10/19/2007 Wolves-s Hogs, an introduction

Last night in the Allstate arena the Chicago Wolves and the new and improved AHL Rockford IceHogs shook hands for the first time. Was this the start of a genuine rivalry? The jury is still out on that one but it was a intensely physical first period. So physical it included single matches and a line brawl.

Not to beat on a dead horse but this Hog team is not the same team we cheered in Rockford last May for the Colonial Cup. They are transplants for Norfolk VA, the mysterious east where players sleep in their own beds every night and travel budgets are spent on gas for the team bus. Listening to the PPP Show one can learn the East is a very chippy place they play a physical game out there, nothing personal. But everyone seems to have the Broad Street Bully attitude, if they cant beat you they will beat you. The Wolves first encountered this philosophy in the 05' Calder Cup final series against the Philly Phantoms. Simply put in 05' the Wolves had never played such an unrelentingly physical team that year and they sent us home without a cup in four games. Given last nights win Coach John Anderson learned his lessons well 05' because the Wolves got their bearings and the win last night in this first meeting of the East and West.

Here are some images from the game...






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