STILLMAN STILL SMILING

March 12, 2025

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DESPITE INJURY, VETERAN ‘FEELING VERY BLESSED’

Wolves defenseman Riley Stillman has some sage advice for hockey players—well, anyone, really: “Don’t try and bite a skate, it doesn’t usually work out in your favor.”

The 27-year-old can joke about it now, but it was less than a week ago Stillman suffered a scary and gruesome injury while playing for the Carolina Hurricanes.  During the Canes’ game last Thursday, Stillman checked the Boston Bruins’ John Beecher along the boards and Beecher’s skate came up and struck Stillman in the mouth.

The result was a cut inside of Stillman’s mouth that spanned almost from ear to ear.

“I basically got my mustache almost ripped all the way through the top,” said Stillman, who added he has no idea how many stitches he has inside his mouth and is wearing a full shield while on the ice. “I’m feeling very blessed, honestly, with how it ended up.”

Considering Stillman can talk and the damage—including a cracked tooth—is hidden inside his mouth, things could have been a lot worse.

“I was thinking it could be the worst—I got up and I thought, ‘this blood could be coming from anywhere, I have to get off (the ice) here,’ ” Stillman said. “Fortunately, someone up above was watching over me so I’m feeling very lucky.”

Stillman didn’t waste any time leaving the ice after the injury, something that was instilled in him at a young age.

“I fell to the ground and covered my face and I saw the blood starting to come and I was like, ‘I have to get off; I just have to get off. I’m not going to lie here,’ ” Stillman said. “I was raised in our household that you better be really, really hurt if you’re going to lie down.

“It’s a cut and it’s a long way from my heart and I can get off the ice and let those people do what they need to do because I got very lucky the trainers and the docs were right on it,” he continued.

Two days later, Stillman was reassigned to the Wolves, continuing a pattern that has seen the veteran blue liner shuffle between Carolina and Chicago. On Sunday, Stillman was in the lineup and helped the Wolves blank the Texas Stars 4-0 at Allstate Arena.

With 161 NHL games under his belt with the Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres and Hurricanes—with whom he has appeared in three contests this season—Stillman doesn’t fret too much about being on the cusp of the NHL.

“Honestly, this year I try to take a good approach of living where my feet are and just enjoy the day and be in the moment and just take things one day at a time,” Stillman said.

It’s an opportune time for the Wolves to have Stillman in the lineup as they are battling the Milwaukee Admirals, Texas Stars and Grand Rapids Griffins for the top spot in the Central Division.

Stillman is quick to impart wisdom on the youngsters occupying the Wolves dressing room.

“I try and help as much as I can, especially coming down the stretch here with 17 games left,” said Stillman, who has two goals, three assists and 41 penalty minutes in 21 games with the Wolves. “I try to instill in guys to work every day and push every day. It becomes learning and growing as a group as we get down the stretch and every minute becomes more important. Those last five minutes of each period, the last minute of the period are so, so important because we need every point we can get.”

Stillman will be helping the Wolves during these important times, all while continuing to heal from the injury that was millimeters from that could have been career-threatening—or worse.

“I knew the risk when I signed up to play,” Stillman said. “It’s part of the game—it’s unfortunate and unlucky but it happens. I’ve been playing 27 years now and it’s never happened before so I just have to go back out there and play with my heart on my sleeve. That’s all I can do.”

GOING GREEN FOR A CAUSE

With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, there will be a lot of green around Allstate Arena this weekend.

Wolves players will don special St. Patrick’s Day jerseys during games against the defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears on Saturday night and Sunday.

The jerseys, presented by Jewel-Osco, will be available to own through multiple auctions and raffles with proceeds benefitting Easterseals and Chicago Wolves Charities, driven by Kia.

IMPACT PLAY OF THE WEEK

After the Grand Rapids Griffins tied Saturday night’s game at 4-4 with just over a minute remaining in the third period, Austin Wagner notched the game-winner for the Wolves with :38 left to send the Allstate Arena crowd home happy.

 

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

During Friday night’s game in Milwaukee, Wolves defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault collided with Admirals forward Ozzy Wiesblatt, sending both players to the ice.

 

SAVE OF THE WEEK

Wolves goaltender Spencer Martin came up with this gem during Sunday’s game at Allstate Arena, stoning Texas defenseman Michael Karow on a breakaway to keep Chicago’s lead intact. Martin went on to finish with 28 saves for his third shutout of the season.

 

Weekly rewind (2-1-0-0)

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

Admirals 3, Wolves 1: Juha Jaaska had the lone tally for the Wolves while Joakim Kemell scored the game-winner for Milwaukee.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

Wolves 5, Griffins 4: Austin Wagner notched the game-winner in the third period, Juha Jaaska had a goal and two assists, Charles-Alexis Legault a goal and an assist and Skyler Brind’Amour and Joakim Ryan also scored to help the Wolves snap a four-game losing skid.

SUNDAY, MARCH 9

Wolves 4, Stars 0: Goaltender Spencer Martin was brilliant in net, earning his third shutout of the season, while Justin Robidas and Austin Wagner each had a goal and an assist and Bradly Nadeau and Nick Swaney also scored to propel the Wolves.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

29-23-3-0, fourth in the Central Division.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE