Wolves are pumped; Oh! Canada! Here we come!

Game seven between the Rockford IceHogs and the Chicago Wolves highlighted two different styles of play. That was clear by looking at the game sheets of the series. Although the Wolves were outshot almost throughout the series, and particularly in game seven, they won.

That goes against hockey sense. You put the puck on the net and good things happen. But, not for the IceHogs in this series. I used the term desperation hockey to describe the play of the Hogs. I meant it as a complement. It is another of the myths of hockey that to win a championship you need to play desperation hockey.

It was desperation hockey for the Hogs; they were on the wrong end of the score almost throughout the season at the Allstate Arena. And there is nothing to get you thinking about winning and losing quite like a game seven.

So the Hogs, they played hard. They finished their checks; they took every opportunity they had to shoot the puck at Ondrej Pavelec.

This was a great foe. And what made it even more intense was the background radiation in this series. Wolves’ fans have said, from time to time, for example last season I said, the Wolves could take the Chicago Blackhawks in a series. I still believe last year’s BHawks would find it very difficult to face the Wolves or several other American Hockey League teams.

Last season the crest said NHL team, but the play didn’t.

I haven’t said that this year.

Here was the baby Hawks, if we can use that term in a gentle way, and the Wolves were able to put them away.

Barely.

I felt the Wolves were cruising through the end of the regular season. From about March 1st on, they played without passion and without heart. I was worried about what would happen in the post season with this team.

Sure, they were a great team. This is probably the best Wolves team I’ve ever seen. Granted, I’ve only been watching them for about five years. But they lacked that special character, the heart of a champion. They seemed to be playing to finish the season.

Unfortunately, this was brought home even more, as players, the contracts with the Atlanta Thrashers ending at the conclusion of the season, announced they were signing on to European teams. Maybe, they didn’t want to get hurt, maybe they didn’t care about a championship. Those words came from the discussion boards and they percolated in my head and I hoped they weren’t true.

I don’t want to be a homer about this, but I wanted the Wolves to win the series. I didn’t want these European signings to be the end of the road for this team. I figure next year is the year for the IceHogs. This year belongs to the Wolves.

Then we played the Milwaukee Admirals in the post season. Series one, leading to the West Division Crown. The Admirals have a long history with the Wolves, going back to the original International Hockey League. They were a team that could find the weakness in our best. And when they were hot and we were the cellar dwellers, we found the way to win against them.

It’s a great rivalry, although I wish there were better interaction with the fans.

I could see this team growing and accepting the increase in adrenaline needed to win as the series progressed. Thank you MAds, you helped push the Wolves to a higher level of play.

Still, when the series started against the Hogs, the Wolves won the first two games and it seemed as though it would be an easy series. The boys relaxed. Thank you Hogs for winning three games. Thank you for making them realize they wanted to win. Thank you for forcing them to play some of the best hockey I’ve seen all season.

What could have been better? Well, if the Hogs had managed to make it into the North Division finals, I think this would be a Conference final between Rockford and Chicago. That would have been excellent.

Also, I’ve wanted to see the Manitoba Moose make it to the Conference Finals. But they seem to fade away in the post season year after year. Even the Grand Rapids Griffins would be a great North Division foe to face, though I’ve always liked playing the Moose best.

Those are all IHL rivalries. But okay, we’re taking on the Marlies. Second City USA v. Toronto. The big apple, if you will, of Canada. Nothing gets me more in the mood for a great game than hearing O’ Canada. The boys appear ready to win a ring and hang a banner. Let’s take the Marlies guys! Eight more wins and you hang your championship banner. Eight more wins and you get sized for a big ole’ ring. Eight more wins and you’ll have something to remember and cherish when your career is over.

Wolves win West Div game 7; 4-1 victory, on to Marlies

The Chicago Wolves defeated the Rockford IceHogs in game seven of the Western Division Finals of the Calder Cup Tournament 4-1, Tuesday at the Allstate Arena. The Wolves are scheduled to meet the North Division top seed and champion, the Toronto Marlies, Friday.

On-Ice play was lightly officiated, with only five total penalties given in the game. The IceHogs outshot the Wolves throughout the game. It appeared as though the Hogs were playing desperate hockey, with lots of shots on goal, whenever they had the opportunity. The Wolves, on the other hand, were using cross-ice passing, even when they had shots, to force Chicago Blackhawk goalie prospect Corey Crawford to move side to side.

Two of the Wolves goals were on the power play. Joe Motzko had three shots on Crawford in the first period and two assists in the game. The official game sheet only credits Motzko with one shot on goal. The potential shutout was broken by Kris Versteeg in the mid-third period. Crawford was pulled with about three minutes remaining. However, after Colin Stuart scored an empty net goal with about 90 seconds remaining, he returned to the net for the remainder of the game.

Wolves win 4-3 in Rockford; Series final goes to Chicago on Tuesday

Rockford, Ill-- Four power play goals in the second period were enough to lift the Chicago Wolves to a 4-3 win over the Rockford IceHogs in American Hockey League West Division finals for the AHL championship tonight at the MetroCentre.

After starting a lackluster first frame, shooting just five shots on goal for the period, the Wolves took advantage of a five minute high sticking penalty against Jerraime Domish, called when Domish hit Joe Motzko in the eye, to score two goals. Jason Krog scored two of the power play goals and an assist, with Joel Kwiatkowski scoring a goal and two points. Darren Haydar also had two points. The fourth goal was scored by Nathan Oystrick.

Ondrej Pavelec turned aside 31 shots and was able to stop a 5:3 Rockford power play advantage for the win. Corey Crawford, the Chicago Blackhawk prospect who has had an exciting post-season, turned aside 22 shots for the loss.

Petri Kontiola had a pair of goals and an assist. The third Rockford goal was scored by Kris Versteeg, who also had a point. Martin St. Pierre had two assists on the night.

The win ties the best of seven series; it goes back to the Allstate Arena on Tuesday for a game seven final match-up. The win puts Chicago in a favorable position, the Rockford team has had only one win in the Allstate this season, last week during the post-season. The frustration on the Rockford team with not being able to finish the Wolves was obvious on the game sheet, as the coach, Mike Haviland, let loose on the on-ice referee after the game and Crawford nearly broke his stick in frustration on his way to the lockers.

Haviland told a press conference after the game that a lack of discipline and particularly the 5:3 advantage allowed the Wolves to take possession of the second period. They were able to hold the Hogs back enough in the third frame for the win, he said.

Happy Mother's Day

It was Mother’s Day in Rockford and at least one fan, a mother I presume due to her sex, was celebrating by taking a drug holiday. Oh never mind, it’s just that the name of the blog was invented years ago in Toledo during a Mother’s Day game when another lucky fan went out and had a drug holiday.

AHL top seed out.

Friday saw the elimination of the Providence Bruins from the American Hockey League finals by the Portland Pirates. The Bruins had 117 points in the regular season, winning the regular season championship.

Wolves close to elimination; Hogs win 5-1

The Rockford IceHogs put the Chicago Wolves back to the wall with a big win at the Allstate Arena Friday. The 5-1 win was the first by the IceHogs at the Allstate and puts the team one win away from winning the Western Division championship.

Ondrej Pavelec, while brilliant, was beaten in the second period by a stolen puck that was poked past him in the corner and another turnover on the left circle that was passed to an unprotected right side.

Corey Crawford, meanwhile, had an outstanding night, stopping 40 of 41 shots on goal. In an attempt to beat the Chicago Blackhawks prospect, Wolves coach John Anderson played with the lines in the Friday night game, moving Brett Sterling to play with Steve Martins and Brian Little to play with Jason Krog and Darren Haydar. However, when that didn’t work, the original lines returned in the third period.

But nothing seemed to be able to penetrate Crawford until late in the second period when Krog finally hammered one home. Martin St. Pierre scored two points and Troy Brouwer two goals in the win. The Wolves must win each of the two remaining games to move on. The two teams play again Sunday afternoon in the Rockford MetroCentre.

Journal Star: Rivermen sold to Blues

The Peoria Journal Star reports that a co-owner of the Peoria Rivermen predicts the sale of the team to the owner of the St. Louis Blues will be announced within two weeks. “We have reached a verbal agreement,” Bruce Saurs told the Journal Star.

“There’s no doubt they intend to keep it in Peoria for a long time to come,” Saurs is reported as saying. The Journal Star says the offer was about $3.5 million, including the share owned by Anne Griffith. The Rivermen have an agreement to stay in Peoria’s Civic Center through the 2009-10 campaign with five year option to continue. Saurs, 81, is to remain in Peoria for the Blues fronting the organization.

The story, by Dave Eminian, says the process picked up speed when the Anaheim Ducks made an offer to purchase the team in March. However, Anaheim would have moved the team, according to Eminian.

Schlegal Sports: Iowa to remain AHL outlet

Schlegel Sports Inc. said the Des Moines area will soon have a new NHL affiliation, "There is going to be AHL hockey here next year and for a long time to come," Kirby Schlegel said.

The Des Moines Register said speculation on the affiliation centers on the Portland Pirates, affiliate of the Annaheim Ducks. The Ducks had been affiliated with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks several seasons ago. The Pirates are 3-1 in the Atlantic Division finals of the Calder Cup. An announcement by that club is not likely until the conclusion of the club's American Hockey League season.

The Iowa Stars team was affiliated with the Dallas Stars. Dallas announced, earlier this season, that it would be affiliating with a Texas city in the future.

Waddell asked to step aside: ESPN

Blogs from Kukala’s Korner to Hockey Ape are reporting that Don Waddell either asked to step down or was asked to step aside, but still in management, at the Atlanta Thrashers. Kukala’s quotes Scott Burnside of ESPN: “GM Don Waddell has been asked by the Atlanta Thrashers to give up his duties and accept another management position.”

The assumption, according to ESPN, is that if the doesn’t accept the new position, he will leave the Atlanta Spirit.

The Falconer takes on the AJC

The Falconer writes an Atlanta Thrashers blog, “Do the Thrashers Have Large Talons?” The Craig Custance article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution has stirred the pot, among Wolves fans and Thrashers fans, insinuating the alliance between Chicago Wolves and the Atlanta Thrashers is flawed.

The Falconer did extensive research on the development of American Hockey League players to the NHL since the Wolves first affiliated with the Thrashers. It is a damning indictment of the care that we believe professional journalist should have in preparing a story. “It seems clear to me that if you look at the entire time period of the Thrashers-Wolves affiliation that the Wolves have produced players who made the NHL. But the majority of those NHL players are on someone else's roster. Is that the Wolves fault?,” he writes.

It seems clear to me that if you look at the entire time period of the Thrashers-Wolves affiliation that the Wolves have produced players who made the NHL. But the majority of those NHL players are on someone else's roster. Is that the Wolves fault?

Physical Crunch threaten upset win in North Div.

Zenon Konopka led the Syracuse Crunch to a key 5-4 OT come-from-behind win over the Toronto Marlies Wednesday. Konopka scored a goal and three assists in the game. His over time pass to Joakim Lindstrom was responsible for the game-winning goal. The Crunch now threatens to send the Marlies home for the year with a win in any game in the American Hockey league North Division Finals series.

Konopka is ranked 11th among league scorers in the post-season. Ranked fourth among players with penalty minutes, the scorer has two Crunch line-up ahead of him among players with penalty minutes: Derek Dorsett, who was suspended for a widely reported instigator incident in a game earlier this week, and Tom Sestito.

AJC: still stirring the pot

The Atlanta Journal Constitution continues to stir the pot, saying the Atlanta Thrashers/ Chicago Wolves alliance was fatally flawed in a Craig Custance article, and now in a blog entry by Jeff Shultz, who follows the Atlanta Hawks. Both the Hawks and the Thrashers are owned by the Atlanta Spirit.

“It's difficult to make a convincing argument after you introduce yourself to the public as "an all-star team of owners, but then you can't stop suing each other,” Schultz says in Hawksquawk here.

“Waddell's latest bit of amusing scrambling came in Craig Custance's examination of the dysfunctional relationship between the Thrashers and their affiliate, the AHL's Chicago Wolves. At one point, Waddell suggested the Thrashers were in an advantageous position over the Detroit Red Wings because Atlanta's prospects were in the AHL playoffs and the Wings' prospects weren't. The problem: The Thrashers' prospects are in the playoffs every year and it doesn't seem to make a difference in the Thrashers' season. The Red Wings? They win Stanley Cups,” the blog says.

Hawks tix to be more of a bite.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Blackhawks are planning to raise prices significantly next season. According to the story, the average increase will be 16 percent, but some prices will increase 85 percent. The lowest priced tickets, $10 for a season ticket holder, will increase 50 percent, according to the story.

The highest priced ticket, a $275 day of game ticket, will increase to $285. Eric Rabbers, described as a season ticket holder in the 300 (nose bleed) level was quoted as empathizing with the move: “especially in my section, the prices we were paying were pretty cheap.”

Yeah, for that money, maybe they could actually put together a team that could make the playoffs. Duh!

Rockford, Chicago tied at two in series after 3-2 Hogs win

Rockford, IL—Behind by two goals, the Chicago Wolves were gaining momentum in the closing minutes of the second period when a turnover led to a goal with a minute on the clock, reversing their momentum. The goal by Troy Brouwer, his second of the game, allowed the Hogs to hang on to win, tying the Western Division finals of the AHL championship series at two each.

The series, which was marked by physical play throughout, got off immediately to a bang with powerful checks into the boards. The glass swaying to the impacts, a Rockford fan chortled, “we never finish our checks, what’s gotten into them?”

But it was also a disciplined game, marked by 13 power plays that may have led to the Rockford win. Taking away the opportunity for Chicago to put its powerful special teams unit on the ice was more of a factor than the side-to-side high side shots predicted in a Rockford Register Star article.

The series now moves to the Allstate Arena for a Friday game. The Hogs have never won a game at the Allstate, including in this playoff series. Two of the remaining games are played at the Allstate. So, for the Hogs to move on, they must win one in Rosemont.

Weaknesses in playoff goalies: topside

Look for more work on making Ondrej Pavelec going side-to-side in coming Rockford IceHogs games. In an interview in the Rockford Register Star Martin St. Pierre said the IceHogs had seen a weakness in Pavelec’s side-to-side movement. He also said Pavelec tends to do down quickly so that the Hogs will be shooting more upstairs in coming games.

A Wolves source said the Wolves had seen four of their goals in the first two games were topside and he predicted more shots by the team on Corey Crawford above the pads.

Dan Kelly shown exit by BHawks; Foley to return: Tribune

Chicago Blackhawks television play-by-play man Dan Kelly has been shown the door, according to reports in the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. The Sun-Times story quoted Chicago Wolves owner Don Levin as urging the Blackhawks to take Foley. The Tribune story said the deal was already done, according to sources it didn’t name.

Foley is currently the television announced for the Wolves. According to the Sun-Times, his contract expires at the end of the Wolves playoff run.

Kris Versteeg interviewed in McKeen's

McKeen’s Hockey Prospects interviewed the leading playoff scorer for the IceHogs, published here. Here’s a small sample of the great interview:

McKeen's: Down here in the AHL, are there any particular things that Chicago wants you to improve upon so that you can stick there full time?

Versteeg: When I'm down here, sometimes I try to do too much with the puck. I have "Havvy" (head coach Mike Haviland) and those guys on the bench, usually re-assuring me, but I do need to get better at moving the puck and probably using my line mates a bit more. I think it comes with trying to do too much and trying to help the team too much and do more than you actually can do.

Brouwer to appear in chat room

Chicago Blackhawks prospect Troy Brouwer, will be joining the AHL.com chat room on Thursday night for questions from fans. The former Moose Jaw Warrior is currently playing in the American Hockey League West Division finals against the Chicago Wolves.

The winger has a goal and four points in the playoffs, after eight games. In the past two seasons he’s played 12 games with the Blackhawks, gaining just a point. Brouwer was the leading scorer for the Hawks’ affiliates, scoring 35 goals this season, 25 of which were on the power play.

Questions are vetted. They can be e-mailed to info@theahl.com. For more information go to the IceHogs web site.

Hogs v Wolves

Geoffrey Clark, who says he is a Wolves fan, discusses the passion for the Chicago Wolves v. Rockford IceHogs match-up at the Bleacher Report: “It is a battle between a Chicago team and a Chicago affiliate. The IceHogs are affiliated with the Blackhawks, so an area- hockey fan that knows little to nothing about the Wolves might root for the team from Rockford. Of course, those who love to see winning hockey or those who have been long fed up with Bill Wirtz’s mismanagement of the Hawks when he was alive will most certainly root for the Wolves.”

Josh Unice update

JT, who follows the Montreal Canadiens, has been in a funk and decided to look at the up and coming prospects for the Habs in the Ontario Hockey League. He had the opportunity to watch Chicago Blackhawks goalie prospect Josh Unice. His comments on Carey Price and the development status of Unice are to the point: “Kitchener's Josh Unice was a third-round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks last year, but he still looks like it'd be a big jump for him to play AHL-calibre hockey next season.

“Carey Price was playing where these guys are playing last year. He has gone from the world of the Unices and Van Buskirks, past the world of the Pogges, Berniers and Rasks, to the realm of the Brodeurs and Luongos in one season. When you consider his stats in the NHL, behind a defence that ranged from brilliant to porous on any given night, and realize that his 2.56 GAA was nineteenth in the league, and his 0.920 SV% ranked him seventh, it starts to sink in. He's not only playing with the big boys, while his highly-touted contemporaries are still playing junior or American League Hockey, but he's competing with the big boys too."