Your Favorite Number 1

May 12, 2021

After more than seven months and 35 episodes, it’s time to reveal the grand finale of the Your Favorite Number series, presented by Jewel-Osco.

This might come as a surprise to even the most diehard Wolves fan, but Wendell Young isn’t the only player to wear No. 1 in burgundy and gold. In mid-February of the Wolves’ inaugural 1994-95 season, Young was reassigned to the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning so he could be dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins. While Young wrapped up the season with the Penguins, the Wolves received Rick Tabaracci on loan from the Washington Capitals. Tabaracci donned No. 1 while playing for the Wolves on March 30 and April 1, 1995.

But Young returned to the Wolves for the start of the 1995-96 season — and nobody else wore No. 1 for the Wolves again.

By the time “Swindle” put away his pads following the 2000-01 season, the Wolves owned two Turner Cup championships, a third trip to the league finals and an indelible reputation as a franchise willing to do whatever it takes to win.

Young became the backbone of the Wolves’ DNA as the man committed to keeping the puck out of the net — and keeping everyone in harmony in the dressing room. When there wasn’t enough fun being had, Young was the leader who guided the group out of its funk. When there was too much fun being had — and it threatened to affect the amount of winning the Wolves intended to do — Young was the leader who got everyone back in line.

Of course, Young’s numbers on the ice speak for themselves. When the Wolves captured the 1998 Turner Cup, Young became the only player in hockey history to win the big four North American hockey championships: the Stanley Cup, Calder Cup, Turner Cup and the Memorial Cup.

During his seven seasons in a Wolves uniform, Young claimed the regular-season franchise records for games (322), wins (169), saves (8,467), minutes (17,912), shutouts (16) and assists (14). He also set the marks for postseason games (45), wins (21), saves (1,229) and minutes (2,594).

To commemorate his yeoman playing career, Young’s No. 1 jersey was raised to the Allstate Arena rafters on Dec. 1, 2001. But he was nowhere near done helping the Wolves organization win championships.

In the nearly 20 years since his jersey was retired, Young has served as the Wolves’ executive director of team relations, an assistant coach and, since August 2009, as the team’s general manager.

If you missed any of the previous episodes, here they are: