The player who ranks No. 24 on the Chicago Wolves Top 40 Countdown, presented by Jewel-Osco, serves as the focus for perhaps the most iconic photograph in Wolves history.
Colin Stuart was born in Oak Park, but he grew up in Minnesota. Though he was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the fifth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Stuart waited until he graduated from Colorado College in 2004 before turning pro. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound forward made his Wolves debut on Oct. 15, 2004, and proceeded to spend most of the next five seasons helping the Wolves win.
Stuart enjoyed his best goal-scoring season for the 2006-07 Wolves juggernaut that led the AHL in goals. He produced 18 goals and 11 assists that season, but his most rewarding professional season came the following year. Not only did he make his NHL debut with the Thrashers, he helped the Wolves capture the 2008 Calder Cup. Stuart produced eight goals and eight assists in 58 regular-season games, then appeared in all 24 postseason games and contributed three goals and three assists.
And after the final seconds ticked away in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Finals, Wolves photographer Ross Dettman captured No. 23’s euphoria in mid-flight.
Stuart capped his five-year run with the Wolves by splitting the 2008-09 season between Chicago and Atlanta. He finished with 51 goals, 41 assists and a +19 plus/minus rating for his 284 regular-season games. He continued to play through the 2014-15 season. His brothers, Mike and Mark, also played in the NHL.
Want to enjoy more of the countdown?
No. 40: Gage Quinney
No. 39: Tim Breslin
No. 38: Nathan Oystrick
No. 37: Ben Simon
No. 36: Curtis McKenzie
No. 35: Kamil Piros
No. 34: Mark Mancari
No. 33: Simon Gamache
No. 32: Guy Larose
No. 31: Wade Megan
No. 30: Shane Harper
No. 29: Michael Davies
No. 28: Karl Stewart
No. 27: Cory Larose
No. 26: Pat Cannone
No. 25: Brian Wiseman
