AHL Chicago Wolves

Wolves Weekly

October 10, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release


WOLVES REWIND (1-0-0-0)

Fri., Oct. 7 Chicago 5, (at) Omaha 2
--- Chicago launched its 12th season by grabbing a 5-0 lead and holding on to defeat the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, 5-2, at the Omaha Civic Auditorium
--- Right wing SCOTT BARNEY collected a goal and two assists in his Wolves debut, while forwards DEREK MacKENZIE (2A), BRIAN MALONEY (G, A) and JIM SLATER (G, A) and defenseman MARK POPOVIC (G, A) tallied multiple points
--- Goaltender ADAM BERKHOEL turned aside 40 of 42 shots in his first career AHL win

WOLVES TO WATCH


--- SCOTT BARNEY: Registered a team-high three points (PPG, 2A) on Friday against Omaha, his first professional contest in more than a year ... Posted five goals, 11 points and four penalty minutes in 24 career National Hockey League games with the Los Angeles Kings (2002-2004)


--- ADAM BERKHOEL: Appeared in one game with Chicago last season, notching a 0-1-0 record with a 4.04 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage ... Accrued a 9-10-0-5 mark with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage with the ECHL's Gwinnett Gladiators last year


--- RAMZI ABID: Notched the game-winning goal and a team-high five shots on Friday against Omaha in his Chicago debut ... Ranked second on the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with a career-high 26 goals and shared third with a career-most 55 points in 78 games last season


--- DEREK MacKENZIE: Named the fourth captain in team history last Friday ... Tallied two assists in the opener against Omaha ... Ranks first among active Wolves in games played (289), goals (59), assists (66) and points (125) ... Registered a career-high 20 assists and 33 points in 78 games with Chicago last year


--- MARK POPOVIC: Notched a power-play goal on Friday in the opener to match his total from all of last season in 74 games with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks ... Tallied a postseason career-high two goals and three assists in 11 playoff contests with the Mighty Ducks last year ... Accrued 56 points (8G, 48A) in 221 career AHL games with Cincinnati (2002-2004)


--- JIM SLATER: Notched his first career professional goal and assist on Friday against Omaha after being assigned by Atlanta ... Led Michigan State University and ranked fifth in the CCHA with 48 points last year ... Ranks 23rd all-time in Michigan State history with 172 points (64G, 108A) in 157 games spanning four seasons (2001-2005)


--- BRIAN MALONEY: Notched two points (G, A) for the second time in his three-year professional career and racked up a team-high nine penalty minutes in the opener against Omaha ... Ranked fourth on the club last season with a career-high 164 penalty minutes ... Registered 240 penalty minutes and 40 points (17G, 23A) in 151 career games with Chicago (2002-2005)


--- TRAVIS ROCHE: Named to the AHL's First All-Star Team last year ... Ranked third among league defensemen during the regular season with a career-high 50 points in 73 games ... Represented the Wolves on the Canadian All-Star Team in the 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic

WOLF TRACKS


--- Chicago has posted a .625 winning percentage (6-3-0-3) in its 12 all-time regular-season openers, which includes earning its second-ever road opener victory on Friday


--- The Wolves held Omaha to two goals on Friday; last season, the team held its opponents to two or fewer goals in 45 games (41-2-1-1).


--- Chicago ranks second in the AHL on the power play on the road and fifth overall at 27.3 percent (three for 11); the Wolves recorded a team-high three man-advantage markers in a contest four times last year.


--- The Wolves have accrued a .682 winning percentage (7-3-0-1) in 11 all-time home openers.

GIVE ME FIVE

Chicago registered five goals in its regular-season opener on Friday. Last year, the Wolves registered five or more goals 15 times, earning wins in each of those contests.

NOTABLE

The Wolves will host a tailgate party before the puck drops on their 12th home opener at the Allstate Arena this Saturday at 7 p.m. The tailgate party -- which runs from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Southwest Parking Lot -- will feature free food and live music. Fans also have the opportunity to adopt a dog through Chicago's Department of Animal Care and Control's (ACC) Adopt-a-Dog program both at the party and during the game. Free parking is available from 2 to 4 p.m.




American Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2005


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