SUZUKI STAYS STRONG

November 27, 2024

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HAPPY AND HEALTHY

Through the first 14 games of the 2024-25 season, Ryan Suzuki is pacing the Wolves with 10 points—nine of them assists.

While having Suzuki at the top of the Wolves’ offensive leaders is critical to the team’s success, equally as important is the fact Suzuki is among 10 players who have appeared in each game this season.

Suzuki missed chunks of the previous three seasons with injuries, not allowing him to showcase the talent that made him the Carolina Hurricanes’ first-round (No. 28 overall) pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

“There haven’t been a lot of seasons when I’ve been completely healthy,” Suzuki said. “No one wants a guy who is hurt all the time so I want to get away from that. People just always think I’m hurt. Most of the injuries have been really fluky so I’m excited to get off to a healthy start.”

Suzuki entered the 2024-25 season back with the Wolves after spending ’22-23 with the Springfield Thunderbirds. His first stint with the Wolves came in the form of three seasons from 2020-23 during which the London, Ontario, native had a combined 25 goals and 31 assists in 110 games.

Now, Suzuki is healthy and propelling the offense–along with setting a good example to young Wolves teammates.

“I’m only 23 and I feel old in that room,” Suzuki said with a smile. “It’s a tough league but there’s so much skill and enthusiasm in that group. I’m excited to move forward with them.”

“I just have to take care of myself,” he continued. “You can’t shy away from the physicality so I’m still going in there hard. You want to stay healthy and have a good year. We have a great staff here keeping me in shape and strong and ready to go every night.”

A THANKSGIVING FEAST WITH DOGS

Wolves players delight in dishing out assists to teammates on the ice so when several of them served Thanksgiving meals to dogs at Border Tails Rescue in Northbrook on Monday it brought plenty of smiles and tail-wags.

“It was so fun to help dogs who need it,” forward Ryan Suzuki said. “They’re all super-cute, fun and energetic so it was a good time.”

Suzuki was joined by teammates Skyler Brind’Amour, Dominic Franco, Justin Robidas, Ronan Seeley, Bradly Nadeau, Austin Wagner and Wolves President of Operations Courtney Mahoney to serve dozens of dogs and puppies a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

“It’s so good for the dogs’ mental health and socialization and their spirits, especially for the dogs who are going to spending the holidays in the shelter,” said Harleigh Garcia, Founder & Executive Director of Border Tails Rescue. “It’s great for their enrichment by giving them things they’re not used to, like turkey, green beans and vegetables.”

It marked a bit of a homecoming for Franco, who recently adopted a puppy—named Mullet—from Border Tails Rescue.

“I love dogs so it’s cool to see them all happy and having fun and it’s cool to give them a good meal,” Franco said. “All of us had a great time playing with these amazing dogs and hopefully they all find great homes.”

Defenseman Ronan Seeley took the most fun from playing with a group of puppies, who frolicked among the players after downing their meals.

“This was my first time doing this and it was a lot of fun,” Seeley said. “I’m a dog guy–I love dogs, always have. The best part was getting to play with the puppies–you can’t go wrong playing with puppies.

“And they were all eating well today,” Seeley added with a smile.

 

IMPACT PLAY OF THE WEEK

Rookie forward Bradly Nadeau took a terrific feed from teammate Ryan Suzuki and buried a shot past Moose goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen during the opening period of Thursday’s 5-0 victory.

 

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

Wolves defenseman Ronan Seeley crunched the Moose’s Ben King into the boards during the second period of Thursday’s game in Manitoba.

SAVE OF THE WEEK

With the clock winding down during Thursday’s game, Wolves goaltender Dustin Tokarski flashed his glove to rob the Moose’s Mason Shaw and preserve his second consecutive shutout.

 

Weekly rewind (1-1-0-0)

THURSDAY, NOV. 21

Wolves 5, Moose 0: Goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 25 saves to record his second shutout in as many games with the Wolves. Bradly Nadeau, Juha Jaaska and Noel Gunler each had a goal and an assist and Gleb Trikozov and Josiah Slavin also scored. Domenick Fensore chipped in with three assists.

SATURDAY, NOV. 23

Moose 4, Wolves 2: Josiah Slavin and Noel Gunler scored but the Wolves coughed up a third-period lead and settled for a split of the two-game set against the Moose.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

5-8-1-0, seventh in the Central Division.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE