Chicago Wolves: Life Under The Pandemic

Like co-host Imran says, a pair of Davids is the best hand in Texas Hold 'em! We close out the 2021 season's episodes by sharing terrific interviews with Texas native David Cotton, our team's leading goal-scorer, and the pride of Orland Park, David Gust! Jason Shaver and Billy Gardner draw a lot of laughs and stories from the pair of Wolves forwards. Learn all about Cotton's journey from suburban Dallas to Boston to Chicago — and Gust's round-trip from Marist High School and Glacier Ice Arena to The Ohio State University and back. He also reveals how many toes he was born with…and how doctors dealt with the situation. Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]

This week's episode is devoted to two men who are devoted to keeping pucks out of the net. Goaltender Antoine Bibeau, whose next AHL win will be his 100th, once produced a 51-save shutout on one of hockey's biggest amateur stages: The Memorial Cup. And defenseman Brandon Hickey, while playing for Boston University, once blocked 17 SHOTS in one NCAA Tournament game. But this podcast isn't all about hockey. Bibeau, a Quebec native, tells us where to find the finest poutine while Hickey, who grew up just outside Edmonton, shares his grandpa's reaction when he was drafted by the Calgary Flames (the Edmonton Oilers' archrival). Take a minute to enjoy their stories! Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]

Co-hosts Imran and Jason welcome two entertaining young Wolves — defenseman Joey Keane and forward Dominik Bokk — to this can't-miss episode. Keane, who grew up in south suburban Homer Glen, fondly remembers going to Wolves games on school field trips. Another of his long-time Wolves connections? He used to play for Chicago Mission with Nick Nardella, the son of Wolves legend Bob Nardella (who coached the Mission's defensemen for several years). Keane shares tales of playing Irish sports such as Gaelic football and hurling, then we stay international with the German-born Bokk, who speaks four languages well (Russian, Swedish, German and English) thanks to his parents and all of his hockey adventures. Bokk also discusses the merits of German beer vs. American beer, which sends Imran on wild tales of his time at Oktoberfest in Munich. You'll enjoy every minute of this episode! Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]

NHL debuts don't get much more amazing than the one for Wolves defenseman Max Lajoie. When he was just 20 years old, he suited up for the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 4, 2018 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Barely 12 minutes into his career, Lajoie saw Patrick Kane turn his back to him, so he flashed into the slot, took a pass from Matt Duchene and flipped it top-shelf for a goal. Five minutes later, he set up a power-play goal for his first assist. Hear all about the bilingual Lajoie's terrific journey from Quebec City to Calgary to Ontario to the Wolves…and then stick around for co-host Jason Shaver's interview with veteran center Matt Boudens. When it took extra time for this season to get underway due to the pandemic, Boudens used his college degree and took a job teaching Grade 11 English at his former high school in Ontario. Recently, he joined the Wolves on a professional tryout contract and became the team's only player who had suited up in Chicago prior to this season. When Boudens was with the Wolves last year, he boasted a beautiful handlebar mustache…but he explains why he doesn't wear it any more. Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]

It's not uncommon for professional hockey players to have fathers and brothers who are professional athletes, but how many have mothers or sisters who've played professionally? Joakim Ryan's mother, Catalina Lindqvist, won five pro tennis titles and reached the semifinals of Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Josh Healey's younger sister, Jess, won a World Junior Championship gold medal for Team Canada and has spent the last three years playing professionally in Sweden. Not only do Ryan and Healey share stories about their fabled family members in this week's podcast, they share a ton more great stories about hockey, tennis, fishing, education…it's a jam-packed episode you don't want to miss! Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]

Nineteen-year-old Luke Evangelista, the Nashville Predators' second-round pick in the NHL draft last October, owns an engaging personality that matches his creative streak on the ice. Shortly after making his professional debut and making a beautiful pass to earn his first pro point, the Ontario native joins Jason Shaver and Billy Gardner for a fun interview that includes a shoutout to his Nona for her special tomato sauce — so you know he's a respectful young man as well. You'll have to listen to find out how many meals he ate per day in order to move from 159 to 175 pounds. Speaking of food, the Wolves are hosting an important Food Drive this month to provide some help for Chicago's Common Pantry. Co-hosts Imran and the Shaves give you the scoop on how you can help! Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]

As the Wolves have rocketed out to the best record in the AHL, third-year pro Sheldon Rempal hasn't worried that he hasn't gotten as much shine as several of his teammates. "Everybody looks good when the team is winning," Rempal said. And while Rempal has nothing but great things to say about the Wolves' gang of terrific teenagers — "They're all really good kids. They've got really good heads on their shoulders and I think they're going to have long careers for sure" — they'll be lucky to have a first NHL game experience as wild as Rempal's. We won't give it away, but it involves Ilya Kovalchuk (443 career NHL goals) and Jeff Carter (388 goals)= To learn more about Rempal's intriguing career path — and to enjoy some trademark repartee between podcast co-hosts Imran Javed and Jason Shaver — tune in to the latest Life Under the Pandemic podcast! Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]

We have two fantastic stories for you this week! First, Wolves forward Tanner Jeannot grew up in Oxbow, a Saskatchewan town of 1,300 "where the air hurts our face." Not drafted by the Western Hockey League. Not drafted by the National Hockey League. Yet he's ripping up the AHL in Chicago and recently made his NHL debut with Nashville. Next, what could possibly make Wolves general manager Wendell Young state these words? "I never thought I would say this: I owe a lot of gratitude to the Rockford IceHogs organization." Wendell feels this way in the wake of Monday night's game between Rockford and Iowa, which marked the professional debut of his 20-year-old son, Jack, as a referee! Learn all about that night and how Jack has worked hard to develop into an officiating prodigy. Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]

Chicago Wolves goaltender Beck Warm and center Ryan Suzuki entered the professional hockey ranks in opposite fashions — Warm as an undrafted free agent and Suzuki as the Carolina Hurricanes' 2019 first-round pick — but you'll discover during this podcast episode they're more similar than you might think. Both have brothers who play hockey at a high level (Ryan's brother, Nick, made his pro debut with the Wolves and now centers a line for the Montreal Canadiens), both have upbeat personalities and both have great stories to share with Jason Shaver and Bill Gardner. Enjoy getting to know Beck and Ryan in this episode! Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]  

We celebrated International Women's Day on Monday — featuring videos on our Twitter account (@chicago_wolves) — but the women who work for the Wolves deserve way more than a day to have their stories shared and their success celebrated! Jason Shaver interviews senior director of program development Stefanie Evans, client services coordinator Hailey Kaufman, senior vice president of operations Courtney Mahoney and senior director of ticket retention and services Jackie Schroeder during this week's podcast — and senior vice president of partnerships and business development Jon Sata adds his thoughts on the women who make our organization so much better. As a bonus, the Shaves lauds his mother for her groundbreaking role with Minneapolis' Met Center — and reveals the all-time great athlete he got to meet as a result of her hard work. Shop for Wolves gear! SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Android | TuneIn | RSS | Archives Email the show: [email protected]