As we move into the top 10 of the Wolves’ Top 40 Goal-Scorers Countdown, presented by Jewel-Osco, we get started with a physical forward who proved to be a pure scorer at every level of play — including his three seasons in Chicago.
When the Chicago Wolves signed Scott Pearson prior to the 1997-98 season, they added a 27-year-old Ontario native with an elite pedigree. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Pearson with the sixth overall pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft — two spots before Jeremy Roenick and four ahead of Teemu Selanne.
Pearson made his NHL debut when he was still 18 years old. Over the course of nine seasons prior to joining the Wolves, Pearson produced 56 goals and 41 assists in 290 regular-season games for Toronto, Quebec, Edmonton and Buffalo.
When the Wolves brought in Pearson, he had missed most of the previous season due to abdominal surgery. He didn’t waste much time proving he could still play as he racked up 34 goals in 78 regular-season games for the Wolves. Then, when the Turner Cup Playoffs began, Pearson became the team’s most prolific scorer. He piled up 12 goals in 22 games as the Wolves hoisted their first Cup.
Pearson produced 23 regular-season goals during the 1998-99 season despite missing more than a month with knee miseries. The New York Islanders signed him to a deal prior to the 1999-2000 season, though he wound up spending most of the year with the Wolves.
Pearson posted 19 goals during the regular season, then added five more in the postseason to help the Wolves capture the 2000 Turner Cup. Pearson wrapped up his three years in Chicago with 76 goals and 44 assists in 217 regular-season games. He ranks 24th on the Wolves all-time points list (120) and sixth in penalty minutes (503). His 21 postseason goals trail only Steve Maltais, Steve Larouche, Darren Haydar and Jason Krog on the team’s all-time list.
Pearson traveled to Germany for one more professional season before retiring in the Atlanta area to raise a family. Wolves fans should be familiar with his son, Chase, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. After attending the University of Maine, Chase joined Grand Rapids late in the 2018-19 season and has been with the Griffins ever since. The 23-year-old owns 15 goals and 21 assists in 87 appearances.
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
No. 24: Colin Stuart
No. 23: Brian Noonan
No. 22: Tim Bergland
No. 21: Joey Crabb
No. 20: Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman
No. 19: Dan Currie
No. 18: Dan Plante
No. 17: Bob Nardella
No. 16: Brandon Pirri
No. 15: Steve Martins
No. 14: Spencer Machacek
No. 13: Kevin Doell
No. 12: Niklas Andersson
No. 11: Ty Rattie
