Cory Larose has some very fond memories of his days with the Chicago Wolves. Which makes sense, because the Chicago Wolves had some very good days with Cory Larose.
The center out of University of Maine played a pivotal role on both the 2004-05 team, which reached the Calder Cup Finals, and the 2006-07 team, which reached the Western Conference Final. Both squads cracked the 100-point mark during the regular season and Larose broke some records of his own, including piling up 83 points (22G, 61A) in 2006-07, the highest offensive output of his professional career to date.
“I really enjoyed my time in Chicago. I played in a few different places before and after and it’s pretty easy for me to say that Chicago is my favorite place to play in the American Hockey League, for a lot of different reasons,” he said. “Obviously the city is fantastic, but the best part of being there was we always had really good teams, and that translates into a lot of excitement for the fans, which helps the players on the ice. It was always loud, whether the place was packed or there were only a couple thousand people.”
The atmosphere from the start of the games with the fireworks and the videos and all just brings it to a whole other level. It’s just a lot of fun. And that’s a huge thing - it’s a long season and it gets tedious at times, but we always found ways to make it fun in Chicago, and winning was a big part of that.”
The 34-year-old center holds several spots in Chicago’s franchise records, which includes the 18th spot in all-time postseason scoring with 19 points (9G, 10A) in 33 games during his two Wolves playoff runs.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t there for a championship but we really got close,” he recalled. “All the guys they brought in were really quality guys and that made for a really fun atmosphere in the dressing room and that translated onto the ice and we did pretty well.”
Despite moving on to several different teams since his days in Chicago, Larose still maintains relationships with his old Wolves teammates.
“The hockey world is such a small world so I run into guys from those teams all the time,” he said. “Even if you only talk to the guys every so often, when you run into them it’s like you never left. My brother plays summer hockey with Freddie Brathwaite up in Ottawa and I skate with Colin Stuart in Minnesota in the summers. Niko Dimitrakos was out at our 10-year reunion for the University of Maine, even though I wasn’t able to make it. It’s just such a web, it’s amazing how many times you run into guys from those teams, it’s funny that way.”
Larose also fondly recalls his time spent exploring downtown and taking in Chicago’s attractions like Wrigley Field. His one complaint?
“The traffic. I did not enjoy the traffic,” he laughed. Even so, he sometimes misses the Windy City.
“One of the tough things about doing what we do is you have to leave places,” he said. “I really enjoyed my time there but it’s a sad reality of hockey that you have to move on but you run into people from time to time and it’s kind of like you haven’t left.”
Overall, Larose has nothing but good things to say about his 176 games in a Wolves uniform.
“There’s a reason guys want to play in Chicago,” he added. “That team is run so professionally, you’re treated very well and with a lot of respect and I really believe that’s the way teams should be run. I’ll always remember my time in Chicago fondly.”
