Throughout the Wolves’ 30 seasons as a franchise, they’ve earned more than 1,000 regular-season victories and their all-time roster features more than 300 players who have played at the National Hockey League level. The Wolves’ commitment to winning championships while providing a stellar fan experience remains as strong as ever.
The International Hockey League grants franchise rights to Don Levin, Buddy Meyers and Grant Mulvey to operate a team in Chicago, called the Chicago Wolves, with home games at the Rosemont Horizon. Ex-Blackhawk Mulvey is named president/general manager and Wayne Messmer is chosen senior vice president
The Wolves officially announce the team and the Horizon as its home rink. The Horizon debuts plans for a $4 million renovation project to include a state-ofthe- art ice-making system.
Season tickets go on sale; the Wolves receive more than 1,000 calls.
Ground is broken on the Horizon renovation project; the first objective is to build new locker rooms.
The Wolves announce Gene Ubriaco as their first assistant general manager/head coach, the eighth time that Ubriaco, an experienced architect of pro hockey teams, is hired for an inaugural season.
The Wolves sign their first player, veteran International Hockey League defenseman Kevin MacDonald, the Phoenix Roadrunners’ all-time penalty minutes leader (855
The Wolves sign Chicago-area natives left wing Tim Breslin and center Jeff Rohlicek.
The Wolves announce WCBR ”The Bear“ (92.7 FM) as the official radio home of the Wolves; the station will carry all 81 1994-95 regular-season games and playoff games live.
AUG. 15, 1994 Center Brian Wiseman is signed to a Wolves contract; the University of Michigan product was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as a Wolverine senior.
The Wolves announce their inaugural season schedule.
Long-time Chicago Blackhawks veteran left wing Al Secord signs a contract to play for the Wolves.
The Wolves kick off their preseason schedule, by beating the Milwaukee Admirals, 5-3, in Zion.
The Wolves begin their inaugural season with a 6-5 shootout loss against the Detroit Vipers at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
A sell-out crowd of 16,623 celebrates the Wolves first home game and 4-2 victory against Detroit; the event begins with the emotional return of Wayne Messmer, who sings the National Anthem publicly for the first time since being shot in a robbery attempt on April 9, 1994.
Left wing Steve Maltais records the Wolves first-ever hat trick in a 7-4 victory against the Cleveland Lumberjacks.
Goaltender Ray LeBlanc registers a 1994-95 IHL season-high and franchise-most 51 saves at Milwaukee in a 5-2 loss.
Goaltender Ray LeBlanc records the team’s first-ever shutout as the Wolves blank the visiting Peoria Rivermen, 3-0.
Left wing Steve Maltais collects three goals and three assists, including his 50th goal of the season, in a 7-3 victory against the Las Vegas Thunder in front of 16,144 fans. The Wolves also welcome eight-year-old Paul Munda of Elmwood Park, the 400,000th fan to attend a Wolves game.
The final regular-season game, enjoyed by 13,539 fans, marks the Wolves first-place finish in the race for IHL paid attendance in 1994-95.
The Wolves and WCIU-TV Channel 26 announce a multi-year agreement in which hockey fans will be able to see Wolves games on free TV. At least 22 home and road contests, a preseason special and a weekly ”Wolves TV“ show are part of the first year of the deal.
The Wolves sign former National Hockey League All-Star right wing Rob Brown, the IHL’s 1993-94 scoring leader and MVP.
Grant Mulvey steps behind the bench for the first time as interim head coach, replacing Gene Ubriaco. The Wolves respond with a 4-3 win against the Fort Wayne Komets, their second victory in 10 games. Chicago finishes March with a then franchise record 10-4-2 mark.
A crowd of 17,186, the fourth largest in team history, rocks the Horizon during the Wolves’ 9-5 victory against Cleveland to snap a six-game home winless skid.
Right wing Rob Brown posts an assist to become the first player in club history to reach the 100-point mark in a single season in Chicago’s 4-3 loss against Milwaukee.
Left wing Steve Maltais collects his fifth hat trick of the season in Chicago’s 6-5 loss against Milwaukee, which includes his 100th career Wolves goal.
The Wolves shell Kansas City, 10-3, setting team records for most goals-for in a game (10); most power-play goals in a game (8); most goals-for in a period (6); and largest margin of victory (7). Right wing Rob Brown rings up a 1995-96 IHL season-high and franchisemost eight points and six assists, while Steve Maltais tallies a pair of goals to become only the 12th player in IHL history to record back-to-back 50-goal seasons.
Right wing Rob Brown drills his 49th and 50th goals in the Wolves’ 6-5 loss against Las Vegas to join teammate Steve Maltais in the 50-goal category. It marks only the seventh time in the IHL’s 51- year history that two players from the same team have accomplished that feat in the same season.
Chicago advances to the second round of the Turner Cup Playoffs for the first time in team history with a 2-1 overtime thriller against the San Francisco Spiders. Defenseman Kevin Pozzo’s first professional playoff goal at the 1:53 mark of overtime lifts the Wolves to the 3-1 series triumph.
Behind an IHL playoff-high and career-best 56-save performance by Wendell Young, the Wolves pull off an upset over the IHL regular-season champion Las Vegas Thunder, 5-3, at the Thomas & Mack Center for a 1-0 lead in the series. Left wing Steve Maltais nets two goals, including the game-winner.
Grant Mulvey is named head coach of the Wolves and continues to serve as the organization’s president and general manager.
The Wolves earn an 8-2 win against the Phoenix RoadRunners in their home opener, extending their record in home openers to 3-0-0. Goaltender Wendell Young was in net for all three wins. The victory also kick-starts a then franchise-record seven-game winning streak.
The Wolves down the defending Turner Cup Champion Utah Grizzlies, 3-1, to run their home mark to 6-0-0, a team record to open the season.
For the second consecutive month, Wolves right wing Rob Brown is named the IHL Player of the Month, making him the first player in IHL history to capture the award in back-to-back months since its inception in 1992-93. Brown notched 21 points (11G, 10A) in 11 games in October and 30 points (12G, 18A) in 15 games in November.
With a 3-0 shutout by the San Antonio Dragons, right wing Rob Brown’s career-best and franchise-high 32-game point-scoring streak comes to an end. Brown’s run was the longest scoring streak in the IHL in 1996-97.
Wolves goaltender Ray LeBlanc captures his 200th career IHL win with a 5-4 shootout victory against the Houston Aeros.
Wolves right wing Rob Brown, left wing Steve Maltais and center Troy Murray are named to represent the Western Conference in the IHL All-Star Game at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena. Brown is voted a starter by the fans, garnering the third-most votes. Maltais and Murray are selected by the coaches. Murray’s first-ever selection to an all-star team in his 16-year professional career is highlighted by being named captain.
President, General Manager and Head Coach Grant Mulvey is relieved of his duties. The team names Finland native Alpo Suhonen as its interim head coach. Suhonen leads the team to a 9-5-1 mark the rest of the season.
Right wing Rob Brown eclipses the 100-point mark for the fourth consecutive season with a goal and an assist in a 6-2 victory against the Orlando Solar Bears.
Left wing Steve Maltais nets his 50th goal of the season, becoming only the fifth player in the IHL’s 52-year history to record three consecutive 50-goal campaigns.
Left wing Steve Maltais registers his franchise-record 60th goal of the season in a 3-0 shutout against the Manitoba Moose.
In Game 2 of the Turner Cup Playoffs against the San Antonio Dragons, the Wolves pull off one of the most stunning victories in franchise history. Trailing 3-0 at the end of the second period, Chicago rises to the occasion with three goals in regulation to tie the game. Right wing Rob Brown ends it with a goal in overtime.
Left wing Tim Breslin is named the IHL’s Amway/ Nutrilite Man of the Year and receives the I. John Snider Trophy for his outstanding community service.
The Wolves name John Anderson as the fifth head coach in team history; Alpo Suhonen decided not to return due to personal commitments in Europe. Kevin Cheveldayoff is named general manager, and Gene Ubriaco shifts his role in the organization to director of hockey operations/ assistant general manager.
Wolves left wing Steve Maltais, goaltender Wendell Young, defenseman Kevin Dahl and right wing Ravil Gusmanov are named to represent the Western Conference in the IHL All-Star Game at Orlando Arena. Maltais and Young are voted starters by the fans. It marks Maltais’ fifth IHL All-Star Game – fourth straight with the Wolves – while Dahl appears in his second, and first with the Wolves. Young and Gusmanov are both making their first appearances in the IHL’s mid-season classic.
Chicago captures its first Midwest Division title in franchise history with a 5-3 win against Milwaukee.
Goaltender Wendell Young collects his 100th career win with the Wolves as Chicago defeats the Milwaukee Admirals, 7-5, in the regular season finale. The Wolves finish the 1997-98 regular season with franchise records in wins (55); points (113); home wins (29); and road wins (26). Chicago’s 55 wins and 29 victories on home ice lead the IHL.
Behind a 40-save performance by goaltender Wendell Young, the Wolves beat the Manitoba Moose, 1-0, to sweep the Western Conference Quarterfinal, 3-games-to-0, the team’s first-ever playoff-series sweep. Chicago advances to the second round of the playoffs for the second time in team history, while the shutout is the first in franchise postseason history.
Powered by center Steve Larouche’s hat trick, the Wolves defeat the Milwaukee Admirals, 4-3, to win their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal series, 4-games-to-2. Chicago advances to the Western Conference Final for the first time in team history.
After seeing their commanding 3-games-to-0 lead slip to 3-games-to-2, the Wolves eliminate the Long Beach Ice Dogs, 4-games-to-2, at Long Beach Arena. With the win, Chicago captures the Ken Ullyot Trophy, symbolizing the IHL’s Western Conference Championship and earns the team’s first-ever berth in the Turner Cup Finals.
Backed by 16,701 fans, the second-largest crowd in Turner Cup Finals history, the Wolves shut out the Detroit Vipers, 3-0, to capture their first-ever Turner Cup Championship, 4-games-to-3. It is the first seven-game series for the IHL Championship in 13 years, while the shutout sets the Wolves’ franchise-record second in a playoff season. Chicago wins the last two games of the series to become only the sixth team in the IHL’s 53-year history to rebound from a 3-games-to-2 deficit in the Finals. Wolves center Alexander Semak walks away with the N.R. ”Bud“ Poile Trophy as the postseason’s most valuable player.
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