive.”

Wolves when the organization was formed in 1994 and contributed 37 goals and 82 assists in five seasons. The forward played a major role in the franchise’s first championship team in 1998 with contributions on and off the ice. “He epitomized the Wolves,” said Wendell Young, a former teammate of Breslin’s and current Wolves Vice Chairman/ Governor. “He loved the Wolves, he loved playing for his hometown and he gained so much respect from everyone. He was the

[...] "HE HELPED SET THE STAGE FOR THE CHICAGO WOLVES CULTURE.”

ultimate team player and dressing room guy. He was a big part of why the Wolves Helping sustain Breslin’s memory has been were successful early and he helped set the family’s relationship with the Wolves, the stage for the Chicago Wolves culture.” including the organization’s Tim Breslin Part of that culture was nurturing Unsung Hero Award, given to the Wolves relationships with members of the front player who best exemplifies the late office, most notably current President of Breslin’s on-ice spirit, team-first attitude Operations, Courtney Mahoney. and level of community involvement. “Jami and Tim took me under their “That has been just a tremendous gift in wings when I first started with the team our lives,” Jami said. “We keep coming so despite the heartbreak, it’s been back to the rink every year with family amazing to present the award each year and friends and we see people wearing his and also see how the kids have grown jersey and we get to see our friends at the up and become such amazing adults,” Wolves. It’s just this connection that has Mahoney said. been such an incredible support for us, Breslin’s off-ice passion was giving back and even more importantly, it's allowed to the Chicagoland community and he us to have a day to celebrate him and remember him with this incredible award.” never turned down opportunities to speak at local schools or help those in need An Addison native and Driscoll Catholic through Wolves charitable initiatives. He High School graduate, Tim Breslin was was named the 1996-97 International one of the first three players signed by the 24

CHICAGO WOLVES

Hockey League’s Man of the Year, awarded to the player who displays the most charitable and educational leadership in the community. To honor that aspect of Breslin’s legacy, the Wolves established the Tim Breslin Memorial Scholarship, given each year to an area high school student to help defray college tuition. Making that even more meaningful is Jami’s profession: Education. “We both valued academics and giving back to the community and having this way to give kids—especially kids who really had been through challenging, difficult times and came through with grace and the right mindset to approach school— this opportunity to get a scholarship is special,” she said. Added Mahoney: “Jami is such a tremendous human being and it’s such a privilege to award this scholarship on behalf of her and the whole family. It’s a special honor to be able to call someone and let them know they won a scholarship in Tim’s name.” The Wolves’ relationship with the Breslin family, which includes Jami and her children Shane, Paige and Chase, will continue through the 2025-26 season— and beyond. “It’s just very meaningful,” Jami said. “It gives my kids this connection to their father and it means so much for them to have those memories, to hear people talk about Tim and to see how much love everyone had for him. It has been just a tremendous gift in our lives.”

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CHICAGO WOLVES

CHAMPIONSHIP MEMORIES THE WOLVES HAVE WON FIVE LEAGUE TITLES DURING THEIR STORIED HISTORY. TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME TO DISCOVER HOW THEY ACCOMPLISHED EACH…

1998 TURNER CUP

2000 TURNER CUP

2002 CALDER CUP

THE JOURNEY

Regular season: With coach John Anderson behind the bench, the Wolves posted a 5524-0-3 record to capture their first Midwest Division title.

Regular season: The Wolves topped the Western Conference with a 53-21-0-8 record with coach John Anderson at the helm. Chicago found strength from its elite scoring forwards and were the International Hockey League’s highest-scoring team. Steve Maltais led the way with 44 goals and 46 assists while Steve Larouche (31 goals, 57 assists), Chris Marinucci (31 goals, 33 assists) and Brian Noonan (30 goals, 32 assists) also came up big.

Regular season: Unlike the Wolves’ first two championships when they rolled through the regular season, the 2002 title winners finished fourth in the West Division with a mediocre record of 37-31-7-5.

Offensively, Chicago was led by Steve Maltais (46 goals, 57 assists), Chris Marinucci (27 goals, 48 assists), Alexander Semak (26 goals, 35 assists), Steve Martins (20 goals, 41 assists). Defensively, standouts included Tom Tilley, Bob Nardella and Matt Martin with Wendell Young manning the net as the No. 1 goaltender. Postseason: The Wolves swept Manitoba in the first round, continued with victories over Milwaukee and Long Beach—each series going six games—to set up an epic Turner Cup Final against Detroit. When the dust had settled, the Wolves had won the series in seven games to secure their first championship.

“EVERYBODY WAS CLOSE—PLAYERS WERE CLOSE, OWNERSHIP WAS CLOSE AND THE COACHING STAFF WAS CLOSE. IT WAS A BIG MOMENT IN CHICAGO HOCKEY, ESPECIALLY WOLVES HISTORY.” – Maltais

THE PLAYERS Steve Maltais, Chris Marinucci, Steve Martins, Alexander Semak, Tom Tilley, Ravil Gusmanov, Scott Pearson, Bob Nardella, Jamie Baker, Tim Breslin, Matt Martin, Doug Barrault, Steve Larouche, Tim Bergland, Kevin Dahl, Alexander Godynyuk, Marc Potvin, Marc Rodgers, Jeff Bes, Paul Koch, Dave Paradise, Dennis Vial, Craig Binns, Matt Oates, Wendell Young, Jeremy Mylymok, Jason Hehr, Chad Remackel, Rick Emmett, Stephane Brochu, Hugo Proulx, Bobby Marshall, Dave Craievich, Shawn Reid, Brad Barton, Mark Richards, Bruce Bell, Ray LeBlanc, Stephane Beauregard.

On the back end, Bob Nardella, Tom Tilley and Dallas Eakins were standouts. Wendell Young and Andrei Trefilov were a dynamic duo in goal. Postseason: The Wolves dispatched Long Beach, Houston and Grand Rapids to capture their second championship.

“GOING INTO THAT SEASON, YOU LOOK DOWN THE ROSTER AND SEE THE NUMBER OF NHL GAMES ON THAT ROSTER AND YOU’RE GOING, ‘YEAH, WE’RE GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD AGAIN.’ ” – Tilley

Rob Brown was the leading scorer with 29 goals and 54 assists while Steve Maltais chipped in with 31 goals and 32 assists. On defense, Dallas Eakins, Mike Weaver and Garnet Exelby were strong in front of goaltenders Norm Maracle and Pasi Numrinen. Postseason: Behind Nurminen, who posted a 15-5 record, 1.94 goals-against average and two shutouts, the Wolves came alive in the playoffs and defeated Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, Syracuse and Houston before stomping Bridgeport in the Calder Cup Finals with the clincher coming on home ice.

“WINNING IT AT HOME WAS PRETTY COOL. WE HAD SOME GUYS WHO HAD WON BEFORE AND THEY KIND OF KNEW HOW IT FELT, BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS SOME GUYS AND IT’S THEIR FIRST AND YOU COULD SEE THE TRUE PASSION IN THEIR EYES.” – Maltais

THE PLAYERS Steve Maltais, Chris Marinucci, Tom Tilley, Steve Larouche, Wendell Young, Brian Noonan, Bob Nardella, Niklas Andersson, Scott Pearson, Guy Larose, Dallas Eakins, Chris Ferraro, Greg Andrusak, Dan Plante, Glen Featherstone, Sean Berens, Daniel Lacroix, Mark Lawrence, Dean Malkoc, David Mackey, Kris King, Darrin Shannon, Chris LiPuma, Derek Plante, Gord Dineen, Kevin Dahl, Andrei Trefilov, Brett Lievers, Derek Wilkinson, Lonnie Loach, Martin Hlinka, Brent Gretzky, Jeremy Mylymok, Guy Dupuis.

THE PLAYERS Steve Maltais, Rob Brown, Kamil Piros, Jarrod Skalde, J.P. Vigier, Dan Snyder, Ben Simon, Bryan Adams, Brad Tapper, Dan Plante, Derek MacKenzie, Andreas Karlsson, Brett Clark, Brian Pothier, Dallas Eakins, Kurtis Foster, Jeff Dessner, David Harlock, Mike Weaver, Darcy Hordichuk, Zdenek Blatny, Garnet Exelby, Guy Larose, Simon Gamache, Luke Sellars, Patrik Stefan, Francis Lessard, Yuri Butsayev, Kirill Safronov, Joe DiPenta, Petr Buzek, David Kaczowka, Libor Ustrnul, Roger Trudeau, Barry Dreger, Mike Sgroi, Jay Langager, Norm Maracle, Pasi Nurminen, Scott Fankouser, Fredric Cassivi.

BREAKAWAY

CHAMPIONSHIP MEMORIES

2008 CALDER CUP

2022 CALDER CUP

THE JOURNEY

Regular season: Boasting an offense that featured 11 players with double-digit goals totals—led by Jason Krog’s 39 and Brett Sterling’s 38, respectively—the Wolves posted a 52-22-0-5 record to top the Western Conference.

Regular season: The Wolves blazed to a 50-16-5-5 mark for a franchise-record .724 points percentage. Leading the way offensively were Andrew Poturalski and Stefan Noesen, who combined for 186 points. Poturalski finished with 101 to win the John B. Sollenberger Trophy, awarded to the AHL’s top pointproducer.

Joel Kwiatkowski, Nathan Oystrick, Brian Fahey and Boris Valabik were part of a strong defensive unit that was backstopped by goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. Postseason: Satisfying series victories over rivals Milwaukee and Rockford, respectively, got the Wolves rolling into the Western Conference Finals where they topped Toronto to create a Calder Cup Finals showdown against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Chicago, which featured postseason streaks from Haydar (11 consecutive games with at least one assist) and Krog (13-game points streak), won it in six games for its fourth championship in franchise history.

“I REMEMBER THERE WAS A GAME … WHEN HAYDAR TOOK THE PUCK INTO THE OFFENSIVE ZONE, BUTTON-HOOKED TOWARD THE CORNER AND THREW A PASS WITHOUT LOOKING RIGHT ON THE TAPE OF KROG, WHO FIRED IT IN. I THOUGHT RIGHT AWAY THIS COULD BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.” – Head Coach John Anderson

Noesen potted 48 goals to earn the Willie Marshall Award, given to the league’s leading goal-scorer in the regular season. No. 1 goaltender Alex Lyon went 18-7-3 with a 2.16 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. Postseason: Chicago rolled past rival Rockford in the Central Division Semifinals before dispatching Milwaukee and Stockton to set up a showdown with Springfield in the Calder Cup Finals. After dropping Game 1 in overtime at Allstate Arena, the Wolves swept the next four—outscoring Springfield 18-4 in the process—to capture the fifth championship in franchise history.

“THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP—IT DOESN’T MATTER THE SPORT OR THE LEVEL—AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE AWAY. WE’LL REMEMBER IT FOREVER.” – Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky

THE PLAYERS Jason Krog, Brett Sterling, Jesse Schultz, Darren Haydar, Steve Martins, Joel Kwiatkowski, Nathan Oystrick, Jordan Smotherman, Alexandre Giroux, Brian Fahey, Joey Crabb, Kevin Doell, Karel Pilar, Bryan Little, Joe Motzko, Andre Deveaux, Colin Stuart, Grant Lewis, Boris Valábik, Scott Lehman, Chad Denny, Brian Sipotz, Colton Fretter, Guillaume Desbiens, Chad Painchaud, Arturs Kulda, Matt Anderson, Tomas Pospisil, Mike Hamilton, Angelo Esposito, Riley Holzapel, Ryan Reid, Jim Slater, Jared Nightingale, Kari Lehtonen, Fred Brathwaite, Robert Gherson, Ondrej Pavelec.

CHICAGO WOLVES

THE PLAYERS Andrew Poturalski, Stefan Noesen, C.J. Smith, Jack Drury, David Gust, Josh Leivo, Joey Keane, Max Lajoie, Spencer Stallman, Jesper Sellgren, Jamieson Rees, Maxim Letunov, Jalen Chatfield, David Cotton, Josua Jacobs, Ryan Suzuki, Sam Miletic, Vasily Ponomarev, Dominik Bokk, Cavan Fitzgerald, Stelio Mattheos, Ivan Lodnia, Artyom Serikov, Richard Panik, Eric Williams, Noel Gunler, Chris Bigras, Tarmo Reunanen, Eric Gelinas, Griffin Mendel, Daniel Brickley, Kyle Marino, Derek Topatigh, Billy Constantinou, Marcus McIvor, Noah Corson, Chase Lang, Cedric Lacroix, Stephen Harper, Beck Warm, Daniel Mannella, Eetu Makiniemi, Pyotr Kochetkov, Alex Lyon, Jack LaFontaine, Dylan Wells, Michael Lackey.

GAIN MILES GAIN GROUND

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BREAKAWAY

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