Breakaway Magazine - Volume 10 - Issue 3 by Chicago Wolves

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHICAGO WOLVES

VOL. 10 ISSUE 3

HOCKEY

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I N TR O DU C ING WO LVES CAPTAIN PAUL THOM PSON AND HIS FA M ILY

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HOCKEY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER INTRODUCING WOLVES CAPTAIN PAUL THOMPSON AND HIS FAMILY

18 FRONT OFFICE Seth Gold Irwin Jann Mike Gordon Wayne Messmer Dana Wildman

Director Director President of Business Operations Senior Executive Vice President Executive Assistant

OPERATIONS & CREATIVE SERVICES Courtney Mahoney Dan Harris Holly Simms Joe Muting Imran Javed Troy Mueller Josh Villanueva Ross Dettman

Senior Vice President of Operations Creative Services Director Game Operations Manager Game Operations Assistant Digital Content Manager Senior Graphic Designer Graphic Designer Team Photographer

COMMUNICATIONS Lindsey Willhite Jasmine Grotto Whitneigh Kinne

Director of Public Relations Media Relations Coordinator Social Media Coordinator

PARTNERSHIPS & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Jon Sata Senior Vice President, Partnerships and Business Development Greg Sprott Director of Partnerships Timothy Weaver Sr. Manager of Partnerships and Media Sales Doug Ferguson Partnerships Sales Executive Amy Bernstein Client Services Manager, Partnerships Katie Anstandig Client Services Coordinator Stefanie Evans Senior Director of Program Development Rob Newburg Youth Hockey Coordinator Leslie Metcalf B2B and Group Event Specialist Michelle Alcazar Group Account Executive John Brooks Group Account Executive Joseph Swintek Group Account Executive Dan Velarde Group Account Executive Adam Goldberg Group Sales and Youth Sports Representative Katherine Damisch Marketing Coordinator

TV & BROADCAST Ron Storto Cameron Most Stephen Shaw Jason Shaver Bill Gardner

Executive TV Producer Producer Production Assistant Play-by-Play Announcer Color Analyst

TICKET SALES & SERVICES

Kevin Dooley Sr. Executive Director of Ticket Sales Jackie Schroeder Senior Director of Ticket Retention and Services Eric Zavilla Executive Director of Ticket Sales Steve Winner E-Business Specialist Mike Czopek Sales Development Manager Anthony Krzyzak Sales Development Manager Pawel Sienko Senior Account Executive Brian Cyganek Account Representative Brian Franklin Inside Sales Representative Hunter Tickel Inside Sales Representative Kendall Hutchinson Sales and Services Coordinator Eric Rivard Ticket Coordinator

HOCKEY OPERATIONS Norine Gillner Mike Nardella

Hockey Operations Assistant Hockey Operations

MEDICAL STAFF Scott Logue, MD A.J. Acierno, DDS Jessica Soros, DPT Jolie Holschen Caravello , MD

Team Physician/Orthopedics Team Dentist Physical Therapist Emergency Medicine/ Sports Medicine

GAME-DAY STAFF

Gordon Scott Public Address Announcer Chris Dubiel Public Address Announcer Brittney Hillebrand In-Arena Host Michael Allen, Abby Calabrese, Kali Callahan, Joe Capozzi, Laura Cappelli, Kevin Casper, Sara Cesek, Anthony Chicalace, Lisa Cholewa, Camille Colletti, Sydney Cosentino, Carly Crispino, Nick DiFalco, Kelly DuShane, Rebecca Erken, Annie Forchetti, Matt Glavach, Chris Guzik, Denise Killian, Joe Krasinski, Sabrina Krasinski, Gina Lagattuta, Steve Laures, Nikki Lennarson, Samantha Lilly, Jenna Madeley, Marina Mantas, Bridgette McGinley, Jeff Mladic, Claire Moseley, Jenn Myzia, Haley Nettles, Amber Noble, Michelle Norton, Seth Novoselsky, Logan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, Tom Olivieri, Kristin Ostrowski, Angela Paczynski, Vincent Pagliuco, Zachariah Paul, Taylor Polak, Geoff Post, Jackie Povitsky, Elizabeth Ramsey, Caitlin Roak, Rapher Ryan, Jessica Schubert, Lauren Stoeck, Stefani Szenda, William Tarpey, Jordan Townsend, Kelly Tragas, Natalie Tucker, Abbi Williamson, Jaimie Yagunich, Jack Young

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

Editorial Producer: Courtney Mahoney Publication Writers: Lindsey Willhite, Jasmine Grotto Publication Photographer: Ross Dettman Feature Designer: Christina Moritz Creative Support: Imran Javed, Troy Mueller

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BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

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2017 - 2018 SEASON

Dear Fans, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2017-18 American Hockey League season, the continuation of a tradition of excellence that spans more than eight decades. The AHL remains proud of its role in developing more than 88 percent of today’s National Hockey League players, as well as the vast majority of the NHL’s coaches, general managers,

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT —— DAVID A. ANDREWS

training staffs, broadcasters and officials. Last year, we cheered on players like Jake Guentzel, Zach Werenski and William Nylander as they graduated from the AHL and made remarkable impressions on the NHL. Since 1936, our loyal and passionate fans have been able to watch more than 100 future Hockey Hall of Famers as well as over 100 Calder Cup champions who now have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup as well. As we begin our 82nd season in 30 cities across North America, we welcome our new fans in Laval and Belleville and wish all of you who cheer for our clubs the best for another exciting season. On behalf of all of our teams, players and staff, thank you for your continuing support of the AHL.

PRESIDENT & CEO, AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Sincerely,

DAVID A. ANDREWS

TheAHL.com

PRESIDENT & CEO | AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

WOLVES HISTORY

WO LVES WINS WITH

WENDELL YOUNG FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS THROUGH WENDELL YOUNG’S EYES

Wendell Young has been an essential part of the Chicago Wolves organization since the team’s inaugural season in 1994-95. Though his role has evolved from goaltender to executive director of team relations to assistant coach to his current position as general manager, one thing has never changed: Young has enjoyed a terrific vantage point for every great moment in Wolves history. That makes Young (whose retired No. 1 jersey hangs from the Allstate Arena rafters) the perfect person to share insights about all four Wolves teams that captured league titles: The International Hockey League’s Turner Cup champs in 1998 and 2000 and the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup champs in 2002 and 2008.

1998 Armed with a new head coach (John Anderson) and a new general manager (Kevin Cheveldayoff) – who added strong players such as Chris Marinucci, Alexander Semak, Steve Martins, Tom Tilley and Bob Nardella to the traditional core led by Steve Maltais and Young – the Wolves jumped out to a 20-6-2 start and played like the IHL’s team to beat all season. The Wolves didn’t encounter many problems in the postseason until falling behind the Detroit Vipers 3-2 in the best-of-7 Turner Cup Finals. The Wolves returned to Allstate Arena, fed off the huge crowds and knocked off the Vipers by scores of 3-1 and 3-0 to claim the franchise’s first Cup.

WENDELL SAYS “The biggest thing that year was ‘Chevy’ coming in and Johnny coming in. We had a different mood, a different attitude. Johnny’s not a yeller as a

coach, which was refreshing and made it fun to play – especially when we had an older team. The older guys don’t need a ton of yelling. “We knew we had a good team from the start. We had a really good group on and off the ice and we enjoyed winning. Some teams you’re on? You’re going in there hoping to win. We went into games expecting to win. ‘Chevy’ had something to do with setting the tone. He had a reputation of winning, having won two Turner Cups before he arrived. It seemed like everything came together. “We didn’t think there was any doubt we’d win the Cup, even when we got down 3 games to 2 to Detroit. We had the confidence. We had a little bit of a strut. And I think we win Game 7 even if there hadn’t been the big fight during warmups. It just added to the game’s drama. Actually, it might have calmed everything down because everybody had been on guard. “Right after we won, I actually kicked everybody out of the locker room except the players and we had a few minutes by

ourselves. I said, ‘This is the last time we’re truly going to be together as a team. So look around, realize what this is and take it all in. Call the people who are important to you – whether it’s your parents or coaches or anybody else who helped you get here.’ “We had maybe five minutes of that, and then we opened the door and it was Game On! We had an amazing celebration that was the absolute epitome of our organization because we included so many people involved in our success. Our families…our off-ice staff…the police…the people who work at the rink…it was all-encompassing. Everyone gets a picture with the cup, a drink out of the cup – whatever. It’s a way of recognizing everybody. No one’s shut out. “I remember we ran out of beer and, the next thing I know, the doors open up and a tractor’s pulling into the locker room with a pallet full of beer -- courtesy of (Allstate Arena boss) Pat Nagle. I’ve never seen that before or since.”

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2000 The Wolves fell one game shy of the Turner Cup Final in 1999 – a painful finish that set the tone for next season. The players performed decently during the first half of the year, but came alive when they saw the finish line. From Feb. 25 to March 30, the Wolves reeled off 19 wins in 20 games to hit the playoffs with a full head of steam. The Wolves wound up capturing their second championship with a Game 6 triumph at Grand Rapids on June 5, 2000. Oddly, the Turner Cup Final was almost anti-climatic after the incredible Western Conference Final series against

2002 It was a brave new world for the Wolves as the American Hockey League accepted a fistful of teams as the International Hockey League dissolved. The Orlando Solar Bears, who defeated the Wolves in the 2001 Turner Cup Final, didn’t make the jump as a franchise, but their players came to Chicago to join forces with the Wolves veterans. Instead of thriving with all of this talent, the Wolves struggled to put the pieces together. It took a late-season burst just to sneak into the playoffs. But when it was all over, the Wolves hoisted the Calder Cup with a double-overtime

2008 The Wolves delivered one of the most dominant performances from start to finish in AHL history to claim their second Calder Cup. John Anderson’s club posted a 13-0-1-0 record during the first six weeks to set a dizzying pace. The Wolves coasted to the West Division title by 13 points over second-place Rockford before knocking off Milwaukee, Rockford, Toronto and Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton to capture the franchise’s fourth title in 11 seasons. Veteran center Jason Krog earned the league’s Most Valuable Player after

the Houston Aeros. The Aeros knocked out the Wolves in the 1999 Western Conference Final and appeared poised to do it again. Houston won the first two games on Allstate Arena ice, then took a 3-0 lead in the first period of Game 3.

WENDELL SAYS “We absolutely were not even in the same rink with Houston in those first two games. Then we go into Game 3 and we were down 3-nothing after the first period and that was being polite. We could’ve been down 6 or 7 to nothing. You get to a point where you’re just beaten down and you can’t do anything right.

victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on June 3, 2002 at Allstate Arena.

WENDELL SAYS “I retired after the 2001 season, so I was in management at the time as the Wolves’ executive director of team relations and I was doing charity work. It was a strange year for the team. “I remember talking with Rob Brown and with Steve Maltais – telling them that the coaches and management are really backing you up with the big team (NHL partner Atlanta Thrashers) because there’s some controversy over who should be playing.

pacing everyone in goals (39), assists (73) and points (112). Linemates Brett Sterling and Darren Haydar each averaged more than a point per game while Ondrej Pavelec was a rock in goal.

WENDELL SAYS “We knew we were good. We found out Krog and Haydar played together at the University of New Hampshire and then you put them with somebody like Sterling, who was such a good shooter and scored 55 goals the year before as a rookie. “We had a powerful team and Pavelec in goal. He was a rookie and just 21 years old, but he could have been MVP in the

“Then we were shorthanded early in the second period. They were on the power play and had a bunch of chances. Right at the end of the power play, we were just exhausted. And Tom Tilley has the puck and he’s supposed to dump it in. But he keeps holding it, their guys kind of let him go and he throws an absolute soft shot at the goalie and it goes through his legs. It was like the light turned on and Houston never recovered. We went on to win the next four games. I’ve never seen a change in a series like that. “When guys get together to talk about old times, 99 percent of the time we’re not talking about stuff that happened on the ice. But that is one thing that guys still talk about. “

“I said to them, ‘You know what? Why don’t you just put your head down and play and prove them all wrong?’ And I think ‘Maltsy’ had a hat trick in the first playoff game after that. I’m not saying that’s the reason the team rallied, but I think they needed to know from somebody on the outside that people had their back and believed in them. “The Wolves’ victory was also a win for everyone who came from the International League. The ‘I’ was always thought of as a lower-echelon league than the American League. But then the core of the team that won the last season in the ‘I’ came in and won in their first season of the ‘A.’ ”

playoffs instead of Krog. He was that good. He made some phenomenal saves at key times. You never had to worry about the goaltending, “I was behind the bench coaching with Johnny and “Nellie” (Todd Nelson) that season and it was different. When you’ve got the equipment on, you can kind of control the game. When you don’t have the equipment on, you’re telling them how to control the game. “But I enjoyed the championship 100 percent as much as the other ones. When you win it as a player, you’re one of the kids who won it. When you’re a coach, you almost feel like a father. Your kids have won it. You’re the proud dad. It’s nice to see the guys enjoy it.” BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

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DON LEVIN

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD / GOVERNOR Donald R. Levin (luh-VIN) 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 throughout. Levin donates his time and serves on the board of directors for several charitable organizations. The Chicago native was recognized at the Boy Scouts of America’s Northwest Suburban Council’s Distinguished Citizens Banquet as its 2005 Honoree. Under Levin’s direction, the Wolves organization has held a scout night for the Northwest Suburban Council at a home game for the last 18 seasons. Levin was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on Jan. 27, 2013. He was honored as the International Hockey League’s Executive of the Year for the 1999-2000 season, which concluded with the franchise’s second of four championships. Before beginning his business career, Levin served in the United States Marine Corps, from which he was honorably discharged. Levin and his wife, Kathleen Ann, have a son, Robert, and live in the northern suburbs.

BUDDY MEYERS VICE CHAIRMAN

Buddy Meyers, a principal owner of the Wolves who founded the franchise with Don Levin and Grant Mulvey in January 1994, has been involved in the world of hockey for 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. He and Jill live in the River North area of Chicago and have five children between them: Justin, Lindsey, Zak, Brad and Leslie. They also have four grandchildren: Emmie, Macartny, Sienna and Elle.

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

HOCKEY OPERATIONS

WENDELL YOUNG GENERAL MANAGER

Wendell Young is in his ninth season as the Chicago Wolves general manager. During his tenure, the team has compiled a .593 winning percentage during the regular season and captured four division titles: the 2010 West, 2012 Midwest, 2014 Midwest and 2017 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. He served as assistant coach and executive director of team relations for six seasons before transitioning into the general manager role in August 2009. The 54-year-old stands as the Wolves’ all-time leader among goaltenders in games (322), wins (169), saves (8,467), minutes (17,912), and shutouts (16), and was a member of Chicago’s 1998 and 2000 Turner Cup championship squads. His jersey number “1” was retired on Dec. 1, 2001 — becoming the first Wolves player to receive the honor. The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native, who was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 2007, is the only man in hockey history to have won all four North American championships: the Stanley Cup, Turner Cup, Calder Cup, and Memorial Cup. He captured the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992 as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 1988 Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears, the 1982 Memorial Cup with the Kitchener Rangers, and the 1998 and 2000 Turner Cups with the Wolves. He also was behind the bench as a coach for the Wolves’ 2008 Calder Cup victory.

BILL BENTLEY

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER Bill Bentley is in his 10th season as Wolves assistant general manager and stands as one of a handful of people who has been with the organization since the team’s inception in 1994. Bentley has been instrumental in the hockey operations department for more than 20 years, which includes all four seasons that finished with a championship. The Chicago native joined the organization as a statistician in 1994 and was promoted to team services manager a year later. The 48-year-old spent 12 seasons as the director of hockey administration — handling team travel, immigration, and accounting for the hockey operations department — before assuming the assistant general manager role in August 2009. A graduate of Quincy College, Bentley served as director of media relations for the Chicago Cheetahs of the now-defunct Roller Hockey International during the 1993-94 season.

GENE UBRIACO

SENIOR ADVISOR/DIRECTOR OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS Gene Ubriaco, who has been with the Wolves since the franchise’s inception in 1994, is in his 21st season as the team’s director of hockey operations and ninth as senior advisor. Ubriaco served as the Wolves’ first head coach and guided the expansion team to a 3433-14 record and a berth in the 1995 Turner Cup playoffs. The 79-year-old began his coaching career at Lake Superior State University in 1972-73. Four years later, he led the Milwaukee Admirals to the Turner Cup playoffs to become the first International Hockey League coach to lead an expansion team into the postseason. In 1988-89, Ubriaco moved on to the National Hockey League to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins. Under his tutelage, the Penguins shattered several team records and advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after a seven-year absence. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native also played professional hockey for 10 years spilt between the American Hockey League and NHL. At the NHL level, He skated for the Penguins (1967-68), the Oakland Seals (1968-69) and the Chicago Blackhawks (1969-70). In the AHL, Ubriaco recorded 162 goals, 258 assists and 420 points in 456 games spanning nine seasons. Ubriaco dedicates himself to numerous charitable causes, including the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association with which he has been involved since 1974.

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THIS OLD HOUSE PHOTO BY ROSS DETTMAN

DEFENSEMAN CHRIS CASTO TAKES HIS TALENTS FROM THE ICE TO HOME IMPROVEMENT BY JASMINE GROTTO

To call hockey work makes the game sound far more ho-hum than anyone would ever intend. For Chicago Wolves defenseman Chris Casto, hockey is one of his passions. The 25-year-old Minnesotan has dedicated his life to the sport and strives every day to better himself and his game to reach the next level. As all hockey players do. Dedication to a craft like hockey rarely leaves much time for anything else. Between on-ice practices, off-ice lifts, games and travel, what else does a hockey player have time for? The summer months – after a season that has, hopefully, spanned October to May or June – are when Casto really digs into his other interests. Between conditioning sessions with trainer Erik Rasmussen and catching up with friends and family, Casto demolishes kitchen walls and adds the finishing touches to his nearly complete master bathroom. Nestled in Minnesota’s capital city, St. Paul – about 20 miles away from his hometown of Stillwater – is Casto’s modest 1920s-era five-bedroom home

that his friends graciously occupy during hockey season. “It sounds way more lavish than it actually is,” Casto said. “It’s an old house with a lot of little rooms. I want to keep the classic style but I want it to have a contemporary, open flow.”

learning from people that are better than you, it shows in your work,” said Casto, who hired a contractor for part of his master bathroom and closet renovation.

As with most hobbies, Casto spends plenty of time researching and like any modern American, Casto’s favorite home-reno resource is none other than Home and Garden Television – also known as HGTV.

“IF YOU SPEND YOUR TIME STUDYING AND LEARNING FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE BETTER THAN YOU, IT SHOWS IN YOUR WORK.”

Some of his best inspiration comes from watching Wisconsin transplants Eric and Lindsey Bennett bring Midwestern charm to Palm Springs, California homes on “Desert Flippers.”

While hammering two-by-fours and operating a nail gun isn’t hard, Casto understands skill and precision are of the essence and appreciates the attention to detail necessary for home improvement.

Casto also enjoys the Vegas spinoff of the beloved “Flip or Flop” franchise.

“You have to be an extreme perfectionist,” he said. “If you make a small mistake early, it turns into a huge mistake later.”

“Those shows definitely get you excited for the possibilities,” Casto said. “I always watch for my next project.” Admittedly, Casto has zero experience in construction and recognizes some things are better left to the professionals. However, the handyman-in-training isn’t afraid to take a lesson or two. “If you spend your time studying and

Casto takes great care to measure twice and cut once. “If you cut corners in the early stages of your project, your results are not going to be what you want them to be – in hockey or home improvement,” Casto said. “It applies across the board.”

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE 13

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VISIT THE KIDS ZONE BEHIND SECTION 109 OR SIGN UP ONLINE AT CHICAGOWOLVES.COM/SKATESMATES

TEEMU PULKKINEN LW / H: 5-10 W: 185 January 2, 1992 Vantaa, Finland

PETTERI LINDBOHM D / H: 6-3 W: 198 September 23, 1993 Helsinki, Finland

DMITRY OSIPOV D / H: 6-4 W: 234 October 4, 1996 Moscow, Russia

GRIFFIN REINHART D / H: 6-4 W: 212 January 24, 1994 North Vancouver, B.C.

KENNEY MORRISON D / H: 6-2 W: 207 February 13, 1992 Lloydminster, Alta.

TYLER WONG RW / H: 5-9 W: 174 February 28, 1996 Cochrane, Alta.

CONNER BLEACKLEY C / H: 5-11 W: 195 February 7, 1996 High River, Alberta

JASON GARRISON D / H: 6-0 W: 205 November 13, 1984 White Rock, B.C.

KEVIN LOUGH D / H: 5-11 W: 185 March 4, 1992 Kanata, Ontario

BEAU BENNETT C / H: 6-2 W: 195 November 27, 1991 Gardena, Calif.

MACKENZIE MACEACHERN LW / H: 6-2 W: 192 March 9, 1994 Troy, Mich.

PAUL THOMPSON RW / H: 6-1 W: 204 November 30, 1988 Methuen, Mass.

T.J. TYNAN C / H: 5-8 W: 165 February 25, 1992 Orland Park, Ill.

KEEGAN KOLESAR RW / H: 6-2 W: 219 April 8, 1997 Winnipeg, Manitoba

SCOOTER VAUGHAN F / H: 6-1 W: 202 April 8, 1989 Placentia, Calif.

WADE MEGAN C / H: 6-1 W: 191 July 22, 1990 Canton, New York

STEFAN MATTEAU C / H: 6-2 W: 220 February 23, 1994 Chicago, Ill.

TOBIAS LINDBERG RW / H: 6-3 W: 215 July 22, 1995 Stockholm, Sweden

BRYCE GERVAIS C / H: 5-9 W: 175 February 26, 1992 Battleford, Sask.

BRANDON PIRRI C / H: 6-0 W: 183 April 10, 1991 Toronto, Ontario

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

MEET THE WOLVES

JAKE BISCHOFF D / H: 6-1 W: 195 July 25, 1994 Grand Rapids, Minn.

BRETT STERLING LW / H: 5-7 W: 177 April 24, 1984 Los Angeles, Calif.

KASIMIR KASKISUO G / H: 6-3 W: 194 October 2, 1993 Vantaa, Finland

IVAN BARBASHEV C / H: 6-0 W: 187 December 14, 1995 Moscow, Russia

OSCAR DANSK G / H: 6-2 W: 198 February 28, 1994 Stockholm, Sweden

CHRIS CASTO D / H: 6-1 W: 203 December 27, 1991 Stillwater, Minn.

JAKE WALMAN D / H: 6-1 W: 170 February 20, 1996 Toronto, Ontario

38 TOMAS HYKA RW / H: 5-11 W: 159 March 23, 1993 Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic

MAX LAGACE G / H: 6-2 W: 190 January 12, 1993 Longueuil, Quebec

HOCKEY OPERATIONS

KEVIN KACER

CRAIG KOGUT

RYAN SHOUFER

STAN DUBICKI

JEFF CONKLE

HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER

HEAD EQUIPMENT MANAGER

ASSISTANT EQUIPMENT MANAGER

GOALTENDING COACH

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH

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FEATURING THE FAMILY MAN

HOCKEY

< <Brought Them >

together INTRODUCING WOLVES CAP TAIN PAUL THOMPSON AND HIS FAMILY BY LINDSEY WILLHITE | PHOTOS BY ROSS DETTMAN

s the final hours of 2011 ticked away, Colin McDonald felt pretty good about life. With his family in the stands, the high-scoring forward handed out two assists to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 4-2 victory over the Bridgeport Tigers on New Year’s Eve afternoon. His parents, Gerry and Suzanne, and his younger sister, Kelsey, made the drive from Connecticut to watch the game and ring in the New Year as a family. The McDonalds, along with cousins and aunts and uncles who live in the Wilkes-Barre area and own Penguins season tickets, wound up at Mohegan Sun Casino for dinner and drinks. So did several of Colin’s teammates. As the party migrated from the restaurant to the bar, Colin couldn’t help noticing that Kelsey, then a senior at Quinnipiac University, found herself in a conversation with a teammate he didn’t know too well: Rookie forward Paul Thompson.

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

HOCKEY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER

“[charlie’s] not happy when it’s intermission or when the game ends.” “I always liked Paul, but I didn’t hang out with him a ton,” said Colin, who was a fifth-year pro at that point. “My sister is a very good-looking girl. I saw Paul talking to her at the end of the night.” Colin wasn’t the only member of the McDonald family who noticed their interaction. “Paul and I just happened to be at the bar next to each other,” Kelsey said. “My parents were right there. My mom was watching what was going on, observing our body language.” The night ended innocently. But two weeks later, as the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton squad waited for a flight at the St. John’s International Airport following a weekend series against the IceCaps in Newfoundland, Paul asked Colin if they could talk for a minute. “I assumed, me being older, it was about hockey stuff,” Colin said. “So we went over away from the group and I knew something was up right away. He was nervous and he wasn’t himself. Paul told me that he and Kelsey had been in touch a little bit and said, ‘I want to get your approval.’ “I can’t imagine how difficult that was for him. I gained a lot of respect for him

to have shown that respect to me. And the rest is history.” Fast-forward to today. Paul, now in his seventh year as a professional, serves as the Wolves captain and leads with an exemplary work ethic and welltimed words honed by experience. The 29-year-old appeared in his 400th American Hockey League game on Dec. 1. He handed out an assist in that game, which pushed his career ledger to 108 goals, 104 assists and 455 penalty minutes – admirable numbers for a power forward. “He’s a guy who plays in the trenches,” said Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson (no relation), who named Paul as the team’s captain on Nov. 19. “He’s physical. He’s strong. He gets under the other team’s skin. He’s vocal. He goes to the front of the net and plays in the dirty areas of the ice. And he has a good skill set in those areas of the ice, which is why he gets rewarded with those goals. “He’s an older guy who’s well respected. He’s a family man. He’s had leadership roles before and you can see that his peers respect him in the room and he’s a gatherer of people – which is important.”

And when Paul leaves the dressing room, he heads to the rental home in Arlington Heights that he and Kelsey share with their 2-year-old son, Charlie, and 1-year-old daughter, Colette. Every day is a beautiful day for the Thompsons. On Paul’s rare days off, they hop in the car or hop on the Metra to take advantage of the Chicago area’s attractions. They’ve skated at Millennium Park and visited The Bean. They’ve hit Shedd Aquarium and Navy Pier. They’ve enjoyed Brookfield Zoo and FireZone in Schaumburg. But if Charlie had his way, every day would be filled with hockey. When the Wolves play at home, Charlie’s in the stands paying attention to every minute. When the games are over, he joins Dad in the locker room to hang out with their buddies. “He loves the guys,” Paul said. “The guys here love him. I bring him into the room and the guys are down playing on the floor with him. He brings a smile to the guys’ faces at the times when they need it. It’s pretty cool to have him be a part of it. The guys here treat him awesome and he loves seeing them.” When the Wolves play on the road,

FOLLOWING IN GREATNESS’ FOOTSTEPS ~ Paul Thompson reveled in the brilliance of Jason Krog and Darren Haydar long before Chicago Wolves fans received the opportunity.

Kelsey puts the game on TV. Charlie makes it his mission to help his buddies win. “He copies everything they’re doing,” Kelsey said. “He grabs his stick and he glides around on our hardwood floors. He bangs into the walls like he’s checking somebody. When there’s a faceoff, he puts his stick down and starts playing. He’s not happy when it’s intermission or when the game ends.” Kelsey videotapes Charlie’s “games” that sometimes feature him putting a physical check on Colette, who’ll get up and resume chasing him without a complaint. “She’s going to be tough,” Paul said with a smile. Kelsey shares the videos on the family’s group Snapchat. Paul watches them on the bus rides home. Colin, who’s grateful to be Charlie’s godfather, checks them out when he’s not busy serving as captain for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. And they’re not the only hockey professionals in the family enjoying those videos. Gerry McDonald, Colin’s and Kelsey’s father, played in eight games for the Hartford Whalers in the early 1980s as part of his four-year professional career spent primarily in the AHL.

As a pre-teen growing up in Derry, New Hampshire – less than an hour down the road from the University of New Hampshire – Thompson and his family frequently made the drive to watch the Wildcats battle the America East Conference’s finest. Krog and Haydar weren’t the only attractions for Thompson. His cousin, Mike Souza, played on their high-scoring line. “I just remember having a blast,” Thompson said. “We’d go with one of my buddies and we’d paint our faces. We loved going to UNH hockey games. Watching those guys was pretty special. They’re two of the best – if not the best – players ever to play there. Their line was pretty fun to watch. They were dominant. “That’s where I fell in love with the school and knew that’s where I wanted to be.” Krog won the 1999 Hobey Baker Award while at New Hampshire and, after several years as a pro, worked his way to the Wolves where he earned AHL MVP honors while leading Chicago to the 2008 Calder Cup title. He served two years as Wolves captain. Haydar was a Hobey Hat Trick finalist in 2002 and, after a few years as a pro, worked his way to the Wolves where he teamed with Krog (and Brett Sterling) to form the top line for the Wolves’ 2008 championship team. He also served two years as Wolves captain. Thompson, meanwhile, followed in their footsteps and dominated during his senior year (2010-11). Just like Krog and Haydar in their senior years, Thompson captured the America East scoring title, earned conference Player of the Year honors and received the most votes for New England Player of the Year. Now, just like Krog and Haydar, Thompson’s professional career has wound its way to Chicago and he has become Wolves captain. “It’s a great organization,” Thompson said. I mean, you look at the history of the guys who have played here and some of the past captains – it’s a really strong honor for me. It’s something I take a lot of pride in.”

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

HOCKEY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER

“He’s an older guy who’s well respected. He’s a family man.”

Charlie turns 3 in February and Paul hopes he’ll retain some foggy memories of these golden days together. Paul, of course, will remember them forever. There’s just something about fathers and sons sharing the sport of hockey together. With that in mind, when Paul is asked for the most fun he’s ever had as a player, he doesn’t think about something that happened on the ice. Last season, during a career-long two-month stint with the NHL’s Florida Panthers, Paul’s father, also named Paul, accompanied him on the Fathers Trip in January to New York City. “That was pretty special for me and my dad to get to experience together,” Paul said. “As an older player, it’s something you don’t know if you’re ever going to get to do. For most hockey players,

their parents have sacrificed a lot for them to get to where they are – and I know my dad has. I was pretty happy to be able to share that experience with him and he really enjoyed himself. “The treatment and the charter planes are something that most people don’t get to experience it. I know my dad couldn’t believe that it’s how (NHL) guys get treated every day.” Paul’s dad didn’t play hockey, but worked his butt off as a contractor to help Paul’s career unfold. “Your family gives up a lot of weekends,” Paul said. “Then it’s the financial aspect of it. There are so many things that go into it.” But there are so many things that come out of it. The welding of the McDonald and Thompson families is proof.

Upon reflection, Kelsey says she sensed Paul already had Colin’s seal of approval way back on that New Year’s Eve night in Wilkes-Barre. “This is how I knew Paul was a nice guy,” Kelsey said. “Colin left the bar with our cousins without even checking up on us. We just kept talking and exchanged phone numbers.” “I’m very, very grateful that hockey brought them together,” Colin said.

End

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ROCKY THOMPSON HEAD COACH

Rocky Thompson was named Chicago Wolves head coach on June 7, 2017. The 2017-18 campaign will mark Thompson’s 11th season as a coach, which includes two seasons as the head coach for the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires. His tenure with the Spitfires culminated with a Memorial Cup on May 28, 2017. The 40-year-old spent five years as a coach in the Edmonton organization prior to joining Windsor. Under the same ownership as the Oilers, Thompson began his career during the 2007-08 season as an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. After three seasons (2007-10) with the Oil Kings, Thompson joined the American Hockey League’s Oklahoma City Barons for four seasons (2010-14). Prior to the 201415 season he was elevated to an assistant for the NHL parent club. Before coaching, Thompson played professional hockey – split between the NHL and AHL – for parts of 11 seasons from 1995 to 2007. Selected in the third round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound right wing appeared in 25 games between the Flames and the Florida Panthers and racked up 117 penalty minutes. In AHL competition, Thompson appeared in 566 regular-season games and compiled 69 points (17G, 52A). His 1,919 penalty minutes rank 10th on the AHL’s all-time penalty-minute list. The Calgary, Alberta, native skated for seven different clubs during his career.

CHRIS DENNIS ASSISTANT COACH

Chris Dennis was named an assistant coach for the Chicago Wolves on June 30, 2017, and is expected to operate the defense corps for head coach Rocky Thompson. The 37-year-old spent the last two seasons as the head coach for York University in Toronto, where he took over a last-place program and transformed it into the champions of the 20-team Ontario University Athletics conference. The Lions captured the 2017 Queen’s Cup with a dramatic 4-3 victory on March 11. Prior to taking the job at York, Dennis spent 10 years in the Maple Leafs organization in a variety of roles spanning the head-coaching tenures of Hall of Famer Pat Quinn, Paul Maurice, Ron Wilson and Randy Carlyle. Dennis served as a Maple Leafs assistant coach from 2013-15 and worked as an assistant for the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies when they reached the Calder Cup Finals in 2012.

BOB NARDELLA ASSISTANT COACH

One of the most accomplished players in Chicago Wolves history, Bob Nardella was promoted to assistant coach on July 12, 2017, after serving for two seasons as skills development coach and three seasons as a part-time assistant for the franchise. Nardella ranks second on the team’s all-time regular-season list for games (476), fifth in assists (239) and sixth in points (298) after spending six full and three partial seasons with the Wolves. He was a key player when Chicago captured the 1998 and 2000 Turner Cups as well as the 2002 Calder Cup. The 49-year-old Melrose Park native made his Wolves debut during the team’s inaugural season in 1994-95. Nardella ranks second on the Wolves’ all-time postseason list in games (101), fourth in points (61), fourth in assists (44), and seventh in goals (17).

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82 SEASONS AND GOING STRONG After a compelling season that reinforced the American Hockey Leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s successful franchise launches in the Pacific Division, the AHL remains steady at 30 teams with minimal adjustments for the 2017-18 season. The Wolves are the only team to find a new National Hockey League partner as the franchise has joined forces with the Vegas Golden Knights. Three franchises in the Eastern Conference found new homes: the Binghamton Senators moved to Ontario to become the Belleville Senators, the Albany Devils transformed into the Binghamton Devils and the St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IceCaps headed to Quebec to become the Laval Rocket. The AHL has maintained its two-conference, four-division alignment for the third year in a row with just one change. The Charlotte Checkers have shifted from the Central Division to the Atlantic Division to rebalance the conferences at 15 teams apiece. In each of the four divisions, the top four teams (as ranked by points percentage) will qualify for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

/ CENTRAL DIVISION

/ ATLANTIC DIVISION

Chicago Wolves . . . . . . . . . . . . Vegas Golden Knights Grand Rapids Griffins . . . . . . . . . . . Detroit Red Wings Iowa Wild. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Minnesota Wild Cleveland Monsters. . . . . . . . . Columbus Blue Jackets Manitoba Moose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winnipeg Jets Milwaukee Admirals. . . . . . . . . . . . Nashville Predators Rockford IceHogs. . . . . . . . . . . . . Chicago Blackhawks

Bridgeport Sound Tigers . . . . . . . New York Islanders Charlotte Checkers. . . . . . . . . . . . Carolina Hurricanes Hartford Wolf Pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . New York Rangers Hershey Bears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington Capitals Lehigh Valley Phantoms . . . . . . . . Philadelphia Flyers Providence Bruins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boston Bruins Springfield Thunderbirds . . . . . . . . . . Florida Panthers

/ PACIFIC DIVISION Bakersfield Condors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edmonton Oilers Ontario Reign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Los Angeles Kings San Antonio Rampage. . . . . . . . . . Colorado Avalanche San Diego Gulls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anaheim Ducks San Jose Barracuda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San Jose Sharks Stockton Heat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calgary Flames Texas Stars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dallas Stars Tucson Roadrunners . . . . . . . . . . . . Arizona Coyotes

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins . . . . . . . Pittsburgh Penguins

/ NORTH DIVISION Belleville Senators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ottawa Senators Binghamton Devils . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Jersey Devils Laval Rocket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Montreal Canadiens Rochester Americans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Buffalo Sabres Syracuse Crunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Marlies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Toronto Maple Leafs Utica Comets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vancouver Canucks

BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE

HOCKEY 101

THE RINK

HOCKEY LINGO

ASSIST

BAR DOWN

BARNBURNER

BREAKAWAY

BUCKET

CELLY

Credited to a player who helps set up a goal. The last two offensive-team players to touch the puck prior to the goal scorer are awarded assists.

When the puck hits the bottom of the crossbar and falls down into the net.

A fast-paced, high-scoring, exciting hockey game.

A clear scoring opportunity where no defensive player is between the puck carrier and the goaltender.

Another term for helmet.

Refers to the expression of joy after a player scores a goal; a celly comes in many forms and the amount of exuberance is usually correlated to the importance of the goal.

EMPTY-NET GOAL

FLEX

HAT TRICK

IRON

OFFSIDE

SAUCER PASSING

A goal scored against an Measure of stiffness opponent that has pulled when force is applied their goaltender for an to a hockey stick. Flex extra skater in an attempt rating indicates the to tie the game. pounds of force necessary to bend the stick one inch. A higher flex rating means a stiffer stick.

When a player scores three (or more) goals in a game.

The red pipes that When a player crosses the An elevated pass; highlight the goalmouth. offensive-zone blue line typically used to evade If a puck deflects off before the puck. an opposing player’s stick one or more of these blocking the on-ice pipes it is said a player pass lane. “hit the iron.”

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ALL-TIME POINTS LEADERS 1. STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 951 2. ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483 3. DARREN HAYDAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368 4. JASON KROG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342 5. BRETT STERLING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337 6. BOB NARDELLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298 7. STEVE LAROUCHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 8. CHRIS MARINUCCI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 9. STEVE MARTINS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 10. DEREK MACKENZIE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

ALL-TIME WINS LEADERS (Goaltenders) 1. WENDELL YOUNG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169 2. MATT CLIMIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 3. KARI LEHTONEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 4. JORDAN BINNINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 5. MICHAEL GARNETT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 6. RAY LEBLANC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 7. ONDREJ PAVELEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 8. NORM MARACLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 9. PETER MANNINO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 10. JAKE ALLEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

ALL-TIME GAMES LEADERS 1. STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 839 2. BOB NARDELLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476 3. DEREK MACKENZIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377 4. KEVIN DOELL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375 5. ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369 BRIAN SIPOTZ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369 7. BRETT STERLING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363 8. TIM BERGLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361 9. DARREN HAYDAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342 10. TIM BRESLIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330

LES CUNNINGHAM AWARD (AHL Regular-Season MVP) DARREN HAYDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . (2006-07) JASON KROG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2007-08) KENNY AGOSTINO . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2016-17)

WILLIE MARSHALL AWARD (AHL’S Leading Goal-Scorer) BRETT STERLING . . . . . . . . . . . . (2006-07) JASON KROG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2007-08) WADE MEGAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2016-17)

YANICK DUPRE MEMORIAL AWARD (AHL Man of the Year) KURTIS FOSTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . (2003-04)

2016-17 CHICAGO WOLVES

ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORDS & AWARDS

Kenny Agostino became the third Wolves player to earn the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s Most Valuable Player. The league’s players, coaches and media voted on the award.

GOALS LEADERS 1. STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454 2. BRETT STERLING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 3. ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 4. DARREN HAYDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 5. CHRIS MARINUCCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 6. JASON KROG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 7. STEVE LAROUCHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 8. J.P. VIGIER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 DEREK MACKENZIE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 10. SCOTT PEARSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

When Wade Megan led the AHL in goals and Kenny Agostino paced the league in points last season, they became the first pair of teammates in seven seasons to top the AHL in those key categories.

GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE LEADERS (MINIMUM 25 APPEARANCES)

1. RICHARD SHULMISTRA. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.89 2. J AKE ALLEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 3. K ARI LEHTONEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.33 4. ANDREI TREFILOV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.36 5. E DDIE LACK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.46 6. JORDAN BINNINGTON. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.59 7. D REW MacINTYRE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.66 8. ROBERT GHERSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.67 9. F RED BRATHWAITE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.68 10. ONDREJ PAVELEC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.69

The Wolves captured the Central Division crown last season, which gives the team four division titles in the last eight years and eight division titles overall.

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

The Wolves set a franchise record with a 13-game undefeated streak from Feb. 12 to March 18. During that five-week stretch, the Wolves posted nine wins and took the other four games to overtime.

(AHL’S Leading Regular-Season Scorer) STEVE MALTAIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2002-03) DARREN HAYDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . (2006-07) JASON KROG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2007-08) KENNY AGOSTINO . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2016-17)

IHL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD (Outstanding Community Service) TIM BRESLIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1996-97) CHRIS MARINUCCI . . . . . . . . . . . . (1998-99) WENDELL YOUNG . . . . . . . . . . . . (2000-01)

The Wolves piled up 101 points on their way to the Central Division title. It marked the ninth time in the franchise’s 23-year history that it reached the 100-point mark.

Five Generations of Service 630-261-0400

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