Introducing the Chicago Wolves’ Your Favorite Number series!
Over the course of the organization’s first 26 years, some Wolves jersey numbers have become synonymous with one player. The legendary Steve Maltais was the only player to wear No. 11. Goaltender Wendell Young was one of two players to wear No. 1. Upon their retirements, both deservedly had their numbers retired and their jerseys raised to the Allstate Arena rafters.
Most other Wolves jersey numbers, however, have been shared by several great players. To celebrate their excellence — and to link them together in our memories — we are unveiling highlight reels of Wolves who wore the same jersey number and asking you to vote for your favorite.
Our first installment features four defensemen who excelled while wearing No. 2: Brian Fahey, Paul Postma, Brad Hunt and Nic Hague.
Fahey, who was born and raised in Glenview, spent two years with the United States junior national team before attending the University of Wisconsin. The Colorado Avalanche’s fourth-round pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft made his professional debut in 2003, then enjoyed some of his finest professional success upon joining the Wolves in 2006. In two seasons for the Wolves, he stacked up 25 goals and 41 assists in 151 regular-season games. He also produced 5 goals and 10 assists in 39 Calder Cup Playoffs appearances —capped by helping the Wolves hoist the 2008 Calder Cup.
Postma, the Atlanta Thrashers’ seventh-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, launched his professional career with the Wolves in 2009 at the age of 20. The Red Deer, Alberta, native proved to be a prolific scorer from the blue line as he racked up 15 goals in 2009-10 and 12 goals with 33 assists in 2010-11. He made his NHL debut with the Thrashers on March 9, 2011, and proceeded to contribute 10 goals and 25 assists in 205 NHL games with Atlanta, Winnipeg and Boston.
Hunt signed a Wolves contract in March 2012 —shortly after wrapping up his four-year career at Bemidji State. The affable Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native posted 5 goals and 33 assists in 79 games through the 2012-13 season, then the Edmonton Oilers signed him to an NHL deal. He returned to the Wolves for the 2016-17 season and racked up 9 goals and 20 assists in 23 games, which had him leading the AHL in scoring when he was called up for good by the St. Louis Blues. Hunt has spent the last four-plus seasons in the NHL and possesses 18 goals and 40 assists in 179 games spread between Edmonton, St. Louis, Nashville, Vegas and Minnesota.
When Hague made his Wolves and professional debut on April 7, 2018, he was just 19 years old. The 6-foot-6 Kitchener, Ontario, native registered an assist in his first game and became a constant in the lineup. During the 2018-19 season, Hague teamed with Zach Whitecloud to become one of the best blue-line combos in the AL. Hague delivered 13 goals, 19 assists and a +31 plus/minus rating during the regular season, then added four crucial goals during the Calder Cup Playoffs to help the Wolves claim the Western Conference crown. Hague made his NHL debut with Vegas on Oct. 4, 2019 and scored his first goal Jan. 21.
To vote for your favorite Wolves player who has worn No. 2, visit one or more of the team’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and make your opinion known!
