THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHICAGO WOLVES
VOL. 10 ISSUE 1
Whether he’s skating, skateboarding or creating small businesses, Scooter Vaughan always goes all out
PREMIUM HOSPITALITY AND GROUP SPACES
PARTY DECKS
RIVERS LOUNGE
JACK DANIEL’S LOUNGE
SUITES
GREAT VIEWS
VIP EXPERIENCES
SPACE IS LIMITED! BOOK NOW!
> VISIT THE TICKET TABLE BEHIND SECTION 109 > CALL 1-800-THE-WOLVES > VISIT CHICAGO WOLVES.COM
RIVERS LOUNGE
All-inclusive luxury space designed for group outings and corporate events.
PARTY DECKS
Exclusive group space with premium sightlines (for groups of 20 or more).
SUITES
Private suite for your next party (for groups of 10 or more).
VIP EXPERIENCES
JACK DANIEL’S LOUNGE
GREAT VIEWS
From youth hockey to color guards, have your group at the center of attention. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Wolves game with the luxury of a fully stocked bar.
Great views, options and perks available to groups!
he’s got range WHETHER HE’S SKATING, SKATEBOARDING OR CREATING SMALL BUSINESSES, SCOOTER VAUGHAN ALWAYS GOES ALL OUT
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 Camille Colletti Holly Simms Joe Muting Imran Javed Troy Mueller Josh Villanueva Ross Dettman
Senior Vice President of Operations Creative Services Director Community Relations Manager Game Operations Manager Game Operations Assistant Digital Content Manager Senior Graphic Designer Graphic Designer Team Photographer
COMMUNICATIONS Lindsey Willhite Jasmine Grotto Whitneigh Kinne
PARTNERSHIPS & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Jon Sata Greg Sprott Timothy Weaver Doug Ferguson Amy Bernstein Stefanie Evans Rob Newburg Leslie Metcalf John Brooks Joseph Swintek Dan Velarde Adam Goldberg Katherine Damisch
Senior Vice President, Partnerships and Business Development Director of Partnerships Sr. Manager of Partnerships and Media Sales Partnerships Sales Executive Client Services Manager, Partnerships Senior Director of Program Development Youth Hockey Coordinator B2B and Group Event Specialist Group Account Executive Group Account Executive Group Account Executive Group Sales and Youth Sports Representative Marketing Coordinator
Director of Public Relations Media Relations Coordinator Social Media 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 Michelle Alcazar Inside Sales 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, Sydney Cosentino, Carly Crispino, Nick DiFalco, Kelly DuShane, Rebecca Erken, Matt Glavach, Chris Guzik, Denise Killian, Joe Krasinski, Sabrina Krasinski, Gina Lagattuta, Steve Laures, Nikki Lennarson, Samantha Lilly, Jenna Madeley, Bridgette McGinley, Claire Moseley, Jenn Myzia, Haley Nettles, Amber Noble, Michelle Norton, Seth Novoselsky, Logan O’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
1-800-THE-WOLVES | CHICAGOWOLVES.COM | THEAHL.COM
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
The best fans deserve the best coverage Chicagoland Allstate Agents live here, work here and cheer for the Wolves just like you. And their goal is to help you make sure you have the right protection and get all the discounts you deserve.
Talk to your local agent for a free quote and find out why switching to Allstate is worth it.
Š 2017 Allstate Insurance Co., Northbrook, IL. Marks are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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.”
Unfortunately, most of life happens without gear.
The good news is, we’re here for you. advanced orthopedic care for people of all ages. From physical therapy to new approaches in joint replacement, IBJI has the expertise to treat any orthopedic condition that challenges you.
ibji.com BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
TITLE GOES HERE
LoyoLa Medicine proudLy supports the chicago WoLves. At Loyola Medicine, our orthopaedics expertise is backed by state-of-the-art technology and ranges from joint replacements, trauma repairs and sports medicine injuries to specialties like bone tumors, hand surgery and limb lengthening. As physicians for Chicago area athletes—both professional and amateur— we treat our patients with a holistic approach that focuses on both body and soul. Treating body and soul is unique and it’s uniquely Loyola.
We also treat the human spirit.® 6
© 2016 Loyola University Health System. All Rights Reserved. • March 2016 • 20160215-02
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
TITLE GOES HERE
In 1899 Jewel Tea Company was founded here in Chicago. We are proud of our local history and the support that the local communities have given us over the years. That’s why we are dedicated to supporting other local businesses by selling products that are made and grown right here in the Chicagoland area. Take a look at some of our locally grown offerings.
LOCALLY GROWN Glenmark Burgers
Goose Island Beer
Papa nicholas coffee
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Batavia, Illinois
Revolution Brewery
Mouzin Brothers Farms
Home run inn pizza
Chicago, Illinois
Vincennes, Indiana
Chicago, Illinois
WATCH IT!
Visit the Jewel-Osco YouTube channel to watch our Locally Grown videos to learn more about these local companies and so many more!
8
Be Social.
Visit us at www.jewelosco.com
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.
PICK UP NEW WOLVES GEAR TONIGHT!
VISIT THE MERCHANDISE STANDS BEHIND SECTIONS 108, 113 AND 116.
VIEW THE ENTIRE LINE AT CHICAGOWOLVESTORE.COM
PREMIUM HOSPITALITY AND GROUP SPACES
PARTY DECKS
RIVERS LOUNGE
JACK DANIEL’S LOUNGE
SUITES
GREAT VIEWS
VIP EXPERIENCES
SPACE IS LIMITED! BOOK NOW!
> VISIT THE TICKET TABLE BEHIND SECTION 109 > CALL 1-800-THE-WOLVES > VISIT CHICAGO WOLVES.COM
RIVERS LOUNGE
All-inclusive luxury space designed for group outings and corporate events.
PARTY DECKS
Exclusive group space with premium sightlines (for groups of 20 or more).
SUITES
Private suite for your next party (for groups of 10 or more).
VIP EXPERIENCES
JACK DANIEL’S LOUNGE
GREAT VIEWS
From youth hockey to color guards, have your group at the center of attention. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Wolves game with the luxury of a fully stocked bar.
Great views, options and perks available to groups!
ROCKY HOCKEY
While growing up 100 miles northwest of Edmonton in a small Alberta town called Whitecourt, new Chicago Wolves head coach Rocky Thompson learned how to box and became a Golden Gloves champ. He learned how to wrestle and succeeded at a similar level.
But hockey was always first and foremost in his sporting life. Perhaps it’s fitting that he was attending a hockey school in his pre-teen years when he encountered the guest speaker who sharpened his outlook on life. “He said, ‘Put up your hands if you want to play in the NHL,’ ” Thompson said. “He looked into the crowd at all the hands and said, ‘None of you will play in the NHL.’ This individual said to us, ‘Set goals that are realistic.’ From that point on, I always set goals like that. “All my instructors were junior hockey players. So I thought to myself, ‘I would love to be able to play major junior hockey.’ Then, as a 16-year-old, I was a longshot at making it. I wasn’t the best hockey player. But I made it. “I thought, ‘I would love to be drafted in the NHL.’ I ended up getting drafted in the third round. Then it was, ‘I want to sign a professional deal.’ I signed a professional deal and a year later, I was playing in the NHL. Now, I was never able to establish myself as an NHL player. I had opportunities – a few games here or there over the years – but I played quite a while in the American Hockey League and I had a good career.” It’s clear Thompson takes life one goal
at a time. He fulfilled another one in May when he led the Windsor Spitfires to the Memorial Cup championship. Shortly thereafter, on June 7, Thompson was named the Wolves head coach. Wolves general manager Wendell Young has known about Thompson’s coaching prowess for years, in part because former Wolves assistant coach Todd Nelson coached with Thompson for the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons.
“Even before Rocky left there for the NHL, Todd Nelson preached Rocky Thompson,” Young said. “He has an unbelievable reputation. I’ve never had so many unsolicited calls, texts and emails about how great Rocky is and how great he’ll be for our organization. I have great confidence in Rocky. He’s very intense, very articulate. He’ll be in the NHL one day.” But that’s not Thompson’s current goal. “I want to win a Calder Cup,” Thompson said. “I believe we can win a Calder Cup. It’s a great organization here and it’s been done here before – and we have the resources and the personnel to do it again.” That personnel includes assistant coaches Chris Dennis and Bob Nardella. Dennis, 37, spent a long time coaching in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization before taking York University from worst to first in the 20-team Ontario University Athletics Conference. Nardella, meanwhile, is one of the Chicago Wolves’ all-time greats. This is his first chance to serve as a full-time assistant coach.
“Chris has a track record,” Thompson said. “From the moment he became a head coach himself, he has been nothing but outstanding – and he has experience at the National League level. He’s young. He’s very bright and ambitious. That’s exactly what I need. “And Bobby Nardella is awesome. He’s ambitious and he wants to grow and learn as a coach. He has been a part of this organization when it has won and he knows what it takes to win.” Thompson, Dennis and Nardella direct a Wolves squad that plans to be on the attack at all times. “The gas will be to the floor,” Thompson said. “We don’t want to defend. We want to play with the puck up ice and play hard.
“THE GAS WILL BE TO THE FLOOR.” “I think players want to attack the opposition. And when they have the conditioning and the legs to do it, it’s way more fun to play that way because you have the puck. That’s the name of the game. Ever since you’re a little kid, you want to play with the puck. Now they’ve broken it down into analytics and possession numbers and all this stuff. What does it all equate to? The team that has the puck the most has the best opportunity to win. But what they don’t say is it’s also the most fun.” BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE 13
TITLE GOES HERE
OUR business is YOUR future!
TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-THE-WOLVES OR VISIT CHICAGOWOLVES.COM
PA R T Y FREE ROOKIE MEMBERSHIP UN
HAVE F
EVENT
S
ONE FREE TICKET TO A SELECT GAME AUTOGRAPHED PLAYER CARD AND SKATES CARD
FOR ONLY $9.95, UPGRADE TO THE ALL-STAR MEMBERSHIP TO RECEIVE EVERYTHING IN THE ROOKIE MEMBERSHIP PLUS: FREE TICKET TO ONE GAME EACH MONTH INVITATION TO A PARTY WITH THE PLAYERS OFFICIAL SKATES MATES T-SHIRT TAKE A SHOT ON SKATES ON THE ICE DURING SLAPSHOT SUNDAY! FREE KIDS MEAL AT RAISING CANE’S!
WANT TO JOIN TODAY? 14
UP
GRADE
VISIT THE KIDS ZONE BEHIND SECTION 109 OR SIGN UP ONLINE AT CHICAGOWOLVES.COM/SKATESMATES
FORWARDS BEAU BENNETT H: 6-2 W: 195 Nov. 27, 1991 Gardena, Calif. 2016-17: New Jersey (NHL)
CONNER BLEACKLEY H: 6-0 W: 199 Feb. 7, 1996 High River, Alta. 2016-17: Wolves (AHL); Missouri (ECHL)
BRYCE GERVAIS H: 5-9 W: 175 Feb. 26, 1992 Battleford, Sask. 2016-17: Wolves (AHL)
TOMAS HYKA H: 5-11 W: 159 March 23, 1993 Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic 2016-17: Mlada Boleslav BK (Czech)
MACKENZIE MACEACHERN
BRYCE GERVAIS
FORWARD
CENTER/WING
This 23-year-old Michigan State alum shrugged an early-season injury last year and delivered five goals and six assists in 55 regularseason games for the Wolves. On Jan. 6, MacEachern scored a goal off a Magnus Paajarvi feed that earned a spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays. The rugged power forward came on strong in the Calder Cup Playoffs as he contributed two goals and one assist in 10 games.
After a successful audition with the Wolves at the end of the 2015-16 season, the 25-year-old appeared in 68 games ¬– including eight playoff contests – for the Wolves during the 2016-17 campaign. The Battleford, Saskatchewan, native produced 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points. On April 2, Gervais was presented with the 2017 Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award that recognizes a Wolves player who best exemplifies the late Breslin’s on-ice spirit, team-first attitude and community involvement.
KEEGAN KOLESAR H: 6-2 W: 219 April 8, 1997 Winnipeg, Manitoba 2016-17: Seattle (WHL)
MACKENZIE MACEACHERN H: 6-2 W: 192 March 9, 1994 Troy, Mich. 2016-17: Wolves (AHL)
STEFAN MATTEAU H: 6-2 W: 220 Feb. 23, 1994 Chicago, Ill. 2016-17: St. John’s (AHL)
TEEMU PULKKINEN H: 5-10 W: 185 Jan. 2, 1992 Vantaa, Finland 2016-17: Minnesota (NHL); Arizona (NHL); Iowa (AHL)
BRETT STERLING H: 5-7 W: 177 April 24, 1984 Los Angeles, Calif. 2016-17: Wolves (AHL)
BROCK TROTTER H: 5-10 W: 184 Jan. 16, 1987 Brandon, Man. 2016-17: SaiPa (SM-Liiga); Karpat (SM-Liija)
PAUL THOMPSON H: 6-1 W: 204 Nov. 30, 1988 Methuen, Mass. 2016-17: Florida (NHL); Springfield (AHL)
ALEX TUCH H: 6-4 W: 222 May 10, 1996 Syracuse, N.Y. 2016-17: Minnesota (NHL); Iowa (AHL)
T.J. TYNAN H: 5-8 W: 165 Feb. 25, 1992 Orland Park, Ill. 2016-17: Columbus (NHL); Cleveland (AHL)
SCOOTER VAUGHAN H: 6-1 W: 202 April 8, 1989 Placentia, Calif. 2016-17: Wolves (AHL)
TYLER WONG H: 5-9 W: 174 Feb. 28, 1996 Cochrane, Alta. 2016-17: Lethbridge (WHL)
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
MEET THE WOLVES
DEFENSEMEN JAKE BISCHOFF H: 6-1 W: 195 July 25, 1994 Grand Rapids, Minn. 2016-17: Bridgeport (AHL); Minnesota (NCAA)
CHRIS CASTO H: 6-1 W: 203 Dec. 27, 1991 Stillwater, Minn. 2016-17: Providence (AHL)
CURTIS LEONARD H: 6-3 W: 196 Sept. 23, 1992 Napanee, Ontario 2016-17: Fort Wayne (ECHL)
PETTERI LINDBOHM H: 6-3 W: 198 Sept. 23, 1993 Helsinki, Finland 2016-17: St. Louis (NHL); Wolves (AHL)
KENNEY MORRISON H: 6-2 W: 207 Feb. 13, 1992 Lloydminster, Alta. 2016-17: Stockton (AHL)
JAKE WALMAN
PETTERI LINDBOHM
DEFENSEMAN
DEFENSEMAN
After wrapping up his season for Providence College in late March, the 21-year-old Walman joined the Wolves and made an immediate impact to help the team capture the 2017 Central Division title. The elusive skater contributed two goals and one assist in seven regular-season games before adding another two goals and one assist in eight Calder Cup Playoff appearances.
The 24-year-old Helsinki native enters his fourth season with the Wolves. The affable yet aggressive Lindbohm has split the last three years between Chicago and the NHL. Going into the 2017-18 season, he has produced 17 goals and 28 assists in 148 regularseason appearances with the Wolves along with two goals and one assist in 40 games with the St. Louis Blues.
GOALTENDERS
DEFENSEMEN DMITRY OSIPOV H: 6-4 W: 234 Oct. 4, 1996 Moscow, Russia 2016-17: Brandon (WHL)
JAKE WALMAN H: 6-1 W: 170 Feb. 20, 1996 Toronto, Ontario 2016-17: Wolves (AHL); Providence (NCAA)
OSCAR DANSK H: 6-2 W: 198 Feb. 28, 1994 Stockholm, Sweden 2016-17: Rogle (SWE)
MAXIME LAGACE H: 6-2 W: 190 Jan. 12, 1993 Longueuil, Quebec 2016-17: Texas (AHL)
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
THERE’S A BETTER WAY TO MOVE YOUR STUFF. Penske offers free unlimited miles on one-way rentals to keep Wolves fans moving forward. Visit pensketruckrental.com or call 1-800-GO-PENSKE to learn how you can get up to 20% off* your next move today.
* Certain restrictions apply. Visit pensketruckrental.com for details.
© 2015 Penske. All Rights Reserved.
FEATURED
Whether he’s skating, skateboarding or creating small businesses, Scooter Vaughan always goes all out BY LINDSEY WILLHITE PHOTOS BY ROSS DETTMAN
t o g ’s
n
e g n
a beautiful Friday in late August, Scooter Vaughan woke up before the dawn. He slipped out of his door in Chicago, drove to the Chicago Wolves’ practice facility in Hoffman Estates and clicked on the lights in the team’s weight room by 6:45 a.m. After a thorough workout, he joined 20 other players and Wolves assistant Bob Nardella on the ice for an extended skate and fundamentals work. Then came an informal scrimmage – one that began with Vaughan and another player tapping their sticks together three times to trigger an old-school faceoff for the puck. Once the friendly scrimmage ended, as if he wasn’t sweaty enough, Vaughan peeled off his soaked hockey gear and returned to the weight room for another workout that concluded shortly after 11 a.m. All the while, Vaughan’s smartphone buzzed and beeped and vibrated in his dressing room cubicle as texts and emails and calls poured in from all over the country. You see, the 28-year-old veteran – who’s entering his third season as a valuable, versatile player for the Wolves – doesn’t just devote himself to hockey. He’s a Christmas ornament inventor. He’s an investor in a microgreens farm in Florida. He’s a co-operator of summer hockey camps with former Wolves teammate Jared Nightingale. He’s a guitarist, a skateboarder, a world traveler, a networker, a future millionaire, a workaholic. Vaughan may have stopped working out his body at 11 a.m. on that beautiful Friday in late August, but his brain – like his smartphone -- never stops whirring. “Hockey’s not lasting forever,” Vaughan said. “But even if it did, it’s still not enough. After hockey practice,
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
HE’S GOT RANGE
are you just supposed to sit on the couch and watch Netflix and play video games? You do that until evening and then you make your food? There’s lots of time to be productive in other aspects of life. “I think about ideas all day. Probably the only time I’m not is when I’m physically on the ice. When I’m working out, they’re still going through my head.”
There’s lots of time to be productive in other aspects of life. Vaughan’s hockey career began while growing up in southern California, but it has taken him from Michigan to St. Louis to the University of Michigan and several other stops across the United States. Everywhere he has lived, he has made friends and acquaintances whose interests are as thoughtful and varied as his own. And those friends and acquaintances love introducing him to their friends and acquaintances – and vice versa. “My network is definitely very strong if I need something done,” Vaughan said. “Like (if someone calls and says), ‘I’m starting a business and I need a graphic
designer, I’m like, ‘Well, I’ve worked with him. Here, have this guy.’ “I would say I have someone that knows everything. I have a really strong network of people all over the map. Artists. Businessmen. It might be lawyers. It might be doctors. It might be whatever. I have a lot of artsy friends – whether they’re in the music biz, the movie biz, if they put on music festivals, if they paint, if they build websites, graphic design. It’s everything.” For example, Vaughan and Jeff Ceccacci became close buddies while playing hockey together as kids in Placentia, Calif. Years later, Ceccacci played on a junior team with British Columbia native Greg Tyshynski. Vaughan and Tyshynski became tight because of their mutual friendship with Ceccacci. While Vaughan moved on to professional hockey, Tyshynski moved on to get a college degree in molecular biology and psychology. He’s now the managing partner of Aquafarm Organics LLC – a large greenhouse farm in the middle of Florida that grows and delivers nutrientrich microgreens to upscale hotels, restaurants and grocery stores. Vaughan invested some dollars to help the project get underway, but he also
invested his time. At one point, Tyshynski walked around his greenhouse and warehouse while FaceTiming with Vaughan hundreds of miles away. He’d point his phone at various areas and Vaughan offered ideas on how to improve the place aesthetically. “I was reluctant to do anything creative because I have zero vision,” Tyshynski said. “We just successfully finished the project – I used probably 75 percent of his suggestions.” Vaughan and Tyshynski aren’t just business partners. They’re the type of best friends who, if one has a day off, he’ll fly where the other one is just to hang out. That’s how they wound up skateboarding together on a flawless fall afternoon in Chicago. Tyshynski flew into O’Hare on a Wednesday and was back in Southern California on a Thursday. “He’ll do whatever,” Tyshynski said. “Always down no matter what. If I want him to do something and he’s on the other side of the country, he’ll be
like, ‘I’m there.’ And he’s there the next day. He’s always down for an adventure.” Electric Family is a five-year-old California-based company that describes itself as “streetwear inspired by the music festival culture with an overall mindset to better the world.” To that end, their ventures include partnering with popular electronic artists and producers to develop bracelets that are popular and fashionable – yet raise money for charity and awareness along the way. “I met Scooter back when I was living in San Diego through mutual friends,” said Electric Family cofounder Drew Nilon. “When I started Electric Family with some buddies of ours, Scooter made himself available to help us in the early days without asking for anything in return. He reached out to his network to help us grow the brand simply because he wanted to help. He was pivotal in helping to get the brand off the ground. “I have seen him work tirelessly to make his hockey dream come true, which has been incredible to see. There were many times when he said no to going out with the boys so that he could train and get his hockey game better. He has been a great friend and a fantastic source of inspiration over the years.” Where does Vaughan get his drive to do and be and create every waking hour of the day? Look no further than his parents: Charles “Skip” Vaughan and Orian Southall. Skip Vaughan earned a degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia and serves as a Market Senior Director for PepsiCo in Atlanta. Southall also graduated from the University of Virginia before completing her juris doctorate at the University of North Carolina. She has served as a lawyer for nearly 30 years. Scooter is their only child and many of their habits and traits have become ingrained in him in some fashion or another. Scooter describes his father as a workaholic. Southall used to hand-paint the individual Christmas cards that the family mailed out.
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
HE’S GOT RANGE
SWAGGY CLAUS SOON TO AN ONLINE STORE
In Scooter Vaughan’s family, celebrating Christmas is serious business. Orian Southall and Skip Vaughan – his mother and father – decorate their home in Atlanta with at least seven trees. “Every room, everywhere,” Scooter Vaughan said. “And we always have one tree with all-ethnic ornaments.” The all-ethnic tree gets loaded with ornaments like the others, but there’s a catch. There’s not much variety. “Let’s be honest,” Vaughan said. “There’s probably just four different ornaments and my mom has 25 to 30 of each of them.” “I remember the year they came out with a black little drummer boy,” Southall said. “I drove all over Kansas City to every Hallmark we could find and I bought every one of them.” It became clear to Vaughan there’s a business opportunity. And his Swaggy Claus concept was born. “I know my mom’s not the only black lady in the world who celebrates Christmas,” he said. “Somebody else probably wants some ethnic ornaments. I thought, ‘Why not make my own?’ And I wanted to put a twist on it. Hence ‘Swaggy Claus’ and ‘Afro Claus.’ ” For several months, Vaughan has been creating every aspect of his “action ornament.” He has ducked in and out of Hallmarks and Toys R Us stores studying current toys and ornaments. He has been in constant contact with Californiabased designer Ryan Foat, who’s using Vaughan’s directives to create the ornament’s look. He has secured the necessary URLs and social media handles and mapped out the marketing campaign. If all goes right, then the ornament will be available Nov. 1. A portion of the proceeds will go to Chicago Wolves Charities. “He’s going to be a modern-day Santa Claus,” Vaughan said. “He’s not going to be jolly and fat. He’s going to have some tight skinny jeans, a red sweater tucked in with the black buckle. Why not have some swag? It’s 2017 now. If you’re looking for an ethnic Santa that’s not your typical ornament, I think it’s for you.”
“My husband is very much a Type A personality,” Southall said. “I think working hard is genetic. He gets that from him. Scooter is not afraid at all of hard work. I hope I add a little creativity to that mix. “He was always this pie-in-the-sky, got-these-dreams, have-thesethoughts type of kid. I would always say to him every day, either before bed or sometime during the day: ‘The difference between success and failure is perseverance.’ ” That’s why Vaughan wakes up before the dawn to try to make his NHL dream come true. It’s also why the NHL dream is just one of many he pursues. Tyshynski believes if Vaughan devoted the same amount of time to his guitar and singing that he does to hockey, he’d be able to enjoy a career in music. While that might sound appealing, the artistic side of Vaughan’s brain might be no match for the business side. He might be the only professional hockey player who doesn’t plan to make his first million from the sport he plays.
Preorder @
“I want to have a self-sustaining business with more than a dozen employees,” Vaughan said. “I don’t want to say money is everything, but being a millionaire is something that’s on my mind and something that I want to do. Property investment – you can’t do it without real estate and property. It’s something that I’m looking to get into.”
S WA G G Y CL A US . c om
Plan on him giving it all he’s got.
Get there before the puck drops. Express to Chicago Wolves games. The bus departs the Rosemont CTA station 60, 40 and 20 minutes before game time, and then heads back to the station 20 minutes after the game. Get on the bus and you’ll be on Pace to see a winner.
Allstate Arena Express—only $1.75 per person (each way).* *$2.00 if paid in cash ©2017 Pace
PaceBus.com
BY THE NUMBERS
26 | C | BRYCE GERVAIS
SNAPCHATS/DAY
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS MOST LIKES ON A PHOTO
TWITTER FOLLOWERS
TOO MANY
CELL PHONE CHECKS PER DAY CUPS OF COFFEE PER DAY
STICKS USED PER SEASON
CITIES LIVED IN SUITS
WATCHES
BEST GOLF SCORE SERIES’ BINGED
PAIRS OF SHOES
APPLE PRODUCTS OWNED
PLAYER RATING ON EA SPORTS NHL 18
YEARS PRO
LONGEST NUMBER OF HOURS WITHOUT SLEEPING
Visit PHPA.com and follow us @The PHPA Your source for hockey news, player information, and PHPA merchandise
Grow with the Pros!
PROUD TO REPRESENT ALL AHL AND ECHL PLAYERS
TITLE GOES HERE
Our
is
g n i d Ri IT ON
Every manufacturer has a logo, but ours is a family crest — A promise,with a lineage that runs back to 1933. From the start, Henry Ariens was dedicated to design, and delivered a machine he was confident enough to sell to consumers. So confident, in fact, that he literally stamped his name on it. ARIENS.COM
26
Sinceg 1933
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).
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
T H E U LT I M AT E
P O W E R P L AY. At Dynegy, we’re proud to ser ve homes and businesses throughout Illinois bec ause we believe Wolves fans deser ve the power to choose. Learn more now at
TheDynegyDifference.com
Proud S ponsor of the CHI C AGO WOLV ES
©2016 Dynegy Energy Services, LLC
82 SEASONS AND GOING STRONG After a compelling season that reinforced the American Hockey League’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. John’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.”
find the brands you love at prices that work for you
Visit tjmaxx.com for one of our 38 Chicagoland locations. Sponsor: The TJX Companies, Inc., 770 Cochituate Road, Framingham, MA 01701 Styles vary by store and online. maxxlife® © 2017 T.J.Maxx
FREE Athletic Evaluation and One Week of Training
Be quicker, faster, stronger and an all around better athlete. Any Sport, Any Skill, Any Time!
OUR SERVICES
•
High Intensity Interval Training
•
Semi-Private
•
1-on-1
•
Fusionetics Injury Prevention
•
Team Training
RedLine Athletics is available for your next party or corporate event!
GET YOUR KIDS INTO REDLINE BEFORE THEIR SEASON STARTS! WE BUILD BETTER ATHLETES. RedLine Athletics 1455 Busch Parkway • Buffalo Grove IL 60089 847-243-8199 RedLineAthletics.com/buffalogrove
y a w a k a e r b a Take e everyday! h t with m g n i o n i r a f t r e into ent Ease
our
y help from
Skate away with savory party trays! Ham & Turkey Bundles
Cheese & Sausage Tidbit Tray
Shaved ham and turkey breast on golden and wheat dinner rolls served with pitted black olives.
Eckrich® hard salami, beer salami, Busch summer sausage, Wisconsin American, Muenster, Swiss cheeses and bread and butter pickles.
Hye Roller Tray Roast beef, Turkey or Italian Hye Rollers made on cracker bread with lettuce and cheese, served with assorted relish center.
Fruit & Cheese Tray
Strawberries, red and green seedless grapes, cantaloupe and honeydew melon chunks, Muenster, Cheddar and Swiss cheeses with whipped fruit dip.
Wolves fans will love these packs, too! *Party Package includes your choice of side salads and King’s Hawaiian Rolls. See deli associate for further details.
48 Piece Chicken 12 of each: Breasts, Wings, Legs and Thighs • Fried or Grilled Chicken Serves 20-24
• Party Package* Serves 20-24
96 Piece Chicken
24 of each: Breasts, Wings, Legs and Thighs • Fried or Grilled Chicken Serves 40-48
• Party Package* Serves 40-48
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. JAKE ALLEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 3. K ARI LEHTONEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.33 4. A NDREI TREFILOV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.36 5. EDDIE LACK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.46 6. JORDAN BINNINGTON. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.59 7. DREW MacINTYRE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.66 8. ROBERT GHERSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.67 9. FRED 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
floodbrothersdisposal.com BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
TITLE GOES HERE
34
WHAT'S THE DIFF?
Can you find the 10 differences in the two photos below?
OPPONENTS WHAT'S THE WORD DIFF? SCRAMBLE
Unscramble the team names of the four new opponents the Wolves face this season.
RIOAOTN IEGRN BLKRISEEFDA OORSDNC ANS IEDOG GLULS CUTNSO ARDRRNSOEUN
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE
GAME TIME
MAZE CRAZE
Help Skates find his way through the maze!
G N I W LEFT
I M , Y • TRO