More revolving doors...

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Don't get stuck in the revolving door guys! There are a few Wolves comings and goings I have been remiss on reporting. First and foremost Blueliner Boris Valibak has been called up and a long time coming it is too. As much as I hate to see the Wolves "Excitable Boy" leave for warmer climates he deserves the shot at the big show and I hope he sticks.

Brett Sterling AKA Sterls is back. The biggest theory circulating is that Atlanta is heavy on forwards. So they are,but it seems hard to believe that their isn't room for this scoring machine. Welcome back to Chicago Brett, you are appreciated here.

Ondrej Pavelec is back! Although Dan Turple and Robert Gherson did a good job keeping the ship afloat without the Wolves main nettie, it's good to have him back. There were a few too nervy moments for most fans liking without Pavs. Although seeing Gherson win in a shoot out yesterday in Manchester is a bodes well for the future, for we will loose the blue eyed boy Pavelec to Atlanta someday.

Wolves Show no Mercy, No Quarter to Providence Bruins, Win 6:0

Life for players in the AHL is very different depending on which conference you play in. In the West where the Chicago Wolves are located the teams are accustomed to an aggressive travel schedule. Working life is frankly a series of practices and winning is often is as much of a product of maintaining training and focus on the road as work on the ice. In the East life is quiter, teams are usually separated by less than 100 miles and it is often joked that it is in players contracts that they must be tucked into their own beds every night with a cup of coco by the team equipment manager.

Every year at AHL league meetings it is the same script the West demands the East divisions start to travel west. The East cries poverty and since they are often the older teams in the league clout usually wins out. This year however a crack in the armour developed two teams are traveling west on quick tours and Western fans will finally get a chance to see the famous physicality of the Eastern game. Last night in the Allstate the famous eastern game did show up at times but the west dominated for the entire game.

It is easy to describe this game, first period goalie Tuukka Rask let in the first goal at 1:09 in the first period, he looked like he didn't know how the puck got there. The next two goals got in the net the same way. At the break Providence coach Rob Murray pulled Rask in favor of Kevin Regan. The Baby Bruins then had their best frame of the night and kept the Wolves scoreless. However, the road weary Bruins let down in the third period and the Wolves eager to make a stand against a possible playoff opponent went for the kill and got in three more. Boris Valibik had a brilliant night, with two assists, goal and a booming dinger he was given the second star of the game. Many more games like this and he will be called up to Wolves parent club in Atlanta before Christmas. Boris you will be missed.

Here are some images of the game.







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Ode To Boris II, He got the call up at last!

I have to say it loud and proud, it's hard to type with little bunny feet!

Yesterday it was announced that the Wolves "Excitable Boy" Boris Valibik got the call from Atlanta Thrashers Don Waddell, about time too. Congratulations Boris, as the Thrash wrap up their season we will see you back in maroon and gold in time for the playoffs. Strut your stuff proudly, you deserve it!


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It sometimes comes down to relationships around the ice...

Two weeks ago I was covering the IIT/ Blackhawks Alimni game. During the second period a goalie and a defenseman took the ice for IIT. For the next twenty minutes it was a pleasure to watch these two play. They moved like a pair of dancers, knowing instinctively how the other was going to respond to challenges. It was simply beautiful. At the break I managed to find the nettie, yes, they had played together in college and were friends. The more we talked the clearer it dawned on me how important these relationships can be , it's not just "team chemistry" that's a catch phrase. It's the glue, the heart, that holds a team together, or not, during a long season and longer playoff run. As the 07'-08' season turns into the final run of the first half, it will be these intangibles that make the second happen.

As my Canon sits in it's case while my shoulder heals, this is the first wider angle shot, Relationships, on and around the ice....







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02/04/08 Iowa Stars/Chicago Wolves it looked more like a fight card!

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Buffalo sports broadcaster Clip Smith was fond of saying "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out." That's exactly what happened last Sunday at the Allstate. It was quite a night, as if Wednesdays lunar eclipse had left a bit of freaky karma for us to enjoy later. Three goals called back and four count em' four fights. Two featuring my favorite Slovakian defenseman Boris Valabik and the comparatively diminutive B.J. Crombeen. You have to respect the little guy giving several inches to Valabik Crombeen after being thumped in the first period he went back for more in the third.

In the end after the fights were over, the standing goals were tallied the Wolves came out on top. Not to beat an obviously dead horse but since September I have been pointing out the goal tending problems in Iowa. On January 8th Iowa called up Steven Silverthorn from the Iowa Steelheads, although registering a loss in his first outing. A closer look reveals he relieved Stephen late in the third and turned away all four shots sent his way. It is this photogs wish that when Iowa comes to the AA on the 7th we see the 26 year old strut his stuff for us in goal. Common coach Carey, give the dark horse a chance!




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Admirals Hand Wolves First Loss of Season.

On October 27th, the Saturday before All Hollows eve we packed up the van and following the Chicago Wolves headed north to Milwaukee for the first meeting the Ads' and the Wolves. Chicago had a pristine 6:0 record at puck drop that was not to survive the night. The tired Wolves lost their first game to the team Chicago fans had decided to take for granted this year. Look again- Coach Claude Noel may be gone but Milwaukee's back and ready to pick up where they left off last year. "Never Say Die"? OK, I'll give you this one Milwaukee, but there will be a next time!

Here are a few images of the game.





Powderhornhockey

Chicago Wolves Home opener!

Saturday night, at last the Chicago Wolves fans arrived at the Allstate Arena ready to see the puck drop for the first time since Memorial Day weekend. The opponent for the home opener was fittingly our rivals to the north the Milwaukee Admirals. The first period both teams were still shaking out the rust, evidenced by the low SOG, a total of 18 by the end of the frame.

By the start of the second the boys had found their rhythm again. Our exciteable boy, Boris Valabik totalled 14 PIM for tripping, unsportsmanlike conduct and abuse of officials. Kevin Doell showed his developing reputation as an agitator getting his second 2 minutes of the game . Milwaukee's Pekka Rinne, always a pleasure to watch in goal made many pretty saves yet let in Chicago's first goal of the night.

With the score tied third period seemed endless, finally OT started. Considering that the Wolves hadn't won a home opener since 03' the best most in the stands hoped for was that the game wouldn't end in a shoot out but in hot action at the goal. Haters of the shoot out were to win the day along with the Wolves, 1:46 into OT defenceman Brian Fahey nailed the net for the winning goal.

To paraphrase Roddy Doyle, with two wins in two outings, "It's a good start and I believe in starts.". Now on to Rockford on the 19th.



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It's hard to type with little bunny feet....Ode to Boris...

One of the great advantages of being a fan of development leagues is you get to see players grow from raw talent into launching their careers in the NHL. Last September Patrick Kissane and I attended the Red Wings Rookie Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan. At TC besides having a glorious time, we learned much from the staff, other fans and parents of players that also were the bleacher rats in attendance. It was here I first spyed the player that will be the subject of a blog entry solely dedicated to him, Boris Valabik all 230 pounds 6'7" first round draft pick of him of him. The Chicago Wolves (and I mean this with love) "Excitable Boy". So let me brush my little bunny feet and adjust the long ears for a minute...


First the dry facts, Boris Valabik was born Valentines Day 1986 in Nitra, Slovakia he is a Slav national,not a Check as he quickly points out to those of us geographically impaired. Boris came to the Wolves directly from the Ontario Hockey Leagues perennial powerhouse Kitchner Rangers along with golaie prospect Dan Turple. When in Hamilton for the Calder Cup semifinals Patrick Kissane and I encountered several fans that were at the games to see Valabik. He is remembered warmly as a stand up player and a team member who was there for every charity event. This hasn't changed since moving to the AHL, Boris defends his teammates and is always there for every booster club charity fundraiser. A painter off the ice one of his paintings was sold at auction this season for Wolves Charities.But enough of this litany of perfection our Excitable Boy has his faults,mainly born of his temper. It could be his passion for the game, personality, or dedication to his teammates, he can and will be drawn into fights by agitators. Valibak eagerly takes on the role of the enforcer at 21, role typically played by a more seasoned player. His temper consistently brings him to the attention of the men if stripes making him less effective on the ice. In fact some photographers have been known to follow him on the ice for where #27 goes action and a great shot usually follows. This combined with a nagging ankle injury from December may have lead to the decision to "scratch" him during at times during the Wolves reticent playoff series.

Despite his "youthful enthusiasm" this kid has the real stuff in him. I expect we will be seeing Valibik only for part of the 07'season in Chicago. He will move up to the Atlanta Thrashers with the first injury for his shot at the big show. I can only hope that chance comes later not sooner, this hot tempered chick needs more time with Todd Nelson (Wolves defensive coach) before he can become the cock of the walk he dreams of being. But that is just this photogs opinion, the fact that I love to shoot this guy has nothing to do with it.