On a wonderful Saturday night in Springfield, Massachusetts, a certain team from a certain Midwestern town proved their dominance once and for all.
How dominant were the Chicago Wolves from May 12 to June 25 as they rolled to the organization’s fifth league championship? We’re here to suggest this was the greatest postseason performance the AHL has witnessed since the 1987-88 Hershey Bears ran the table with a 12-0 record — backstopped by goaltender and postseason MVP Wendell Young, who would go on to many more years of greatness with the Wolves.
Here’s why: The Wolves outscored their opponents by a 76-35 margin. That makes them the first team since the 1988 Hershey Bears to more than double their opponents’ output (the Bears owned a 60-28 scoring margin). In addition, the Wolves’ +41 goal differential is unprecedented in Calder Cup history.
The 1993 Cape Breton Oilers owned a +38 margin (85-47). The 2006 Hershey Bears built a +36 margin (84-47). The 2019 Charlotte Checkers, who were powered in part by Wolves captain Andrew Poturalski, earned a +33 margin (77-44).
In the end, we’ll let others decide where this team ranks in the pantheon of AHL all-time greats. Thanks to our award-winning photographer Ross Dettman, who has been with the team from the beginning, we all can enjoy timeless moments of the team’s all-time celebration at MassMutual Center.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky, middle, and assistant coach Patrick Dwyer, right, are among the many exulting as the final seconds tick away in Game 5. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
The Wolves realize victory is just a few more seconds away. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
The Wolves' bench explodes after Josh Leivo's empty-net goal in the final minute clinches the Calder Cup. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Josh Leivo greets his teammates after scoring his AHL-best 15th goal of the postseason. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Josh Leivo, Stefan Noesen and Jalen Chatfield fly past the Wolves bench after Leivo's clinching empty-net goal in the final minute. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Josh Leivo kisses Andrew Poturalski's helmet as the Wolves count down the final seconds of the 2022 Calder Cup Finals. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Goaltender Alex Lyon sends his mask and other gear flying as the Wolves clinch the Calder Cup. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Stelio Mattheos and Jesper Sellgren are the first to reach goaltender Alex Lyon after the final horn sounds. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
The Wolves swarm goaltender Alex Lyon after the final horn sounds in Game 5. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
The celebration continues on the MassMutual Center ice. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Hugs all over the ice — including Homer Glen native Joey Keane and Josh Leivo. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Defenseman Jesper Sellgren and captain Andrew Poturalski embrace. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Josh Leivo accepts the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the AHL's postseason Most Valuable Player from AHL vice president Hayley Moore. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Captain Andrew Poturalski poses for posterity with AHL President and CEO Scott Howson. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Captain Andrew Poturalski accepts the Cup from AHL President and CEO Scott Howson. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Captain Andrew Poturalski rushes to share the Cup with the rest of the team. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Captain Andrew Poturalski carries the Cup to his teammates. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Captain Andrew Poturalski kisses the Cup. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Captain Andrew Poturalski shares the Cup with some of the Wolves fans who made the journey to Springfield. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Captain Andrew Poturalski hands off the Cup to alternate captain and linemate Stefan Noesen. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
AHL goal-scoring champ and First All-Star Team honoree Stefan Noesen kisses the Cup. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Postseason MVP Josh Leivo holds the Calder Cup aloft. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Goaltender Alex Lyon, who authored a 28-save shutout in Game 5, holds the Cup aloft. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Dominant defenseman Jalen Chatfield gets his turn with the Cup. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Forward Stelio Mattheos celebrates winning his second consecutive Calder Cup. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky kisses the Cup as his wife, Caroline, and their son, Cal, look on. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Your 2022 Calder Cup champions! (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
The leadership group — Stefan Noesen, Andrew Poturalski, Josh Leivo and Max Lajoie — gets their time with the Cup. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
Linemates Josh Leivo and Jack Drury share a moment with the Cup. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
David Gust and Kyle Marino hoist the Cup as the party begins in the room. (Photograph by Ross Dettman/Chicago Wolves)
