October 24, 2016

Welcome to Wolves Roundup, a weekly report of highlights, notes and transactions from the Chicago Wolves’ previous week of competition during the 2016-17 season.

ON DECK

^ AHL Live only, * U Too, #CW50

Games will be telecast live on CW50 or  U Too; visit ChicagoWolves.com for a complete broadcast schedule; all games stream live on AHLLive.com

TOP LINE

Brad Hunt
The ever-steady blueliner quietly picked up his team-leading fourth point — the game-winning goal — during Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the Rampage in San Antonio. Also the go-ahead marker, Hunt’s tally came at 10:26 of the third period when Andrew Agozzino flew up the right wing and sauced a shot that Rampage netminder Spencer Martin fought off. Agozzino followed the play, picked up his own rebound and fed Hunt at the center point. Hunt is the only player to pick up a point in four out of the five games thus far during the 2016-17 season.

Ville Husso
On Sunday, the Wolves rookie netminder picked up his first North American professional victory in a 2-1 win over the San Antonio Rampage. The game marked the rookie’s second American Hockey League outing. Husso turned aside 29 shots — finishing the contest with a .967 save percentage — and made some big saves on quality scoring chances, including during the Wolves’ seventh penalty kill of the game in the closing minutes of the third period. He helped the Wolves finish the contest a perfect 7 for 7 on the PK.

Wade Megan
The first-year Chicago Wolves center collected three points this weekend in San Antonio, including two goals. In Saturday night’s first victory of the season, Megan hustled hard on the penalty kill, battled a Rampage defenseman for puck possession and then slid it past the San Antonio netminder for the equalizer. He also potted an empty-net marker for the 4-2 final. In Sunday’s 2-1 win, Megan registered an assist on Brett Sterling’s tying goal. A penalty-kill specialist, Megan led the AHL in short-handed goals (7) during the 2015-16 season. His sixth shortie of the season broke a 13-year-old Portland Pirates franchise record for single-season short-handed goals.

WOLF TRACKS

The Winning Numbers Are… | The Illinois Lottery Cup kicks off the weekend with the Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs’ first of 12 meetings this season. The Wolves visit Rockford on Friday (Oct. 28), and then the two squads meet again on Saturday (Oct. 29) in Rosemont for the back end of their first of three home-and-home series. The Illinois Lottery Cup winner is based on wins —  with the tiebreaker being total points — in head-to-head games. Last season, Rockford took home the Cup with a 7-2-3-0 record against the Wolves.

Gotta Catch ‘Em All | On Sunday when the Wolves face off against the 2016 Calder Cup champion Cleveland Monsters, fans are encouraged to break out their cellphones and see which Pokémon are frequenting Allstate Arena during Pokémon GO Day. Fans can pick up maps — featuring PokéStops, gym location and incubation routes — at Social Central located next to the Customer Service Booth behind Section 116 on the main concourse. Fan can also find Pokémon character stickers around the concourse and post photos of themselves with the stickers on Twitter or Snapchat for chances to win prizes. For more information on Pokémon GO Day, visit ChicagoWolves.com.

Back in Black | On Wednesday against the Milwaukee Admirals, Chicago debuted its new alternate jersey. Originally unveiled on Sept. 19, the black sweaters are adorned with gray, lime green and white accents and feature the wolf head logo. The club will wear the threads a limited number of times throughout the first half the season. During the second half —  beginning on Dec. 26 when all teams switch to wearing dark-colored jerseys at home —  the team will don the black alternates during every Sunday game and other select games in 2017. To see the full release and video reveal, visit ChicagoWolves.com.

Brews to Beat Breast Cancer | As part of the Chicago Wolves’ Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives, the Wolves are hosting their inaugural Stick It to Breast Cancer Fundraiser on Tuesday (Oct. 25) at Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant and Pub in Arlington Heights. For a $30 donation, fans can enjoy drinks, heavy appetizers and mingle with Wolves players. Defenseman Scooter Vaughan is also slated to play an acoustic guitar set. The fundraiser prefaces the Wolves’ annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night, taking place on Saturday (Oct. 29) when they take on in-state rival Rockford. To learn more about the Wolves BCA initiatives or to purchase a ticket for the event, visit ChicagoWolves.com.

REWIND

Sunday, Oct. 23
Chicago 2, (at) San Antonio 1

• Chicago closed out a weekend sweep of the San Antonio Rampage with a 2-1 victory.
• Rookie netminder Ville Husso turned aside 29 shots and made some big saves to help his team to victory.
• Opening game scoring, forward Brett Sterling registered his second goal of the season on an easy tap-in off a redirection from Wade Megan and Vince Dunn.
• Near the midway point of the third period, Andrew Agozzino fed defenseman Brad Hunt at the center point for the game-winning goal.

Saturday, Oct. 22
Chicago 4, (at) San Antonio 2

• The Wolves rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn their first win of the season.
• Wolves center Ivan Barbashev got the comeback started late in the second period and winger Kenny Agostino netted the game-winning goal.
• Center Wade Megan contributed both short-handed and empty-net markers.
• Goaltender Jordan Binnington rejected 30 of 32 shots to pick up his first win of the year.

Wednesday, Oct. 19
Milwaukee 2, (at) Chicago 1

• In the first of 12 Amtrak Rivalry contests, Chicago fell 2-1 to the Milwaukee Admirals.
• Wolves winger Kenny Agostino opened scoring at 14:12 of the first period; Danny Kristo and Brad Hunt registered assists on the play.
• In his season debut, Pheonix Copley turned aside 28 shots; he was pulled in the final 1:23 for an extra attacker while the Wolves searched for the tying tally.