CHICAGO – The Chicago Wolves are kicking off the team’s 25th Anniversary season with a new brand campaign, “Last Team Standing.” The campaign highlights the Wolves commitment to winning and celebrates the team’s determination, strength and skill over the past 25 years.
“Last Team Standing” is a new campaign, but not a new idea,” said Wolves co-founder and owner, Don Levin. “It’s who we’ve always fought to be these past 25 years. Every day, every shift, every game and every season, we’ve been giving it our all to make it to the end.” As the Wolves prepare for team’s silver anniversary season, the new campaign also pays tribute to the team’s dedicated fans. “We want to reaffirm our commitment to them—that we’re going to win it for them, and when they come along on that journey with us, they’re going to see some really thrilling action on the ice,” said Levin.
- Since their first game in October of 1994, the Wolves have won the Turner Cup twice (1998, 2000) and the Calder Cup twice (2002, 2008).
- The Wolves have won six conference championships, nine division titles and have earned more than 1,000 wins.
- A total of 605 players have appeared for the Wolves in their 25 years – 58% of these players went on to play in the NHL. 85% of these players played for the Wolves directly before making their NHL debut.
Wendell Young, current General Manager and former championship-winning goaltender for the Wolves, says it’s a philosophy the Wolves are championing at every level of the organization.
“With our goaltending and much of the front line returning, the core is in place to build off of the success we had last season,” said Young. “The team, from top to bottom, understands the importance of winning the Calder Cup in this special 25th season.”
Being part of a city that holds such a long-standing passion for sports has inspired the Wolves to kick off their 25th season and the “Last Team Standing” campaign in a major way. On Monday, August 13th, the team will unveil 15 larger-than-life Wolves’ goalie masks displayed as art installations along the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. “Each mask represents a piece of Wolves’ history and how far we’ve come in the last 25 years,” said Levin.
Following the installation reveal, the Wolves will host a media event at 10am in Pioneer Court (401 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago) filled with Wolves-themed excitement like slap shot competitions, photo opportunities with Wolves mascot, Skates, along with current and former Wolves players. That evening, the Wolves will hold a private alumni event at the Chicago Sports Museum to celebrate the team’s quarter-century history as one of the Chicago sports community’s most successful fixtures.
Over the years, the Wolves have also developed into an integral part of the community through both fundraising and service commitments to charities and causes throughout the Chicagoland area.
- Nearly 1,500 shelter dogs have been placed with forever homes since the team’s Adopt-a-Dog Nights began at Allstate Arena in 1999.
- Canine care efforts led by the Wolves have resulted with more than 5,000 dogs receiving proper medical care and food in underserved neighborhoods throughout Chicago.
- Chicago Wolves have raised more than $6 million for dozens of charities throughout the state including the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, A Silver Lining Foundation, Easter Seals, Food Allergy Research & Education, Facing Forward to End Homelessness and many more.
