THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE CHICAGO WOLVES
VOL. 12 ISSUE 1
PLAYING FOR KEEPS FORWARD CURTIS MCKENZIE STILL A MUCKER AND GRINDER, PLUS WINNER
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HOME MY50 AHLTV
AWAY
ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL. DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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18
PLAYING FOR KEEPS
FORWARD CURTIS MCKENZIE STILL A MUCKER AND GRINDER — PLUS A WINNER
FRONT OFFICE & HOCKEY OPERATIONS
PARTNERSHIPS & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Seth Gold Wayne Messmer Dana Wildman Norine Gillner
Jon Sata Greg Sprott Timothy Weaver Doug Ferguson Chris Friederich Brett Bennick Stefanie Evans Leslie Metcalf Michelle Alcazar Nicholas Cottrell Ann Pacione Becky Pettersen Katherine Damisch
Director Senior Executive Vice President Executive Assistant Hockey Operations Assistant
OPERATIONS & CREATIVE SERVICES Courtney Mahoney Dan Harris Anthony Domalewski Bailey Goldberg Imran Javed Troy Mueller Michael Wenzel Ross Dettman Cameron Most Gabriel McDonagh
Senior Vice President of Operations Senior Director of Creative Services Senior Coordinator, Community Relations Community Relations Assistant Digital Content Manager Senior Graphic Designer Graphic Designer Team Photographer Producer Production Assistant
COMMUNICATIONS Lindsey Willhite Jen Jordan
Director of Public Relations Social Media Coordinator
BROADCAST Ron Storto Jason Shaver Bill Gardner
Executive TV Producer Play-by-Play Announcer Color Analyst
Senior Vice President, Partnerships and Business Development Director of Partnerships Sr. Manager of Partnerships and Media Sales Partnerships Sales Executive Partnerships Sales Executive Client Services Coordinator, Partnerships Senior Director of Program Development B2B and Grout Event Specialist Group Account Executive Group Account Executive Group Account Executive Group Account Executive Marketing Coordinator
TICKET SALES & SERVICES Kevin Dooley Jackie Schroeder Eric Zavilla Mike Jucaban John Brooks
Sr. Executive Director of Ticket Sales Senior Director of Ticket Retention and Services Executive Director of Ticket Sales and Retention E-Business Specialist Sales Development Manager
Pawel Sienko Alysia Zaucha Nick Aikman Liam Fogarty Brandon Yunker Kendall Hutchinson
Sales Development Manager Account Representative Inside Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative Inside Sales Representative Sales and Services Coordinatoror
MEDICAL STAFF Scott Logue, MD Team Physician/Orthopedics A.J. Acierno, DDS Team Dentist Jessica Soros, DPT Physical Therapist Jolie Holschen Caravello, MDEmergency Medicine/Sports Medicine
GAMEDAY STAFF Chris Dubiel Public Address Announcer Jenna Adams, Matt Burns, Ben Campbell, Joe Capozzi, Hannah Carpenter, Malik Carson, Willem Caster, Joseph Castronovo, Payton Chang, Anthony Chicalace, Carly Crispino, Dean Davalle, Ria Dockerty, Rebecca Erken, Tom Fumagalli, Quinlyn Garbett, George Georgevich, Matt Glavach, Peter Gniech, Jessica Golden, Chris Guzik, Georgia Hancock, Brittnie Jackson, Allison Jensen, Kyle Johnson, Ryan Kozlowski, Nikki Lennarson, Bridgette McGinley, Alejandro Merlan, John Midlock, Claire Moseley, Jenn Myzia, Seth Novoselsky, Geoff Post, Joseph Pervan, Taylor Polak, Morgan Potter, Jackie Povitsky, Lawrence Schmidt, Lauren Stoek, William Tarpey, Joseph Testa, Kelly Tragas
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE Editorial Producer: Courtney Mahoney Publication Writers: Lindsey Willhite, Spencer Engel-Natzke Publication Photographer: Ross Dettman Feature Designer: Christina Moritz Creative Support: Imran Javed, Troy Mueller
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 1
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2019-2020 SEASON
Dear Fans, It is my pleasure once again to welcome you all to a new season of American Hockey League action, as we continue a tradition of excellence that dates back to our founding as a league in 1936.
DAVID ANDREWS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
The AHL remains proud of its role in developing nearly all of the players, coaches, executives, trainers, broadcasters and officials who you see throughout the National Hockey League today. For more than eight decades, generations of our great fans have been able to cheer on future superstars and Stanley Cup champions, and more than 100 eventual members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The 2019-20 season is sure to be another memorable one as we drop the puck in 31 cities across North America, all vying to become the next Calder Cup champion. Thank you all for your continuing support of the AHL.
Sincerely,
DAVID A. ANDREWS PRESIDENT & CEO | AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
TheAHL.com
N W O R G E H O MMFRESH PRODUCE FA R
TOP 10 MOMENTS OF OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON As the 2018-19 season approached, the Chicago Wolves felt the magic in the air. Head coach Rocky Thompson and his assistants were back after leading the team to the 2018 Central Division crown. Most of the top scorers from that team were back in the fold – a group that featured T.J. Tynan, Brandon Pirri and Tomas Hyka. Premier goaltenders (and best friends) Oscar Dansk and Max Lagace were back, too. Our Hockey Operations department, led by general manager Wendell Young, added high-profile veterans such as Daniel Carr and Curtis McKenzie to the mix. Our NHL partner, the Vegas Golden Knights, filled the pipeline with talented prospects. But those weren’t the only reasons to be excited. To celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary, dozens of former players and coaches and others crucial to the Wolves’ long-time success returned to town to relive memories – and remind everyone of the standards that have been in place since Day 1. And when everything was said and done, the Wolves found themselves in the league finals for the seventh time in franchise history.
Aug. 13: Party on the Magnificent Mile To kick off the 25th anniversary celebration and introduce the team’s #LastTeamStanding motto, the Wolves held a day-long celebration on Pioneer Court between Tribune Tower and the Michigan Avenue bridge in downtown Chicago. More than 20 of the Wolves’ greatest players and former general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff – the architect of all four of the franchise’s league championship teams -- flew in from all over North America to join thousands of fans and intrigued passersby for the fun. After a special dinner at the Chicago Sports Museum at Water Tower Place, everyone returned after dark to witness a sneak preview of the team’s new pregame show conceived by world-renowned special effects company Strictly FX.
We could have filled this entire magazine with highlights from this magical season, but here is the top 10 moments from our team’s journey back to the finals.
Oct. 13: Opening Night excellence Exactly two months after the kickoff party in Chicago, the Wolves hosted their home opener at Allstate Arena. All-time leading scorer Steve Maltais (and his son) handled the ceremonial pregame puck drop and then the Wolves handled the Grand Rapids Griffins by a 5-1 score. Right wing Brooks Macek, playing his first year in North America after spending five years in Germany that included winning a 2018 Olympics silver medal, produced his first three goals for the Wolves. He went on to produce 14 goals in an 11-game stretch – something Maltais used to do – and finished second on the team for the year with 26 goals.
Nov. 7: Four scores for Daniel Carr The Wolves trekked to Milwaukee for a 10:30 a.m. puck drop and left wing Daniel Carr did more before lunch than some pros did all year. Carr fired home four goals against former Union College teammate Troy Grosenick – becoming the fifth Wolves player to score four in one game – as Chicago earned a 5-3 victory. Brooks Macek assisted on each of Carr’s goals and one other to finish with five assists – one shy of the team record set by Rob Brown in 1996.
Dec. 29: Coghlan sinks the IceHogs in overtime The Wolves captured the Illinois Lottery Cup, which goes to the winner of the 12-game regular-season series between Chicago and Rockford, for the third year in a row. Four of these clashes required overtime, but the most exciting finish happened before a large Saturday night crowd at Allstate Arena when rookie defenseman Dylan Coghlan delivered the game-winner at 3:55 of the extra session. He slipped a backhand through the legs of IceHogs goalie Kevin Lankinen, who collapsed to the ice in dismay.
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 5
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April 6: Wolves clinch third straight Central Division title For the second year in a row under Rocky Thompson’s direction, the Wolves caught fire during the second half of the season. From Feb. 17 to March 29, Chicago posted a 14-2-0-2 record to climb past Grand Rapids and Iowa and seize control of the Central Division. The Wolves wrapped up the division crown in front of the home fans on April 6. With time running out and Chicago stuck in a 2-2 knot with the Colorado Eagles, forward Ryan Wagner battled to win the puck in the corner and fed it to center Gage Quinney for the game-winning wraparound with 1:13 left in regulation.
May 1: Glass delivers in overtime After the Wolves rallied from a 2-1 series deficit to defeat Grand Rapids 3-2 in the best-of-five Central Division Semifinals, the Wolves advanced to face the Iowa Wild in the best-of-seven Central Division Finals. The Wild held a 2-1 lead entering the third period of Game 1 at Allstate Arena, but rookie defenseman Nic Hague scored to force overtime. Then rookie center Cody Glass skated to the slot, accepted a pass from Tye McGinn and fired it home at 18:39 of overtime to draw first blood for the Wolves in the series.
May 24: Double overtime delirium San Diego rallied to take Games 2 and 3 of the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals, then Game 4 required overtime on the Gulls’ home ice. Goaltender Oscar Dansk fended off 17 shots in the first overtime, then AHL MVP Daniel Carr came through 6:01 into the second overtime. Center T.J. Tynan fed Carr the puck at the blue line, then the crafty forward moved into the slot and ripped a wrister past goaltender Kevin Boyle to even the series. Wolves color analyst Billy Gardner crowed, “MVP! Clutch time, baby!” as the entire team celebrated on the Pechanga Arena ice.
May 25: Max makes history Entering Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, the American Hockey League had conducted almost 83 full years of playoffs without ever having a goaltender score a goal. The Chicago Wolves had played for 25 years – a total of 2,223 games between regular season and postseason – and never had a goaltender score a goal. Then came the third period with the Wolves holding a precarious 3-2 lead. The officials whistled a delayed penalty on Wolves center T.J. Tynan, so Gulls goaltender Kevin Boyle left the ice for an extra attacker. Gulls rookie Isac Lundestrom fired a shot that hit Wolves goaltender Max Lagace on the blocker. Eventually, the puck wound up in front of the Wolves bench and Gulls rookie Lundestrom tried to steer it back to his defensemen, but his pass split his teammates and slid into the empty goal.
May 17: Glass delivers in overtime…again After the Wolves dispatched Iowa in six games, they earned home-ice advantage in the Western Conference Finals against Pacific Division champ San Diego. Once again, the Wolves trailed by 1 in the third period of Game 1. Once again, rookie defenseman Nic Hague scored late to force overtime. Then, once again, rookie center Cody Glass came through. After getting his stick slashed out of his hands, Glass raced to the Wolves bench, grabbed a new stick from equipment manager Ryan Shoufer and snuck behind San Diego’s defensemen. Forward Tomas Hyka threaded a pass between the defensemen to Glass, who raced in alone against San Diego goaltender Jeff Glass and scored at 14:03 of OT. “Glass breaks Glass!” yelled Wolves play-byplay broadcaster Jason Shaver. “And the Wolves take Game 1!”
June 1: More Calder Cup overtime magic Before the 2019 Calder Cup Finals began, prognosticators pegged the Wolves as significant underdogs to the regular-season champion Charlotte Checkers. Indeed, the Checkers flexed their muscles and scored 3 goals in the first period of Game 1 on their home ice. But, true to their nature all year, the Wolves didn’t give up. Defensemen Zac Leslie and Zach Whitecloud scored in the second period to forge a 3-3 tie. Goaltender Oscar Dansk contributed several great saves to get the Wolves into their fourth overtime of the postseason. Once there, the Wolves maintained their perfect record in overtime as Stefan Matteau scored at 5:30 – his second goal of the night – to give Rocky Thompson’s crew the series lead.
As the last Wolves player to touch the puck, Lagace earned credit for the goal as the Wolves went on to a 5-2 victory and a 3-2 series edge. Then the Wolves claimed Game 6 at Allstate Arena to go back to the Calder Cup Finals.
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 7
DON LEVIN CH A IR M A N OF T HE B O A R D / GO V E R NOR 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 since the franchise’s inception. Levin donates his time and energy extensively 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 20 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.
BUDDY MEYERS V ICE CH A IR M A N 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 more than 45 years. He is a former certified agent of the National Hockey League Players’ Association and is past attorney for the Soviet Red Army Hockey Team (CSKA). He is a practicing attorney and the principal in the law firm of William Buddy Meyers, Ltd. His concentration is in the areas of worker’s compensation and personal injury litigation. Additionally, he is a member of the Illinois Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and Illinois Workers Compensation Lawyers Association; a former director of the Better Boys Foundation and River North Association; and a recipient of the Shomrim Society of Illinois’ Man of the Year Award in 2006. He also supports numerous charitable and environmental organizations. Meyers, who was inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on Jan. 26, 2014, is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a juris doctor degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago Kent.
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WENDELL YOUNG GE NE R A L M A N A GE R Wendell Young is in his 11th season as the Chicago Wolves general manager. Since being hired as GM in August 2009, the Wolves have compiled a .601 regular-season winning percentage and captured six division titles: the 2010 West, 2012 Midwest, 2014 Midwest, 2017 Central, 2018 Central and 2019 Central. The Wolves also reached the 2019 Calder Cup Finals. Young has been a member of the Wolves organization in virtually every capacity – including player, coach, and executive --- since the team’s inaugural campaign in 1994. He served as assistant coach and executive director of team relations for six seasons before transitioning into the general manager role. The 55-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.
BILL BENTLEY A S SIS TA N T GE NE R A L M A N A GE R Bill Bentley is in his 11th season as the Chicago Wolves assistant general manager and stands as one of a handful of people who has been a part of the organization since the team’s inception in 1994. Bentley has been instrumental in the hockey operations department for more than 15 years, which includes all four seasons that ended with a championship. The Chicago native joined the organization as a statistician in 1994 and was promoted to team services manager a year later. 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 the Director of Media Relations for the Chicago Cheetahs of the now-defunct Roller Hockey International during the 1993-94 season.
GENE UBRIACO SE NIOR A D V IS OR / DIR E C T OR OF HOCK E Y OP E R AT IONS Gene Ubriaco, who has been with the Wolves since the franchise’s inception in 1994, is in his 23rd season as the team’s director of hockey operations and 11th as senior advisor. Ubriaco was hired in 1994 as the Wolves’ first head coach and guided the expansion team to a 34-33-14 record and a berth in the 1995 Turner Cup playoffs. “Ubie” began his coaching career at Lake Superior State University in 1972-73. Four years later, he led the Milwaukee Admirals to the Turner Cup playoffs to become the first International Hockey League coach to 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. Ubriaco gained international coaching experience by heading up the Italian Olympic Team during the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France. The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, native also played professional hockey for 10 years, which included three seasons in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Oakland Seals and Chicago Blackhawks. He posted 39 goals and 35 assists in 177 NHL games.
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AFTER A STELLAR SEASON, DANSK DID DUBLIN, STOCKHOLM AND SPAIN
AFTER SPLITTING THE NET FOR MOST OF THE REGULAR SEASON LAST YEAR, Chicago Wolves goaltender Oscar Dansk took over the starting job in the playoffs and appeared in 19 of 22 games to backstop the organization’s run to the Calder Cup Finals. The Stockholm, Sweden, native played 1,186 minutes over eight weeks, which included four victories that required at least one overtime session. Needless to say, after the final whistle blew and the Charlotte Checkers claimed the American Hockey League’s top prize on June 8, Dansk needed a break. He took two weeks completely off after the season ended and tried to think about everything but hockey – and that having such a long season was a new experience for him. “Right after the season I went to visit my older brother (Victor) who lives in Dublin, Ireland,” Dansk wrote in an email interview. He said he also spent time at his mom Anna’s cabin in the Stockholm archipelago where he could get away from the city and relax. Then came his family’s annual trip to Spain for a week. “Other than that, I’ve been trying to be with my family and friends as much as possible,” he wrote. “Every summer I work out with a group of players consisting of Anton Forsberg, Lukas Bengtsson, Alex Wennberg and William Karlsson. We all spend time together in and outside the gym.” Mentally and physically, he believes that he’s been able to decompress and recover despite the shortened offseason and quickly turned his focus to the year ahead. “After the two weeks off, I jumped right into training,” Dansk said. “It’s been a bit different than what I’ve been used to because of the shorter summer time due to the long season, but with the expertise of my trainer Henrik Petré, I feel confident we’ve had the proper training program this summer and I feel confident with the season coming closer.”
Oscar Dansk and standout Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson work out and play together during the summer in their hometown of Stockholm, Sweden.
Dansk sees an opportunity to build on the success of the last two seasons, having helped the Vegas Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 before leading the Wolves to the Calder Cup Finals last spring. “I’m excited for this season,” Dansk said. “With how the offseason went, it looks like we’re going to be a younger team in Chicago.”
Two fashion plates: Oscar Dansk and his younger brother, Emil, who’s a triathlete.
Photos courtesy of Oscar Dansk
CHICAGO WOLVES
The Wolves return several key players, and gain NHL experience from the additions of forwards Nicolas Roy, Patrick Brown and Tyrell Goulbourne, defensemen Brett Lernout and Jaycob Megna, and goaltender Garrett Sparks, but will rely heavily on talented young Vegas prospects to make a run at a fifth league title. “I’d like to be a leader,” Dansk said, “and the goal is obviously to build on last season. Bring that experience we all gained and put it to good use.”
Loyola Medicine is celebrating 50 years of treating the human spirit in 2019. From sports injuries to joint replacements, Loyola cares for every patient with advanced technology and orthopaedic expertise. We are ranked as one of the top hospitals in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report and proud to care for our Chicago-area athletes in mind, body and spirit.
Š2019 Loyola Medicine
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forwards PATRICK BROWN
PAUL COTTER
REID DUKE
LUCAS ELVENES
CODY GLASS
H: 6-1 W: 210 May 29, 1992 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 2018-19: Carolina (NHL), Charlotte (AHL)
H: 6-0 W: 195 Nov. 16, 1999 Canton, Michigan 2018-19: London (OHL), Western Michigan (NCAA)
H: 6-0 W: 191 Jan. 28, 1996 Calgary, Alberta 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
H: 6-1 W: 173 Aug. 18, 1999 Angelholm, Sweden 2018-19: Rogle BK Angelholm (SweHL)
H: 6-2 W: 185 April 1, 1999 Winnipeg, Manitoba 2018-19: Wolves (AHL), Portland (WHL)
TYRELL GOULBOURNE
BEN JONES
KEEGAN KOLESAR
JAKE LESCHYSHYN
JERMAINE LOEWEN
H: 5-11 W: 195 Jan. 26, 1994 Edmonton, Alberta 2018-19: Philadelphia (NHL), Lehigh Valley (AHL)
H: 6-0 W: 194 Feb. 26, 1999 Waterloo, Ontario 2018-19: Niagara (OHL)
H: 6-2 W: 223 April 8, 1997 Winnipeg, Manitoba 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
H: 5-11 W: 191 March 11, 1999 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2018-19: Wolves (AHL), Lethbridge (WHL), Regina (WHL)
H: 6-4 W: 216 Jan. 18, 1998 Mandeville, Jamaica 2018-19: Kamloops (WHL)
TYE McGINN
CURTIS McKENZIE
H: 6-2 W: 205 July 27, 1990 Fergus, Ontario 2018-19: Wolves (AHL), Manitoba (AHL)
H: 6-2 W: 205 Feb. 22, 1991 Golden, BC 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
GAGE QUINNEY
JONAS RØNDBJERG
H: 5-11 W: 200 July 29, 1995 Las Vegas, Nev. 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
H: 6-0 W: 176 March 31, 1999 Horsholm, Denmark 2018-19: Vaxjo (SweHL)
Curtis McKenzie The power forward impressed in his first season with the Vegas Golden Knights organization, landing his team in the Calder Cup Finals for the second consecutive season. McKenzie appeared in 71 games for the Wolves, notching 20 goals and 34 assists before leading the team with eight goals and 15 points in the playoffs. The 28-year-old entered this season with 294 games of AHL experience, recording 102 goals and 142 assists.
defensemen JAKE BISCHOFF
DYLAN COGHLAN
NIC HAGUE
H: 6-1 W: 194 July 25, 1994 Cambridge, Minn. 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
H: 6-2 W: 189 Feb. 19, 1998 Duncan, BC 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
H: 6-6 W: 215 Dec. 5, 1998 Kitchener, Ontario 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
BRETT LERNOUT
BRYCEN MARTIN
H: 6-4 W: 214 Sept. 24, 1995 Winnipeg, Manitoba 2018-19: Laval (AHL)
H: 6-2 W: 198 May 9, 1996 Calgary, Alberta 2018-19: Maine (ECHL)
Dylan Coghlan In his first professional season, Coghlan topped all AHL rookie defensemen with his 15 goals while leading all Wolves defensemen with his 25 assists and 40 points. The 21-year-old played a large role on the power play that finished sixth in the league, scoring 21 of his points on the man-advantage.
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 15
JAYCOB MEGNA
BEN MASELLA
CLIFF WATSON
ZACH WHITECLOUD
H: 6-6 W: 221 Dec. 10, 1992 Plantation, Fla. 2018-19: Anaheim (NHL), San Diego (AHL)
H: 6-1 W: 215 Jan. 12, 1993 Montreal, Quebec 2018-19: Florida (ECHL)
H: 6-2 W: 195 Dec. 21, 1993 Appleton, Wisconsin 2018-19: Stockton (AHL), Hersey (AHL), Utica (AHL), Ontario (AHL), Kansas City (ECHL)
H: 6-1 W: 196 Nov. 28, 1996 Brandon, Manitoba 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
Cody Glass The Vegas Golden Knights’ first draft pick joined the Wolves with just six games remaining in the regular season, but that didn’t stop him from making an immediate offensive impact. The 20-year-old Winnipeg native adjusted quickly to the professional game, scoring three goals and two assists in six games before tying for the team lead with 15 points in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Glass earned his way into important minutes, showing he can both set up and execute clutch plays.
goaltenders Oscar Dansk The 25-year-old Sweden native split time in net with Max Lagace during the regular season, posting a .913 save percentage and 2.46 goals-against average in 40 appearances. Dansk took over the starting job in the postseason, starting 19 of the team’s 22 contests and backstopping the Wolves to the Calder Cup Finals. He had a stint in Vegas as well, serving as backup for the Golden Knights’ goaltending pair.
OSCAR DANSK
DYLAN FERGUSON
GARRET SPARKS
H: 6-3 W: 195 Feb. 28, 1994 Stockholm, Sweden 2018-19: Wolves (AHL)
H: 6-2 W: 195 Sept. 20, 1998 Lantzville, BC 2018-19: Kamloops (WHL)
H: 6-3 W: 201 June 28, 1993 Elmhurst, Illinois 2018-19: Toronto (NHL)
hockey operations
KEVIN KACER
RYAN SHOUFER
TYLER CARPENTER
STAN DUBICKI
JEFF CONKLE
HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER
EQUIPMENT MANAGER
ASSISTANT EQUIPMENT MANAGER
GOALTENDING COACH
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 17
PLAYING FOR KEEPS Forward Curtis McKenzie still a mucker and grinder — plus a winner
BY LINDSEY WILLHITE PHOTOS BY ROSS DETTMAN
CHICAGO WOLVES
WHEN CURTIS MCKENZIE created his Twitter account in September 2010 – early in his sophomore year at Miami (Ohio) University – he wanted his bio to explain his brand of hockey. Accordingly, he typed “Mucker, grinder, loose puck finder.” He simply was being self-aware – not self-deprecating – when he authored those words. “I’ve always been more of a worker in my career,” McKenzie said. “How I find success for myself is just working hard. Maybe I’m going a little harder to the net than other players and going to the corners to find pucks. That’s something I’ve always prided myself on – being the best on the ice at these things.” The Golden, British Columbia, native has never changed those words on his Twitter bio – even though he has accomplished far more in his professional career than you’d expect from a mucker/ grinder. As the 28-year-old Chicago Wolves forward begins this season, his resume shows 99 career games in the National Hockey League with 10 goals and 13 assists. He also has piled up 112 goals and 142 assists during five-plus seasons in the American Hockey League – excellent numbers that don’t do justice to the value McKenzie provides for his team. Here’s what we mean: There’s only one player who participated in each of the last two AHL Calder Cup Finals – McKenzie. He captained the Texas Stars to the 2018 Finals, then joined the Wolves last year and led the team in playoff goals on the way to the Western Conference championship. There’s also only one player who has competed in three of the last six Calder Cup Finals. Yep, McKenzie. During his rookie year, he played an important role on Texas’ 2014 Calder Cup champs. Basically, he ought to add “winner” to his Twitter bio – only he’s not egotistical like that.
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 19
THAT LEAVES WOLVES HEAD COACH Rocky Thompson, who watched McKenzie lead the Wolves in scoring while guiding the team to last year’s Calder Cup Finals, to do the bragging for him. “He’s a winner!” Thompson said. “He’s a guy who has won championships and been big parts of those teams. He’s just one of those players who, when you play against Curtis McKenzie, you know that he has been on the ice. He’s a player that the opposition will talk about because he’s so difficult to play against. “He plays hard every single game. Every single practice, he wants to be better. He’s a leader. He cares about his teammates. He cares about the group first.” The Wolves didn’t have an official captain last year, but any players who had a concern or a worry seemed to confide in McKenzie. Then he would take the steps necessary to solve the issue. McKenzie believes the foundation for this role starts on the ice. “My leadership style is to make sure I’m the hardest-working guy on the ice and the other guys will play that hard, too,” McKenzie said. But playing so hard – and playing all the way into June two seasons in a row – has its price. While McKenzie led the Wolves in postseason goals (8) and shared the team lead in points (15), he played through a painful injury that required extra time to heal during the offseason. Fortunately, he and his bride, Lucia, found the perfect place to recuperate: Greece.
CHICAGO WOLVES
“he’s a winner! [...] He plays hard every single game. Every single practice, he wants to be better.”
CURTIS MCKENZIE WAS A FRESHMAN AT MIAMI (OHIO) UNIVERSITY. LUCIA CARR WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL FROM EDINA, MINNESOTA, trying to decide whether to attend Miami or Southern Methodist University.
Lucia was enjoying her senior year at SMU. Curtis took to Facebook again.
When Lucia visited Miami over a wintry weekend in 2010, she met Curtis through mutual friends and they hung out together with a group. At one point during the night, as they joked that Curtis should attend Lucia’s prom with her, they posed for a prom-style photo together.
Though she recognized his motives, Lucia didn’t exactly, uh, play it cool.
The next weekend, Lucia visited SMU. She knew where she wanted to be.
GREECE to ungrind EIGHT YEARS AFTER MEETING BRIEFLY at Miami University (see the accompanying story), Curtis McKenzie and Lucia Carr were wed on Aug. 18, 2018, at gorgeous Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada. Because that was too close to the start of last season to embark on their honeymoon, they saved their trip for late June and early July. While Curtis was busy pursuing the Calder Cup, Lucia made all the arrangements for their 12-day adventure that began in Athens before heading to three of Greece’s 6,000 islands. “She did a ton of research into places to stay, places to check out, restaurants to go to,” McKenzie said. “It was an awesome trip. We had so much fun. I don’t think there was anything that went poorly. “The first day we were there, we went to the Acropolis and that’s the main thing we wanted to see in Athens. Then we got on a ferry and started going to the Islands. We went to Mykonos, Milos and Santorini – and all three were pretty spectacular in their own ways. It was nice seeing three different styles of islands and all of them were so beautiful.” Curtis and Lucia decided Milos was their favorite stop, in part because Lucia found the perfect place to stay. “We stayed in a little boathouse right on the water,” McKenzie said. “You’d open the door, take two steps and you’re in the Mediterranean. That was a pretty cool spot.” “The water is so blue there,” Lucia said. “We went out on a couple of catamaran rides. We went snorkeling. There were a lot of fish, but nothing you don’t want to swim with.” “It was great to completely shut everything off and see other parts of the world,” McKenzie said. “I’m sure we’ll end up back in Greece at some point.”
“SMU had a good business school, so I went primarily for that,” Lucia said. “I also wanted a bigger city.” “I guess she met me and decided Miami wasn’t the place to go,” Curtis joked.
“He reached out to me to get some recommendations on food places or something,” Lucia said. “Yeah, it was a little bit of an excuse to talk to me.”
“He was laughing at me because I sent him a list that was as long as a novel,” Lucia said. “He was like, ‘Who is this chick?’ Thankfully he didn’t get scared off. It was a little bit of a dorky move on my part, but thankfully he stuck around.” Curtis and Lucia got married on Aug. 18, 2018, near Lake Louise in Alberta, then spent their first year of holy matrimony together enjoying everything Chicago has to offer. They saw “Hamilton.” Visited the Bean. Walked
HOW CURTIS & LUCIA MET Photo courtesy of Curtis McKenzie
They settled for becoming Facebook friends and communicating that way. “He would reach out sporadically and say, ‘You should’ve come to Miami,’ ” Lucia said. Three years later -- as fate would have it -- Curtis wrapped up his career at Miami and joined the AHL’s Texas Stars based in Austin. Suddenly he was within driving range of Dallas, where
around the Art Institute. Caught a Cubs game. Then there was all the fine dining. Turns out Curtis’ request for Dallas-area restaurant recommendations might not have been just a ploy to reconnect with Lucia. “Curtis is a huge foodie, so we tried a bunch of restaurants,” Lucia said. “Au Cheval was one of his favorites. We did a lot of fun stuff.” ✶
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 21
BACK TO THE GRIND AFTER RETURNING TO NORTH AMERICA, McKenzie gave his body one more week to rest – and then he jumped back into his comprehensive routine to prepare for the season. As you might imagine from a young man who prides himself on his work ethic, McKenzie doesn’t do anything halfway. A typical day found him at Fortius Sport and Health Gym by 8 a.m. for a two-hour workout, then off to physiotherapy, then headed to a rink in North Vancouver for 75 minutes on the ice for skills work with Jon Calvano, the director of Elite Skills Development. He’d cap his days with a trip to the chiropractor. “This summer I switched up my routine a lot,” McKenzie said. “I haven’t lifted any heavy weights at all. I’ve moved my workouts to more of a movement base, where it’s lighter weights and more movement and just improving my flexibility and range of motion. “I’ve found it helps quite a bit and I feel really good on the ice this way.” McKenzie took part in a new 4-on-4 league called The Boys of Summer that was modeled after Da Beauty League in Minnesota. “There are tons of NHL guys and AHL players in the area,” he said. “It’s fun to catch up with all the buddies you might run into just a few times during the season – or maybe not see at all. They’re good skates to go to and it’s a good league. It keeps you in the game – and it’s a lot of fun while doing it.” Now it’s just a matter of playing for keeps – and helping his team go as far as it can. “I always find I play my best hockey in the second half of the year – probably from January-February on to the end of the playoffs,” McKenzie said. “Players like him become so effective in the playoffs and usually end up leading your team in points – which he did for us,” said Rocky Thompson. “Those guys always end up being the guys who push through and become a big reason why their team has success.” ✶
CHICAGO WOLVES
“Those guys always end up being the guys who push through and become a big reason why their team has success.”
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CHICAGO WOLVES
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VISIT THE CHICAGO WOLVES CHARITIES TABLE BEHIND SECTION 105 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THE CHANCE TO WIN!
Rocky Thompson HE A D CO A CH Rocky Thompson has directed the Chicago Wolves to the 2018 and 2019 Central Division titles as well as the 2019 Calder Cup Finals during his two seasons as head coach. The 2018-19 campaign marked Thompson’s 12th season as a coach, which included 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, and he was hired as the Wolves head coach on June 7. The 42-year-old spent eight years as a coach in the Edmonton organization prior to joining Windsor, which was capped by a stint as an Edmonton Oilers assistant in 2014-15 alongside former Wolves Dallas Eakins and Todd Nelson. Prior to 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 made his NHL debut on Jan. 28, 1998, and went on to appear 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.
Chris Dennis A S SIS TA N T CO A CH In two seasons as a Chicago Wolves assistant coach, Chris Dennis has helped to guide the Wolves to the 2018 and 2019 Central Division titles along with a run to the 2019 Calder Cup Finals. The 39-year-old spent the previous 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 A S SIS TA N T CO A CH 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. During his two seasons as a fulltime assistant, Nardella has helped to lead the Wolves to the 2018 and 2019 Central Division crowns along with the 2019 Calder Cup Finals. 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 51-year-old Melrose Park native made his Wolves debut during the team’s inaugural season in 1994-95. After spending one season in Italy and another in Germany – punctuated by his first of two appearances in the Winter Olympics with Italy’s national team – Nardella returned to the Wolves from 1997 to 2002.
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 27
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Western Conference
Eastern Conference
CE N T R A L DI V IS ION IC DI V IS ION AT L A N T IC DI V IS ION NOR T H DI V IS ION Bakersfield CondorsPA•CIF Belleville Senators • Binghamton Devils • Bridgeport Sound Tigers • Charlotte Checkers Chicago Wolves Bakersfield Condors Bridgeport Sound Tigers Belleville Senators VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS EDMONTON OILERS NEW YORK ISLANDERS OTTAWA Chicago Wolves • Cleveland Monsters • Colorado Eagles • Grand Rapids Griffins • Hartford Wolf PackSENATORS Grand Rapids Griffins Colorado Eagles Checkers Binghamton Hershey Bears • Iowa Wild • Laval Rocket • Lehigh ValleyCharlotte Phantoms • Manitoba Moose • Milwaukee Admirals Devils DETROIT RED WINGS COLORADO AVALANCHE CAROLINA HURRICANES NEW JERSEY DEVILS Ontario Reign •Ontario ProvidenceReign Bruins • Rochester Americans • Rockford IceHogs • San AntonioCleveland Rampage Iowa Wild Hartford Wolf Pack Monsters MINNESOTA WILD LOS ANGELES KINGS NEW YORK RANGERS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS San Diego Gulls • San Jose Barracuda • Springfield Thunderbirds • Stockton Heat • Syracuse Crunch Manitoba Moose San Diego Gulls Hershey Bears Laval Rocket WINNIPEG JETS ANAHEIMMarlies DUCKS • Tucson Roadrunners •WASHINGTON CAPITALS Texas Stars • Toronto Utica Comets • Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonMONTREAL PenguinsCANADIENS Lehigh Valley Phantoms Milwaukee Admirals San Jose Barracuda Rochester Americans PHILADELPHIA FLYERS NASHVILLE PREDATORS
SAN JOSE SHARKS
Rockford IceHogs
Stockton Heat
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
CALGARY FLAMES
BOSTON BRUINS
San Antonio rampage
Tucson Roadrunners
Springfield Thunderbirds
ST. LOUIS BLUES
ARIZONA COYOTES
Texas Stars DALLAS STARS
BUFFALO SABRES
Providence Bruins
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
FLORIDA PANTHERS
Toronto Marlies TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Syracuse Crunch
Utica Comets VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Use Code CHIWOLVES for $10 OFF any item at www.ViennaBeef.com
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 29
Q: THE WHISTLE BLEW, BUT THERE WASN’T A GOAL OR A PENALTY. WHY WAS PLAY STOPPED? Some infractions do not deserve a penalty but still require a stoppage in play to right the situation. A few examples: • High Sticking: Not to be confused with hitting another player with a high stick; high-sticking is called when a player touches the puck when his stick is above his shoulder. If he or his team gains immediate possession, the official blows the whistle and calls for a faceoff one zone behind where the infraction occurred. • Hand Pass: If a player uses his hand to advance the puck to a teammate in either the neutral or offensive zone, the whistle is blown and the faceoff moves to the nearest faceoff dot. A player can only use his hand to advance the puck in his defensive zone – and only if he doesn’t close his hand over the puck. • Dislodged Net: Hockey is a contact sport. Sometimes that includes accidental contact with the net itself. If the net is dislodged during play and no longer lines up with the goal line, the whistle is blown to secure the net back on its moorings. Out of Play: If the puck hits the protective netting above the goal and end boards, play is stopped even if the puck doesn’t leave the area of play. If no one is at fault, no delay of game is called and the faceoff comes nearest to where the puck was last in play.
Q: THE OFFICIALS JUST SENT TWO PLAYERS TO THE PENALTY BOX FOR A FIGHT. WHY ARE THERE STILL FIVE SKATERS OUT THERE FOR EACH TEAM? A: When two players fight, each player is sent to the penalty box to serve their five-minute major. The teams continue to play 5-on-5, unless one (or both) of the players also receives a minor penalty before, during or after the fight.
CHICAGO WOLVES
Q: WHY DOES THE GOALTENDER SOMETIMES LEAVE THE ICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME WHILE THE PUCK IS STILL LIVE? A: Teams typically play with three forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender, but that changes when there’s a delayed penalty called against the opposing team. In a delayed penalty situation, play is blown dead as soon as the offending team touches the puck. That makes it nearly impossible for them to score. That encourages the other team to pull its goaltender and add an extra attacker on the ice to create a 6-on-5 advantage. If the team with the 6-on-5 advantage scores a goal, then the delayed penalty call is waived and the game resumes 5-on-5 with a faceoff at center ice.
Q: IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE FEWER FIGHTS BETWEEN PLAYERS THAN PREVIOUS YEARS. WHY IS THAT? A: Each time two opposing players engage in a fight, they receive a major penalty. In 2018-19, the AHL instituted a new rule as a way to help curb fighting: any player amassing 10 fighting majors incurs a suspension for the following game, then incurs a one-game suspension for each successive fighting major.
Entertaining Made Easy Sweet & Savory Party Trays Ham & Turkey Bundles
Hye Roller Tray
A variety of tasty fresh baked mini rolls filled with premium Krakus® ham and Primo Taglio Swiss cheese along with Primo Taglio turkey and Land O’ Lakes® American cheese with relish center. Large
Made from soft flat bread and layered with a cream cheese spread then rolled with an assortment of Primo Taglio deli meats, cheeses, tomatoes and lettuce. Small Med. Large
$39.99
Serves 14-18
5900 Cal/Tray
Strawberries, red and green seedless grapes, cantaloupe and honeydew melon chunks, Primo Taglio Muenster, Cheddar and Swiss cheeses with whipped fruit dip. Serves 14-16 Serves 20-24
2600 Cal/Tray 3840 Cal/Tray 5170 Cal/Tray
Cheese & Sausage Tidbit Tray
Fruit & Cheese Tray
Small Large
Serves 6-8 $39.99 Serves 10-12 $49.99 Serves 16-18 $59.99
Eckrich® hard salami, beer salami, Busch summer sausage, Primo Taglio American cheese, Muenster cheese, Swiss cheese and bread and butter pickles.
$29.99 $49.99
Small Large
Serves 12-16 Serves 20-24
$29.99 $49.99
Signature Fried or Grilled Chicken Chicken Only 48 Pieces 12 Breasts 12 Legs 12 Thighs 12 Wings
Serves 20-24
96 Pieces 24 Breasts 24 Legs 24 Thighs 24 Wings
Serves 40-48
Party Package 48 Pieces
Chicago Tribune
CRITICS CHOICE
*Party Package includes your choice of side salads (Signature Cafe Potato Salad, Signature Cafe Macaroni Salad, Signature Cafe Coleslaw or Signature Cafe Tater Babies. See deli associate for further details.
12 Breasts 12 Legs 12 Thighs 12 Wings Two - 12 ct. King’s Hawaiian Rolls 8 lbs. of Salad* Serves 20-24
96 Pieces
24 Breasts 24 Legs 24 Thighs 24 Wings Four - 12 ct. King’s Hawaiian Rolls 16 lbs. of Salad* Serves 40-48
Chicken Caesar Salad Chopped romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, croutons & grilled chicken. Serves 8-12
$32.99
3670 Cal/Tray
Chopped Salad Bowl Chopped cabbage, green onions, green peppers, bacon, pasta, cheddar cheese and our famous All Natural Chopped Salad Dressing. Serves 8-12
$24.99
3520 Cal/Tray
Chef’s Salad Tray
Choose six of the following salads: Sensational Seafood, Honey Fruit & Nut Chicken Salad, Crunchy Chinese Chicken, Crunchy Vegetable, Pasta Italiano, Sour Cream Macaroni & Cheddar, Variety Bean, Deluxe Cole Slaw or Broccoli Salad. Small Large
Serves 10-12 Serves 20-25
$29.99 $59.99 Prices subject to change.
all-time franchise records & awards 358:
ALL-TIME POINTS LEADERS
GOALS LEADERS
1. STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 951 2. ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483 3. DARREN HAYDAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368 4. BRETT STERLING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362 5. JASON KROG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342 6. BOB NARDELLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298 7. STEVE LAROUCHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228 8. CHRIS MARINUCCI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 9. STEVE MARTINS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 10. DEREK MACKENZIE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
1. STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454 2. BRETT STERLING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 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
ALL-TIME WINS LEADERS
GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE LEADERS
(GOALTENDERS)
(MINIMUM 25 APPEARANCES)
THE ST. LOUIS BLUES CAPTURED THE 2019 STANLEY CUP WITH HELP FROM 14 FORMER WOLVES, INCLUDING GOALTENDER JORDAN BINNINGTON.
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
1. RICHARD SHULMISTRA. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.89 2. J AKE ALLEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 3. K ARI LEHTONEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.33 4. ANDREI TREFILOV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.36 5. K ASIMIR KASKISUO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.38 6. EDDIE LACK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.46 7. J ORDAN BINNINGTON. . . . . . . . . . . . 2.62 8. DREW MacINTYRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.66 9. R OBERT GHERSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.67 10. FRED BRATHWAITE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.68
DANIEL CARR EARNED THE AHL’S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD LAST SEASON, WHICH MADE HIM THE FOURTH WOLVES PLAYER IN THE LAST 13 YEARS TO EARN THE HONOR. NO OTHER AHL TEAM HAS WON AS MANY IN THAT TIME SPAN.
LEO LAMOUREUX MEMORIAL TROPHY
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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)
(IHL REGULAR-SEASON SCORING CHAMPION)
ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1995-96) ROB BROWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1996-97) STEVE MALTAIS. . . . . . . . . . . . (1999-2000) STEVE LAROUCHE . . . (2000-01) (Shared)
JOHN B. SOLLENBERGER TROPHY (AHL’S LEADING REGULAR-SEASON SCORER)
STEVE MALTAIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2002-03) DARREN HAYDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . (2006-07) JASON KROG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2007-08) KENNY AGOSTINO . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2016-17)
IHL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
THE NUMBER OF FORMER AND CURRENT WOLVES WHO HAVE PLAYED IN THE NHL ENTERING THE 2019-20 SEASON. THAT’S 57.4 PERCENT OF ALL WOLVES PLAYERS THROUGH OUR FIRST 25 YEARS.
14: 4:
THAT’S HOW MANY WOLVES ALUMNI PLAYED IN THE NHL LAST SEASON SPREAD ACROSS 17 TEAMS.
3:
THE WOLVES WON THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE CENTRAL DIVISION TITLE LAST YEAR. NOW THE TEAM SEEKS TO BECOME THE FIRST IN THE AHL’S 84YEAR HISTORY TO WIN FOUR IN A ROW.
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LEGENDARY LEFT WING STEVE MALTAIS SCORED A FRANCHISERECORD 451 REGULAR-SEASON GOALS DURING HIS 11-YEAR CAREER.
(OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE)
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)
TIM BRESLIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1996-97) CHRIS MARINUCCI . . . . . . . . . . . . (1998-99) WENDELL YOUNG . . . . . . . . . . . . (2000-01)
THOMAS EBRIGHT AWARD (CAREER CONTRIBUTIONS TO AHL)
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WHEN 20-YEAR-OLD CENTER CODY GLASS MADE HIS PROFESSIONAL DEBUT ON APRIL 5, HE BECAME THE 50TH NHL FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK TO PLAY FOR THE WOLVES.
WENDELL YOUNG (2017-18)
KURTIS FOSTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2003-04) SCOOTER VAUGHAN . . . . . . . . . . . (2017-18)
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BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 33
WHAT'S THE DIFF? Find the 10 differences in the two photos below.
WHAT'S THE DIFF? Unscramble the four words below. Then, use the circled letters to unscramble the final word!
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE • 35
WHAT'S THE DIFF? Find and circle the two matching Skates!
WHAT'S THE DIFF? In each of these puzzles, a word starts and ends with the same letter. Can you figure out what the word is?
CHICAGO WOLVES