Hockey News

The Chicago Wolves have named JASON SHAVER the team’s play-by-play announcer.

The 35-year-old announcer will join Color Analyst BILL GARDNER in the booth to broadcast every regular-season Wolves game - including all 40 home contests - as well as every playoff game, live on Comcast Digital Channel 100. This marks the sixth season of the club’s comprehensive television broadcasts.

SHAVER, who most recently served as the director of broadcasting for the American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros, will make his Wolves debut on Oct. 11, when Chicago opens its 15th season with a matchup against his former team at the Toyota Center in Houston.

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The Chicago Wolves have named JASON SHAVER the team’s play-by-play announcer.

The 35-year-old announcer will join Color Analyst BILL GARDNER in the booth to broadcast every regular-season Wolves game - including all 40 home contests - as well as every playoff game, live on Comcast Digital Channel 100. This marks the sixth season of the club’s comprehensive television broadcasts.

SHAVER, who most recently served as the director of broadcasting for the American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros, will make his Wolves debut on Oct. 11, when Chicago opens its 15th season with a matchup against his former team at the Toyota Center in Houston.

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Chicago Wolves Assistant Coach TODD NELSON has been hired as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Thrashers, the Wolves’ National Hockey League affiliate. This marks the first NHL coaching position for NELSON, who will join former Wolves Head Coach JOHN ANDERSON behind the Thrashers bench.

NELSON spent two seasons with the Wolves, which includes helping pilot the squad to the 2008 Calder Cup Championship this year. He was also a member of Chicago’s coaching staff during the team’s run to the 2007 Western Conference Final.

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The Chicago Wolves have re-signed defenseman BRIAN SIPOTZ (SIHP-ihts), a member of the 2008 Calder Cup Championship team, for a fifth season.

The 26-year-old blueliner appeared in 21 of 24 Calder Cup playoff games en route to last season’s title, posting four assists and 14 penalty minutes. He also skated in 54 regular season outings, notching a +10 plus/minus rating and five points (G, 4A).

Overall, the South Bend, Ind., native has notched 32 assists, 39 points and 130 penalty minutes in 259 career American Hockey League games with Chicago, spanning four seasons (2004-2008). The 6-foot-7-inch, 248-pound defenseman also racked up six assists and seven points in 47 career postseason matchups with the Wolves, which includes two trips to the Finals (2005,2008).

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MANCHESTER, NH - The Manchester Wolves broke a tie game by scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Albany Conquest 50-33 Friday night at Verizon Wireless Arena.

Albany won the coin toss and elected to kickoff first. Manchester made them pay as QB James Pinkney took the first offensive snap of the game and found WR Bradley Chavez wide open deep down the field for a 27-yard TD pass and a 7-0 lead. On Albany’s first possession, DE Larry McSwain sacked Albany QB Dan Cole, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Chavez and returned 20 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead. The Conquest then escaped a fourth down situation as Cole went deep to WR Antwun Williams for a 42-yard TD pass and a 13-6 game after the first quarter.

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The 2008 Calder Cup Champion Chicago Wolves have set five guaranteed home dates for the 2008-09 season.

The Wolves are scheduled to host the following five contests at the Allstate Arena highlighted by the franchise’s 15th home opener on Sat., Oct., 18, 2008:

Sat., Oct. 18

Sun., Oct. 26

Sat., Nov. 22

Sat., Dec. 6

Sun., Jan. 11

The entire 80-game schedule, along with opponents and times, will be released later this summer.

“We are excited to release these five dates so our fans can get an early chance to book their seats for these prime games,” said Executive Vice President of Business Operations Mike Berndt. “We would like to invite everyone to come out and help us celebrate the 2008 Calder Cup Championship at our home opener on Oct. 18.”

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IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

The Wolves lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 2-games-to-0, in the Calder Cup Finals, the third straight postseason series the squad has paced its opponent 2-0 heading into Game 3; Chicago has recorded a 13-0 all-time series mark when opening up a 2-0 lead, which includes the 2000 Turner Cup Finals, the only other time the club posted wins in the first two contests of a championship series.

WOLVES HEADLINERS
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WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Nathan Smith scored the game-winner in the third period as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins held off the Chicago Wolves to win Game 4 of the Calder Cup final 3-2 on Friday.

The Wolves lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, and remain on the brink of their second Calder Cup championship. At 2:21 of the third period, when a Wolves defenceman dove to block a shot by Smith, he unwittingly knocked it into the net.

Dave Gove and Chris Minard scored the other markers for the Penguins.

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Games 3, 4 and 5 of the Calder Cup Finals between the Chicago Wolves and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., will be held at 6:30 p.m., not at 6 p.m., as previously announced. The full schedule for the remainder of the Championship series is as follows:

Game 2 (Home M) Allstate Arena Sun., June 1 3 p.m. CST

Game 3 Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza Wed., June 4 6:30 p.m. CST

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THIS WEEK

CALDER CUP FINALS

Thu., May 29 (POL) vs. Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Allstate Arena 7:00 p.m.

Sun., June 1 (POM) vs. Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Allstate Arena 3:00 p.m.

Wed., June 4 at Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza 6:00 p.m.

Fri., June 6 at Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza 6:00 p.m.

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