The newest installment of the Chicago Wolves’ Your Favorite Number series, presented by Jewel-Osco, features another group of terrific players. Good luck picking your favorite Wolves skater to wear No. 8!
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. 8: Niklas Andersson, Ben Simon, Spencer Machacek and Ty Rattie.
When Andersson joined the Wolves prior to the 1998-99 season at the age of 27, the Swedish forward already owned 129 games of NHL experience with the New York Islanders, Quebec Nordiques and San Jose Sharks. In three seasons with the Wolves, Andersson delivered 70 goals and 107 assists in 183 regular-season games. Those 177 points rank 11th on the franchise’s all-time list. Andersson also racked up nine goals and 17 assists in 35 postseason appearances — including six goals on the way to the 2000 Turner Cup championship.
Simon joined the Wolves in 2001 as the organization made the transition from the International Hockey League to the American Hockey League. Though Simon had just helped the Orlando Solar Bears defeat the Wolves in the 2001 Turner Cup Final, he made an easy transition to his new team. Simon scored 11 regular-season goals in 2001-02, then played in all 25 postseason games to help the Wolves capture the 2002 Calder Cup. During his three seasons in Chicago, Simon rang up 37 goals and 50 assists in 196 regular-season appearances.
Machacek was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the third round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and made his professional debut with the Wolves in 2008-09. He proved to be an immediate success finding the back of the net as he scored 20-plus goals in each of his three seasons in Chicago. The Lethbridge, Alberta, native posted 64 goals and 86 assists in 223 regular-season games and ranks 16th on the team’s all-time points list.
Rattie came to the Wolves before the 2013-14 season after building a huge reputation as a goal-scorer for the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. The St. Louis Blues’ second-round pick in 2011 certainly didn’t disappoint as he stacked up 31 goals during his rookie year, which tied Grand Rapids’ Teemu Pulkkinen for the most among first-years and shared fourth overall in the AHL. Rattie spent parts of four seasons with the Wolves and produced 71 goals and 70 assists in 215 regular-season games. His 141 points stand 18th on the team’s all-time list.
To vote for your favorite Wolves player who has worn No. 8, visit one or more of the team’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and make your opinion known!
If you missed any of the previous episodes, here they are:
Your Favorite Number 2
Your Favorite Number 3
Your Favorite Number 4
Your Favorite Number 5
Your Favorite Number 6
Your Favorite Number 7