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.







Powderhornhockey

Favorite photos, sometimes you just have to post them...

The Wolves seem to still be in a slump, the weather seems to be holding on to winter for all it's worth, this seems like the perfect time to post one of those self serving favorite photo or "highlight reels" of the last few months. The following images are some of the shots that for some reason didn't seem to fit in any specific category yet stood out form the rest, enjoy!




Powderhornhockey

03/02/08 Baby Bruins/Chicago Wolves vie for first place in the AHL

Tonight I'll let the images tell the story, it was an intense three frames of hockey. Both teams knew what was on the line, it was their first meeting in history, the Baby Bruins number one in the AHL with 89 points meeting the Chicago Wolves in 2nd place in the AHL with 87 points. The meeting on the ice would be more of a prelude to the second season, the winner of the contest would possess an important psychological advantage . The certain knowledge that they could beat the other in a head to head competition. Last night the Wolves won the prize, they beat the Providence Bruins with grit, teamwork and consistent skillful play. Now bring it on, the final point hunt of the end of the season, let's get er' done and figure out who makes it to the big dance!