The Chicago Wolves announced Monday that forward Stefan Noesen has been reassigned on loan and goaltender Jack LaFontaine has been loaned to the team by the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
Noesen, 28, spent four days on Carolina’s taxi squad in his most recent NHL stint, but did not appear in a game. The physical forward has been the hottest player in the American Hockey League over the last six weeks. From Dec. 9 through Jan. 17, the Plano, Texas, native appeared in 10 Wolves games and produced 12 goals and 8 assists for the Western Conference’s winningest team. Noesen also helped Carolina earn a pair of victories on Dec. 16 and Dec. 18.
Noesen paces the AHL this season with six game-winning goals. His 18 goals share second place in the AHL — one behind teammate Andrew Poturalski — and his 37 points rank third.
The 24-year-old LaFontaine, selected by Carolina in the third round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, turned professional on Jan. 9 as he signed a one-year entry-level deal with the Hurricanes. LaFontaine went straight from the University of Minnesota, where he won the 2020-21 Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s top goaltender, to Carolina. The Mississauga, Ontario, native appeared in two NHL games and posted an 0-1-0 record with a 7.20 goals-against average and .780 save percentage.
The Wolves also released defenseman Derek Topatigh from his professional tryout contract (PTO). The 24-year-old Mississauga native produced one assist in his lone appearance Jan. 17 at Rockford.
The Central Division-leading Wolves play three games this week at Allstate Arena: Wednesday vs. Texas, Friday against Grand Rapids and Saturday vs. Rockford in the Chicago Mid-Winter Classic, presented by Planet Fitness. The Wolves are honoring health care workers by offering two free tickets to any of these games.
To request these tickets — which are presented by Checkers, Fannie May, Loyola Medicine, Savers and Turtle Wax — click here to fill out the brief form or email a Wolves representative at [email protected].
