The Wolves open their 22nd season on at 7 p.m. Saturday when Milwaukee comes to Allstate Arena.
This Week
Saturday, Oct. 10*
vs. Milwaukee Admirals$
Allstate Arena
7 p.m.
*The U Too (26.2)
$Amtrak Rivalry
Games will be telecast live on The U Too or WCIU, The U
Log on to ChicagoWolves.com for broadcast schedule, or to watch or listen to the action live online.
Let’s Get It Started
The Wolves are celebrating the new season with a free tailgate party from 2 to 6 p.m. in Allstate Arena’s West Lot. Chicago has won its last three season openers as well as its last three home openers. The Wolves have amassed an 11-5-2-3 record (.643) in their 21 season openers.
WOLVES HEADLINERS
- Jordan Binnington: The Wolves’ primary goaltender last season is back after amassing a 25-15-4 record, 2.35 goals-against average and .916 save percentage during his rookie American Hockey League campaign in 2014-15 … capped his strong inaugural season with a sterling performance in the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs as he posted a 2.16 GAA and .938 save percentage during Chicago’s five-game Western Conference Quarterfinal against top-seeded Utica … participated in the week-long Biosteel camp in Toronto during the summer. When they held a four-team draft prior to a tournament, he was a first-round draft pick along with NHL rookie Connor McDavid, seven-year NHL veteran Chris Stewart and rising goaltender Malcolm Subban
- Pat Cannone: The veteran center serves the team’s top returning scorer as he led last year’s team with 33 assists and finished second with 47 points … added a team-high 6 points (6 assists) during the Calder Cup Playoffs … delivered 30 goals, 51 assists and a +35 plus/minus ratings in 123 games during his first two seasons with the Wolves … owns 60 goals and 91 assists in his four-year AHL career
- Jeremy Welsh: Returns to the fold after a strong inaugural season with the Wolves … notched a career-high 20 goals (third on the squad) and career-high 41 points (fourth) in a team-high-tying 75 games … led everyone in last year’s Amtrak Rivalry when he piled up 8 goals and 5 assists in 11 appearances against Milwaukee
- Peter Harrold: Veteran defenseman joins the Wolves after spending most of the last nine seasons in the National Hockey League … contributed 8 goals and 18 assists in 164 games for the Los Angeles Kings (2006-11) and 5 goals with 11 assists in 110 games for the New Jersey Devils (2011-15) … enjoyed college career at Boston College that featured an appearance in the 2006 Frozen Four title game (2-1 loss to Wisconsin)
- Danny Kristo: Top-line forward comes to the Wolves after stacking up 47 goals and 42 assists during the last two seasons for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack … spent four seasons at University of North Dakota, where he amassed 68 goals and 93 assists and earned All-WCHA First Team honors in 2012-13
- ZACH O’BRIEN: Right wing arrives in Chicago after claiming the 2015 Calder Cup championship with the Manchester Monarchs … produced 14 goals and 18 assists in 62 regular-season games before adding 3 goals and 6 assists in 19 postseason appearances
WOLF TRACKS
- The Wolves have earned 17 playoff appearances in 21 seasons. The franchise has enjoyed nothing but winning seasons since debuting in 1994-95 as a member of the International Hockey League.
- Head coach JOHN ANDERSON enters his 14th season as the team’s head coach — and the third since he was rehired in July 2013. He ranks fifth in American Hockey League history with 391 wins in nine seasons and has presided over all four of the Wolves’ championship teams.
- The AHL realigned during the offseason and formed two conferences and four divisions. The Wolves move to the new Central Division that includes the Charlotte Checkers, Grand Rapids Griffins, Iowa Wild, Lake Erie Monsters, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals and Rockford IceHogs.
- The AHL revamped its overtime format. Teams will skate 3-on-3 for a five-minute, sudden-death session. The league also added a coach’s challenge, which permits the coach to ask the officials to conduct a video review for a goal (or non-goal) call as long as he still has his timeout.
WOLVES EXHIBITION REWIND (1-0-1-0)
Saturday, Oct. 3 Milwaukee 4, (at) Chicago 3 (OT)
- The Wolves received third-period goals from center Pat Cannone, right wing ZACH O’BRIEN and defenseman JORDAN SCHMALTZ to force overtime in the team’s final preseason game at Triphahn Ice Arena in Hoffman Estates
- Forward Danny Kristo assisted all three goals
- Goaltender Pheonix Copley stopped 18 of 22 shots in regulation and overtime
Thursday, Oct. 1 Chicago 3, (at) Rockford 2 (SO)
- The Wolves opened a 2-0 lead in the opening 22 minutes, then emerged victorious in the shootout as forward Evan Trupp and defenseman JORDAN SCHMALTZ scored
- Defenseman Brett Ponich scored the team’s first goal of the preseason while forward Zach Cohen notched the other goal
- Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 35 of 37 shots in regulation and overtime and both shots he faced during the shootout
ALL ABOARD
For the seventh year in a row, the Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals are competing for the Amtrak Rivalry trophy. The Wolves have captured the coveted trophy five of the first six years, which includes last season’s triumph when they won eight of the 12 meetings between the teams. The Wolves and Admirals will meet 12 times this season, starting with Saturday’s opener at Allstate Arena. This marks the first time since 2009-10 that Chicago and Milwaukee have opened the season against each other.
