| Chicago Wolves | |
 | |
| City: | Rosemont, Illinois |
|---|---|
| League: | American Hockey League |
| Conference: | Western Conference |
| Division: | Midwest Division |
| Founded: | 1994–95 (IHL) |
| Home Arena: | Allstate Arena |
| Colors: | Maroon, gold, black, white
|
| Owner(s): | Don Levin, Buddy Meyers |
| General Manager: | Wendell Young |
| Head Coach: | Craig MacTavish |
| Media: | Comcast_Network |
| Affiliates: | Vancouver Canucks (NHL) TBD (ECHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1994–2001 (IHL): | Chicago Wolves |
| 2001–present (American Hockey League: | Chicago Wolves |
| Championships | |
| Regular Season Titles: | 1 IHL 1999–2000 |
| Division Championships: | 5 IHL 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 3 AHL 2004–05, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12 |
| Conference Championships: | 3 IHL 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2000–01 3 AHL 2001–02, 2004–05, 2007–08 |
| Turner Cups: | 2 1997–98, 1999–2000 |
| Calder Cups: | 2 2001–02, 2007–08 |
The Chicago Wolves are a professional hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. They are the top affilliate of the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. The Wolves are owned by Don Levin and Buddy Meyers, who are a pair of Chicago business owners.
Originally a member of the International Hockey League, the Wolves joined the AHL after the IHL folded in 2001. They also share the same metropolitan area with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Wolves' mascot is a gray wolf named Skates. The mascot wears number 94, noting the year (1994) the Wolves began play in the IHL.
Official Chicago Wolves Website: http://www.chicagowolves.com/
History[]
The team has never had a losing season during its history, including four league playoff championships. The Wolves won the Turner Cup twice (1998, 2000) in the IHL and the Calder Cup twice (2002, 2008). The Wolves qualified for all except three postseasons (2005–06, 2008–09 and 2010-11 seasons), appearing in six league championship finals. (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008) in their short 17-year history
The team's great star was forward Steve Maltais, who until his retirement after the 2004–2005 season had played every season of the franchise and holds most of its scoring records. Other notable players include goaltender Wendell Young, ex-Pittsburgh star Rob Brown, long time Chicago Blackhawks star Troy Murray, Chris Chelios, Al Secord, and defenseman Bob Nardella. The Wolves had their best season start in their 14 year history, during the 2007–08 season, winning 13 of the first 14 games, with an overtime loss. The Wolves finished the season with 111 points, and first in the Western Conference.
The Wolves were the AHL affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers from 2001 to 2011. The Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg in June 2011 and added the St. John's IceCaps (formerly the Manitoba Moose) as their new AHL affiliate, leaving the Wolves and the NHL's Vancouver Canucks to find new affiliates. On June 27, 2011, the Wolves and Canucks agreed to two–year affiliation agreement.
Television[]
The Wolves are the only AHL team with a full television package. All 80 regular-season games, plus playoffs, are broadcast on Comcast cable. As the Chicago Blackhawks' late owner Bill Wirtz had refused to allow Blackhawks home games to be televised locally, the Wolves were viewed and embraced as an alternative. After Judd Sirott served as the team's play-by-play announcer for its first 12 seasons, starting in the '06–'07 season broadcast announcers were long-time Blackhawks commentators Pat Foley and Bill Gardner; Foley would ultimately return to the Blackhawks for the 2008–09 season. Currently Jason Shaver handles play by play for the Wolves, along with Gardner still at color commentator. The Games are televised on Comcast Channel 100 and occasionally on local Chicago station WPWR (air, dish and directv channel 50, cable channel (8 sd) HD check local listings).
Players[]
Retired Numbers[]
- 1 Wendell Young, G, 1994–2001
- 11 Steve Maltais, LW, 1994–2005
Honored Numbers[]
- 16 Tim Breslin, LW, 1994–1999
- 19 Dan Snyder, C, 2001-2003
Season-by-Season Results[]
- 1994–2001 (International Hockey League)
- 2001–Present (American Hockey League)
Regular Season[]
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | 81 | 34 | 33 | — | 14 | — | 82 | 261 | 306 | 3rd, Northern |
| 1995–96 | 82 | 40 | 34 | — | 8 | — | 88 | 288 | 310 | 2nd, Midwest |
| 1996–97 | 82 | 40 | 36 | — | 6 | — | 86 | 276 | 290 | 3rd, Midwest |
| 1997–98 | 82 | 55 | 24 | — | 3 | — | 113 | 301 | 258 | 1st, Midwest T |
| 1998–99 | 82 | 49 | 21 | — | 12 | — | 110 | 285 | 246 | 1st, Midwest |
| 1999–00 | 82 | 53 | 21 | — | 8 | — | 114 | 270 | 228 | 1st, Western T |
| 2000–01 | 82 | 43 | 32 | — | 7 | — | 93 | 267 | 249 | 1st, Western * |
| 2001–02 | 80 | 37 | 31 | 7 | 5 | — | 86 | 250 | 236 | 4th, West C |
| 2002–03 | 80 | 43 | 25 | 8 | 4 | — | 98 | 276 | 237 | 2nd, West |
| 2003–04 | 80 | 42 | 26 | 9 | 3 | — | 96 | 246 | 208 | 3rd, West |
| 2004–05 | 80 | 49 | 24 | — | 2 | 5 | 105 | 245 | 211 | 1st, West * |
| 2005–06 | 80 | 36 | 32 | — | 4 | 8 | 84 | 278 | 275 | 5th, West |
| 2006–07 | 80 | 46 | 25 | — | 3 | 6 | 101 | 331 | 252 | 2nd, West |
| 2007–08 | 80 | 53 | 22 | — | 2 | 3 | 111 | 300 | 226 | 1st, West C |
| 2008–09 | 80 | 38 | 37 | — | 3 | 2 | 81 | 226 | 222 | 6th, West |
| 2009–10 | 80 | 49 | 24 | — | 1 | 6 | 105 | 264 | 214 | 1st, West |
| 2010–11 | 80 | 39 | 30 | — | 5 | 6 | 89 | 260 | 262 | 6th, West |
| 2011-12 | 76 | 42 | 27 | — | 4 | 3 | 91 | 213 | 193 | 1st, Midwest |
- T= Turner Cup Champions
- C= Calder Cup Champions
- = Conference Champions
- Bold Print = Division Champions
Playoffs[]
| Season | Prelim | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | — | L, 0–3, KAL | — | — | — |
| 1995–96 | — | W, 3–1 SF | L, 1–4, LV | — | — |
| 1996–97 | — | L, 1–3, SA | — | — | — |
| 1997–98 | — | W, 3–0, MTB | W, 4–2, MIL | W, 4–2, LB | W, 4–3, DET |
| 1998–99 | — | bye | W, 3–0, MTB | L, 3–4, HOU | — |
| 1999–00 | — | bye | W, 4–0, LB | W, 4–2, HOU | W, 4–2, GR |
| 2000–01 | — | W, 4–1, MIL | W, 4–2, MTB | — | L, 1–4, ORL |
| 2001–02 | W, 2–1, CIN | W, 3–2, GR | W, 4–3, SYR | W, 4–1, HOU | W, 4–1, BRI |
| 2002–03 | — | W, 3–2, HER | L, 0–4, GR | — | — |
| 2003–04 | — | W, 4–0, GR | L, 2–4 MIL | — | — |
| 2004–05 | — | W, 4–1, HOU | W, 4–1, CIN | W, 4–0, MTB | L, 0–4, PHIL |
| 2005–06 | Did not qualify. | ||||
| 2006–07 | — | W, 4–0, MIL | W, 4–2, IOWA | L, 1–4, HAM | — |
| 2007–08 | — | W, 4–2, MIL | W, 4-3, ROC | W, 4-1, TOR | W, 4-2, WB/S |
| 2008–09 | Did not qualify. | ||||
| 2009–10 | — | W, 4–3, MIL | L, 3-4, TEX | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Did not qualify. | ||||
| 2011-12 | — | L, 2-3, SA | — | — | — |