Chicago Wolves Lose Home Opener to Milwaukee 3:2

Sad but true the Wolves lost their home opener to old rivals the Milwaukee Admirals 3:2 at the Allstate arena on October 3rd. The home crowd left the arena hoping for better things from what looks to be one of the most gifted line ups the Wolves have ever seen but one that simply played 20 minutes of hockey on opening night. Coach Granato has presented fans this year with a tasty mix heavy with vets and as light on youngsters as possible. Returnees include Jason Krog, Kevin Doell, Brett Sterling, Spencer Machaeck,Grant Lewis, Nathan Oystrick , Yes NATHAN OYSTRICK sent down from a blueline heavy Atlanta and Joey Crabb.

The current hot gossip is that veteran Chris Chelios is set to sign with the Wolves. Indeed he is going to skate with the team on Monday and that. is all the Wolves office is willing to confirm. Like Atlanta the Wolves are blueline heavy if Chelios does join the team as a player they will have to show one on the roster the door. To my eyes the one most likely to see the gate is Brian Sipotz.

As always here are some images of opening night!

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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Old time rivals, even without Coach Claude Noel, those Ads are TOUGH!

I'll just say it outright the Wolves lost 5:3 last night to their oldest rivals the Milwaukee Admirals. The game was closer than the score, easy to say but actually true, in the last two minutes of the game Wolves fans came close to seeing a heart attack last minute rally that almost put the game into OT. Not to be, Milwaukee's new coach this year Lane Lambert, has followed the tradition of scrappy teams that have a consistent check combined with a tough attitude. Every year it seems the Wolves have a healthy lead and then you check the standings and like a semi in your rear view the Admirals are coming for you in the first or second round of the playoffs. The silly season of posturing and running for the playoffs has started, what fun!




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02/16/08 Chicago Wolves down Rockford Ice Hogs

Is this the taste of things to come for these two teams, in sold out a arena of just over 6,000, 1,000 were Wolves fans that braved the weather forecast of an ice storm to see a regular season contest between two teams a mere hour by interstate. The rivalry is in full glorious bloom and making ready for the playoff run that one or both of these teams will make. The shooting is going to be great and the roller coaster ride for Chicago fans is going to be remarkable.

It is past time to come out of the closet so to speak. I have been a fan of the Rockford Ice Hogs for several years, I fell hard on St. Patrick's Night looking out on the ice and seeing Hammy in the spotlight shamrock in his hat, holding the flag for a local school choir singing the anthem. It was over, I became a total fan as they scored moments later and the crowd got up and danced, a hockey crowd dancing you say? Yes, I was hooked. My dual loyalties existed quite peacefully since the Hogs were a UHL team and the Wolves were AHL, when the Wolves were out of town we went to Rockford and had a great time, it helped that somehow Rockford seemed to bring out the best in me artistically. Then last spring the Hogs made the move to the AHL, would we be able to deal? I struggled, finally in the last month I decided to just give up, I still love both teams and yes, I know this set of "Hogs" are really from VA. The most important thing to me is that the "Hawg soul" is still there. The front office staff remains the same,the crowd spirt is still there. The faces on the ice may have changed but the intangibles that make going to games in Rockford such a good time have transitioned to the AHL nicely.

So there is, I deal, so now you can deal, I love two AHL teams within a few miles of each other. Life is good!

Now some images showing Wolves -vs-Hogs, great hockey, two good netties last night. IMHO the difference was the Wolves defense was far more consistant. No team will ever win a game unless there is someone waving his fanny in the goalies face,ready to score, Hogs are you listening?




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The New Born Rivalry, a good healthy howl..

Saturday night as the song says is alright for a fighting and indeed it was. The Chicago Wolves and the Rockford Ice Hogs rivalary is moving from the weak mewings of a newborn to the strong healthy cry of a infant eager for life.

The game started out easy enough. The usual clutch and grab, then the hits started getting harder. Then near the end of the first period the goal net was knocked over on to Andrre Pavelec with no call being given by referee David Banfield.


Second period the pace stepped up, with 41 seconds remaining Andre Pavelec again made contact with the goal post during a breakaway. This time ending up laying in a crumpled ball on the ice grasping his right(stick) hand, again no call. After assessmemnt by Chicago trainer Kevin Kacer, Pavlec finished the period. The defensive line of Brian Fahey and Nathan Oystrick standing guard over the shaken goalie, practically daring any Hog to come near. As soon as the buzzer sounded Pavlec made a bee line to the locker room and full medical attention. Everyone, Wolves and Hogs fans alike were happy to see #31 starting the 3rd periond, sporting a well taped right wrist. Hogs fans saluting him with their trademark cowbells as he entered the crease.


Third period wore on. The score was 3:2, when Rockford coach waved nettie Cam Crawford to the bench, however the extra man was eager to even the score and force OT. A whistle blows, to many men on the ice...this was to prove costly for Rockford, and the Wolves quickly scored on the power play. Now things started to turn ugly. Rockford goalie Crawford fired the puck into the celebrating Wolves, a major breech in the unwritten "code". With 4.5 seconds left in the third period the Chicago Wolves and the Rockford Ice Hogs decided to throw a yard sale in front of the Wolves bench. At the end of the festivities a total of 114 minutes in penalties had been given out including both Fahey boys earning Game Misconducts (75.5iii) resulting from a tussle where linesman Al Stensland fell to the ice squished between them.

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I hope the images do justice to the game, it was as they say a Ring Tailed Tooter!!

Haydar's back, Nathan Oystrick is Hot! Hot! Hot!

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Last night the Chicago Wolves welcomed their captain, Daryn Haydar back home to home ice. At the dawn of this season the Wolves lost their captain and their MVP from last season Brett Sterling to the Atlanta Thrashers. Sterling returned earlier last month and hs been the scoring powerhouse he was last year. Haydar marked his return by to goals, and showing some very pretty skating. He hasn't lost anything in the rarified air of the AHL and seems to have returned eager to lead his team and lend maturity to the locker room . Something the Wolves seemed to need since Fred Brathwate's departure to Russia last week.

Nathan Oystrick #22, what can I say? I will take full advantage of the Blog format and speak in the first person. I am a fan of the defensive game. Nathan Oystrick has been with the Wolves for two years now and it has been a treat to see him develop. In the last three weeks as the Wolves have headed in to a team wide tail spin he has scored 5 count em' 5 goals. Oystrick is presently part of the Krog,Haydar,Sterling scoring line. In the past he was regarded as "protection" looks like that is changing. This photographer couldn't be more delighted, not only is this young man a constant source of great images, when spoken to always engaging and eager to speak to fans of the defensive game. It is as pleasure to see good things happening to this genuinely nice and hard working young man. You go for it Oysty, I'll be watching!

The score last night oh yes it was a win, not a hell fire and brimstone. However a win is a win, the Wolves seem to be finding organization and their legs after several weeks of spotty performances and looking for leadership. To use one of my Dad's phrases, "the ship is comming around, it's time to go for the weather mark" It's December boys, Captains back, time to lay the foundation for this years playoffs run.