WOLVES HONOR ROBIDAS WITH PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS

April 14, 2026

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‘I want to do as much as I can’

At the time, Justin Robidas didn’t fully realize how fortunate he was to be able to enjoy the spoils that came along with being the son of a standout NHL player.

As a youngster, Justin often accompanied his dad, Stephane Robidas, to the arena and roamed the dressing room interacting with players during the former NHL All-Star’s lengthy professional career.

“I always took it for granted a little bit and growing up I really realized how lucky and fortunate I was to be a part of that,” Justin said.

Seeing the efforts his father put in toward using his platform as a professional athlete to make a difference in people’s lives also had a major impact on Justin as he developed into one of the American Hockey League’s top talents. It quickly became evident the forward hadn’t just inherited his father’s hockey skills, but also a yearning to help others.

“I was very fortunate to be around my dad and see how he did things,” Robidas said. “I was able to see his presence in the community and his desire to help others. We’re lucky to have this job and platform and a lot of people look up to us so I want to use that to do my part.”

Robidas certainly has and for his strong commitment to helping those in need in the Chicagoland area, the 23-year-old has been honored with a pair of important awards for his charitable contributions during the 2025-26 season.

On Tuesday, the Wolves announced that the Plano, Texas, native has captured the organization’s highest honor, the 2026 Dan Snyder Man of the Year Award.

Each season, a Wolves player receives the award in memory of Snyder, who passed away Oct. 5, 2003, at the age of 25 after suffering head injuries in a car accident. During his two seasons with the Wolves, Snyder set the standard for community service with his tireless commitment to Chicago-area people and charities. On the ice, Snyder scored five game-winning goals during the postseason to help the Wolves capture the 2002 Calder Cup championship.

“It’s a huge honor,” Robidas said. “He meant so much to this organization and I’ve heard nothing but great things about him. I’m just trying to follow what he did and do my part to help the organization and the community as best as I can.”

Robidas is among a stellar list of former Wolves Man of the Year Award honorees that includes Dominic Franco (2024, 2025), Max Lajoie (2023), Oscar Dansk (2020), Tyler Wong (2019), Scooter Vaughan (2018), Brett Sterling (2010, 2017), Pat Cannone (2016), Shane Harper (2015), Michael Davies (2013, 2014), Darren Haydar (2012), Spencer Machacek (2011), Jordan Lavallee (2009), Nathan Oystrick (2008), Brian Sipotz (2007), Karl Stewart (2005, 2006) and Kurtis Foster (2004).

In addition, the Wolves announced Tuesday that Robidas is the team’s winner of 2025-26 IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year Award. The recipient is selected by his respective club for his outstanding contributions to the local community and charitable organizations during the ’25-26 season.

“We obviously don’t help out in the community to gain any awards but it’s awesome to be recognized,” Robidas said. “Each time I put the jersey on or go out in town I represent the Wolves so it’s important to me to be my best.”

While enjoying his finest season on the ice for the Wolves, including being named to the AHL All-Star Classic for the first time, Robidas is putting forth a winning effort in the community.

“I want to do as much as I can to have an impact on peoples’ lives,” Robidas said. “It’s important.”

To that end, he is engaged in a myriad of Wolves charitable initiatives, including spending time with fans and raising money during the organization’s “Night With the Pack” event as well as participating in its “Adopt-A-Dog” and “Read to Succeed” programs. During his two seasons with the Wolves, Robidas has also helped raise thousands of dollars through the team’s “Score For Charity” program.

However, Robidas’ biggest impact has been establishing the “Robidas’ Rising Stars” program that has touched the lives of those less fortunate than him.

Throughout the season, the program enables one family or individual from an underserved community to experience VIP treatment at a Wolves game. The behind-the-scenes experience includes tickets to a game, an exclusive meet-and-greet with Robidas and a tour of the Wolves dressing room.

“Life can be hard and for a night they can maybe forget about things and enjoy themselves,” Robidas said. “I love seeing their smiles and how happy and excited they are to see the dressing room and come to a game.”

No matter the outcome on the ice, Robidas always arrives with a smile on his face and spends more than a fleeting moment with the families. During the tour of the dressing room, Robidas introduces them to teammates, signs autographs and spends time listening and learning from the children.

“After a loss when sometimes you didn’t play your best, just meeting those kids and seeing that there’s more to life makes you realize how special it is for them,” Robidas said. “One bad game feels pretty small when you see what some of those kids are going through so I just try to be there for them.”

After a recent Wolves game, Robidas hosted 12-year-old Evan, whose father died on Evan’s 7^th birthday in May of 2020.

“Justin literally spent about an hour with Evan and his friends,” said Evan’s grandmother, Lauren Fleming. “He took them into the locker room and introduced him to the other players. Evan’s dream was to get a professional hockey stick so he reluctantly asked Justin and Justin was like, ‘no problem!’ He and all the guys signed it.

“I know Evan’s dad was up there totally grinning from ear to ear because of what Justin and the Wolves did for his son,” Fleming added.

The program has touched the lives of many, including a cancer survivor who dropped the ceremonial first puck prior to a recent game and later spent time interacting with Robidas.

Seeing the joy on the faces of those with whom he’s engaged has had a profound impact on Robidas.

“You realize how special it is for them knowing what some of the kids are going through,” he said. “They’re just super-happy to be there and be a part of it. For the parents, too, it helps to see their kids being happy and running around and being so excited. It means a lot.”

There may be more honors headed Robidas’ way as he is now one of 32 finalists for the AHL’s 2025-26 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupré Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League later this month.

THE RETURN OF PYOTR

The Wolves had a familiar face patrolling the crease for portions of two games over the weekend.

Pyotr Kochetkov, who helped backstop the Wolves to the 2022 Calder Cup championship and appeared in 26 games with Chicago during the ’22-23 season, was with the team on a conditioning assignment from the Carolina Hurricanes.

It marked Kochetkov’s second stint with the Wolves this season—he made 22 saves to post a victory over the Toronto Marlies on Nov. 11. The Penza, Russia, native then rejoined the Hurricanes but had been sidelined since Dec. 20 with a hip injury that required surgery.

In a planned scenario, Kochetkov played the first period of the Wolves’ 4-1 victory over the Griffins on Friday night in Grand Rapids and made eight saves before being replaced by Amir Miftakhov.

On Sunday, Kochetkov was back in familiar haunts and made 19 saves in two periods of action during the Wolves’ 4-2 win over the Rockford IceHogs at Allstate Arena.

“It’s so fun to see the guys,” Kochetkov said. “And to play in this rink is very special. I have memories for life here, especially of winning the Cup.”

Kochetkov said, “I feel better every day” as he tries to round into shape with the hopes of joining the Hurricanes’ goalie mix for the NHL postseason.

“I felt fine in Grand Rapids and had more fun (Sunday) playing two periods,” Kochetkov said. “It feels better. Teammates have really helped me and the doctors have helped me. All is good.”

IMPACT NETWORKING PLAY OF THE WEEK

During Sunday’s game against the Rockford IceHogs at Allstate Arena, Wolves forward Gleb Trikozov finished off a highlight-reel passing play with fellow Russian Ivan Ryabkin for his second goal of the contest.

 

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

Wolves defenseman Dominik Badinka lowered the boom on the Rockford IceHogs’ Ryan Mast during Sunday’s tilt at Allstate Arena.

SAVE OF THE WEEK

During the first period of Friday night’s game in Grand Rapids, Wolves goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov, who was assigned on a conditioning stint from the Carolina Hurricanes, denied the Griffins’ Erik Gustafsson with a sprawling right-pad save.

 

Weekly rewind (2-0-0-1)

FRIDAY, APRIL 10

Wolves 4, Griffins 1: Noah Philp scored twice, Felix Unger Sorum had a goal and an assist and Ryan Suzuki also tallied to propel the Wolves. Ronan Seeley chipped in two assists to help Chicago finish the season series over the Western Conference-leading Griffins with a 4-2-2-2 record.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11

Admirals 4, Wolves 3 (SO): Noah Philp, Nikita Pavlychev and Noel Gunler scored but the Wolves couldn’t hold a three-goal lead and settled for one point in their third contest of the five-game road trip.

SUNDAY, APRIL 12

Wolves 4, IceHogs 2: Gleb Trikozov scored twice, Noah Philp had a goal and an assist and Felix Unger Sorum also tallied to help the Wolves clinch second place in the Central Division. Ivan Ryabkin chipped in two assists as Chicago wrapped up the season series with a 7-3-1-1 record over their intrastate rivals.

First Star of the Week

Where we stand

33-21-8-7, clinched second place in the Central Division.

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