HOCKEY RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR
For just the fourth time in the Wolves’ 22-year history, the team gets to play its first two games of the new year at home as the Wolves host Rockford at 7 p.m. Saturday and Lake Erie at 4 p.m. Sunday. It’s a rare chance to see the Wolves at Allstate Arena over the first five weeks of 2016 as the team plays just three home games between Jan. 4 and Feb. 5…which sets the stage for a big Military Appreciation Night, presented by Sears Home Services, on Saturday, Feb. 6.
THE ROCKFORD FILE
The Illinois Lottery Cup rivalry takes center stage this week as Chicago and Rockford meet twice in a span of four days. The home-and-home series starts Wednesday on the road and continues Saturday at Allstate Arena. The Wolves are 1-1-0-1 in this year’s series, coming off a 4-3 overtime home win versus the IceHogs on Dec. 19.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, Dec. 30^
at Rockford IceHogs
MetroCentre
Illinois Lottery Cup
The U Too (26.2)
7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 2^
vs. Rockford IceHogs
Allstate Arena
Illinois Lottery Cup
Midseason Merchandise Sale
The U Too (26.2)
7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 3^
vs. Lake Erie Monsters
Allstate Arena
The U Too (26.2)
4 p.m.
Games will be telecast live on The U Too or WCIU, The U or D2 Channel 7.2
Visit ChicagoWolves.com for broadcast schedule, or to watch or listen to the action live online
WOLVES HEADLINERS
• Evan Trupp: Owns two goals on the season, both of the highlight variety … TRUPP’s latest tally (scored Dec. 26 versus Iowa) came on a wrister that beat goaltender Jeremy Smithover the shoulder, top-shelf … TRUPP is also riding a three-game point streak … In addition to playing center and handling faceoffs (61 wins), the Anchorage, Alaska, native has skated at left wing on the Wolves’ top line.
• Jordan Schmaltz: Owns points in three of his last four games … the rookie defenseman has reached double figures in assists (13), ranking third on the team in that category. Seven of his assists have occurred on the power play, the second-highest total on the team.
• Ivan Barbashev: Continues to pace team rookies in scoring, compiling 17 points (6G, 11A) in 26 games … BARBASHEV earned an assist at Milwaukee, raising his points total to six (3G, 3A) over the last nine games.
• Pheonix Copley: Has started six of the last seven games after spending most of the season platooning with Jordan Binnington … During his string of starts, COPLEY compiled a 3-3-0 record, a .925 save percentage and a .2.14 goals-against average. BINNINGTON earned the nod in goal Monday night (for the first time since Dec. 11), and came away with 25 saves in a losing effort.
• Danny Kristo: Returned to the lineup Monday night against Milwaukee after being sidelined for five games … He finished with four shots against the Admirals, skating alongsideEriah Hayes and Jeremy Welsh … Prior to his injury, KRISTO stood third in team scoring and shared top goal-scoring honors.
• Cody Beach: Dropped the gloves in a pair of scraps against Iowa on Dec. 26 … Under new AHL rules, Beach received a game misconduct for fighting twice in game, and left with 20 minutes in penalties – far short of the team record of 46.
WOLF TRACKS
• The Wolves sport a 5-6-0-1 record in December as the team shoots for its seventh straight month of .500 hockey or better.
• With a third of the season in the books, four Wolves players have appeared in all 29 games: Andre Benoit, Peter Harrold, Jordan Schmaltz and Yannick Veilleux. SCHMALTZ, incidently, has a consecutive games playing streak of 112 dating back to his sophomore season at the University of North Dakota.
• After scoring four goals in three straight wins, the Wolves have been held to one goal in each of their last two losses.
• Just three points separate the Wolves’ top three scorers. Andre Benoit leads the pack with 23 points (3G, 20A), attempting to become the first defenseman to win a team scoring title. Right behind are forwards Ty Rattie (9G, 12A) and Pat Cannone (8G, 12A).
• The Wolves’ 10 home wins are the third-most in the Central Division. Chicago looks to earn two more points on home ice Saturday before beginning a stretch that has the team playing 10 of 15 away from home. The Wolves have just five home dates slated for January.
WOLVES REWIND (0-2-0-0)
Monday, Dec. 28
(at) Milwaukee 4, Chicago 1
• Chicago trudged through a snowstorm and came up short to Milwaukee in an Amtrak Rivalry game at the Bradley Center
• Yannick Veilleux scored Chicago’s lone goal, his seventh of the season, off assists from Evan Trupp and Ivan Barbashev
• Jordan Binnington finished with 25 saves
Saturday, Dec. 26
Iowa 2, (at) Chicago 1
• Chicago saw its three-game winning streak come to a close as the Wild scored the first two goals and held on at Allstate Arena
• Evan Trupp pulled the Wolves within 2-1 midway through the third period as Chris Butler and Jordan Schmaltz set up the power-play tally
• Pheonix Copley made his sixth start in a row and posted 25 saves
