Welcome to the newest installment of the Chicago Wolves’ Your Favorite Number series, presented by Jewel-Osco!
Over the course of the organization’s first 26 years, most Wolves jersey numbers have been shared by several great players. To celebrate their brilliance — 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.
This week’s video features four Wolves who excelled while wearing No. 4: Kurtis Foster, Boris Valabik, Jaime Sifers and Petteri Lindbohm.
Kurtis Foster (2001-04) joined the Wolves when he was 20 years old after a successful junior career with the Peterborough Petes. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Ontario native became an instant hit on the blue line as he recorded 15 points in 39 regular-season games, then helped the Wolves capture the 2002 Calder Cup during the franchise’s first year in the American Hockey League. Foster also became a hit off the ice as his tireless work for people and causes throughout the Chicago area earned him the AHL’s Man of the Year award in 2004. Foster went on to produce 42 goals and 118 assists in 405 NHL games.
The Atlanta Thrashers drafted Boris Valabik (2006-11) 10th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. After completing his junior career with the Kitchener Rangers, Valabik joined the Wolves at the age of 20 and became a physical force on the blue line. The 6-7, 231-pound Slovakia native split his first five professional seasons between the Wolves and the Thrashers and compiled four goals, 25 assists and 609 penalty minutes in 174 Wolves regular-season appearances. When the Wolves won the 2008 Calder Cup, Valabik played in all 24 postseason games and contributed three goals and one assist.
Jaime Sifers (2010-11) spent just one season with the Wolves, but he earned everyone’s respect in the organization. Sifers posted four goals, 18 assists and a +13 plus/minus rating during his 68 games, but also earned the Tim Breslin Unsung Hero award for his attitude and contributions to the organization on and off the ice. Sifers played for eight more seasons after leaving the Wolves — retiring at the age of 36 after the 2018-19 season — and continued to earn respect wherever he played. During each of his final three seasons, he received his franchise’s AHL Man of the Year nomination.
After being drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2012, Petteri Lindbohm (2014-18) came over from Finland and made his North American professional debut with the Wolves. The popular, friendly defenseman split four seasons between the Wolves and the Blues and contributed 18 goals and 30 assists in 171 Wolves appearances. He helped the Wolves earn a pair of division titles before returning to Europe, where he has spent the last two seasons with Lausanne HC in Switzerland’s top league.
To vote for your favorite Wolves player who has worn No. 4, visit one or more of the team’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and make your opinion known!
If you missed the previous episodes, here they are:
Your Favorite Number 2
Your Favorite Number 3
