‘I like it here’

November 06, 2024

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KHAZHEYEV TACKLES OPPONENTS, ENGLISH

Wolves forward Gleb Trikozov was all lined up to interpret an interview with teammate Ruslan Khazheyev when his fellow Russian took care of business himself.

“It was amazing,” Khazheyev responded directly when asked how it felt to capture his first professional victory when the goaltender made 21 saves to backstop the Wolves to a 3-2 victory over the IceHogs on Saturday night in Rockford. “It was a good game.”

It appears standing tall on his own is something at which Khazheyev is becoming quite adept.

Saturday’s stellar effort came in Khazheyev’s second appearance with the Wolves since being recalled from Bloomington of the ECHL on Oct. 24. It marked the 19-year-old’s third game overall in North America after three seasons in goal for his hometown team in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

The netminder’s performance against the IceHogs helped the Wolves snap a four-game losing skid and prompted teammate Tyson Jost after the contest to declare Khazheyev “a stud.”

It’s not surprising that the 6-foot-4-inch Khazheyev, who said the NHL goalies he admires are the Hurricanes’ Pyotr Kochetkov, Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and the Wild’s Marc-Andre Fleury, indicated his size is his “biggest plus” when it comes to stopping pucks.

As far as joining the Wolves after the Carolina Hurricanes selected him in the fifth round (No. 158 overall) of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Khazheyev said, “I like it here. It’s a good atmosphere.”

AUSTIN’S POWER

After playing in Sweden last season, former NHLer Austin Wagner had to wait a few weeks to make his 2024-25 Wolves season debut while a paperwork issue was sorted out.

The 27-year-old forward, who signed a Professional Tryout (PTO) contract with the Wolves on Oct. 11, finally hit the ice for his new team during Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over the IceHogs in Rockford.

It was a welcomed change after playing for Oskarshamn IK of the Swedish Hockey League in ’23-24.

“Most guys go to Europe and they like it over there and want to stay but for me, I think I can play at a high level here,” Wagner said. “I think my game benefits the Carolina Hurricanes’ system of a lot of speed and forechecking and a straight- forward North-South game.

“I wanted to come to Chicago and help here, too,” Wagner continued. “The Wolves have a young team, especially with guys coming over from Europe and prospects. I’ve gone through a lot and seen how a lot of veterans lead in the AHL and NHL and I think I can be a good leader to them and also work my way up and try to get back up to the NHL.”

After being drafted by the Kings in the fourth round (No. 99 overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Wagner appeared in 178 NHL games from 2018-23 with the Kings and Blackhawks (seven games in the ’22-23 season). The Calgary native amassed 23 goals, 19 assists and 70 penalty minutes during his stints in the NHL but after failing to make the Penguins roster last season, Wagner headed overseas to hone his game.

Now, he is with the Wolves and Wagner finished with a shot on goal, two penalty minutes and a plus-1 plus-minus rating while skating on the fourth line during Saturday’s contest that snapped a four-game losing skid.

Wagner believes his experience, skill set and work ethic will be assets to a young Wolves team and he plans to lead by example by skating hard and getting in on the forecheck.

“If the puck gets sent in, I want to be the first guy on it, separating from my man and causing turnovers all over the ice,” the 6-foot-1-inch, 194-pound Wagner said. “I’m at my best when I’m going in a straight line full speed and taking pucks to the net. That’s the strong suit of my game being a bigger guy.”

Wagner hopes to use this opportunity with the Wolves to forge a path back to the NHL.

“My mindset is work hard every day and try and earn a spot,” Wagner said. “You never know when somebody gets injured or they need a guy for some reason. Having experience obviously helps. Even down here I can help the young guys if they experience going up and down because I did that quite a bit, too.”

“I’m just trying to earn everything I get here,” he added. “Keep my head down, work and not take it too seriously and try to have fun and bring a good attitude every day.”

 

 

IMPACT PLAY OF THE WEEK

Midway through the first period of Saturday night’s game at Rockford, Wolves forward Noel Gunler took a touch pass from Tyson Jost and ripped a shot past IceHogs goaltender Mitchell Weeks that proved to be the eventual game-winner when the Wolves prevailed 3-2.

 

C.D.E. COLLISION CENTERS’ COLLISION OF THE WEEK

Veteran Wolves forward Brendan Lemieux crunched the IceHogs’ Artyom Levshunov during the second period of Saturday night’s game in Rockford.

 

SAVES OF THE WEEK

With the Wolves clinging to a 3-2 lead in the third period Saturday night in Rockford, rookie goaltender Ruslan Khazheyev stoned the IceHogs’ Brett Seney on two chances in front.

 

Weekly rewind (1-0-0-0)

FRIDAY, NOV. 2

Wolves 3, IceHogs 2: Tyson Jost had a goal and an assist while Brendan Lemieux and Noel Gunler also scored—all in the first period—to help the Wolves snap a four-game losing skid in the first of 12 meetings between the Central Division rivals.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

2-4-1-0, seventh in the Central Division.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE