Memory Lane - Picture of the Day - May 4th

Last night I was talking hockey with a friend on twitter.  The conversation went to the Chicago Wolves and the old IHL.  It was so much fun to go down memory, I loved IHL hockey.  It wasn't so much a developmental league like the AHL is now but a place were NHL veterans and men who loved the sports but weren't quite good enough to make the NHL could play out their career.  The IHL was a lot more gritty than the AHL is now.  There were fierce rivalries and the fans and players really got into them.

The first team I remember hating, just hating, was the Detroit Vipers.  Other rivals were the Houston Aeros, Milwaukee Admiral and the Grand Rapids Griffins.  The only team I hated as much as Detroit was the Minnesota/Manitoba Moose.  There was so many epic battles between these teams which made sense because some years there was only 10 or 11 teams in the league.  They played each other a lot, the games were all hard fought battles and players didn't need long memories because it wasn't long before you played the other team again.  It made the league great from a fan perspective but not viable so the IHL folded in 2001.  The Chicago Wolves, Milwaukee Admirals, Manitoba Moose, Utah Grizzlies, Grand Rapids Griffins & Houston Aeros joined the AHL in 2001 and the IHL folded.

I remember not liking the thought of going over to the AHL.  An east coast developmental league which limited the number of veterans a team could keep on the roster. Oh no! They are taking our guys away.  The players we grew to love were gone to European leagues overnight. Players being called up in the middle of our playoff run, Egad! It was a difficult adjustment but winning the Calder Cup the first year in the AHL softened the blow.  I think I just got used to it but it never felt quite the same.  I really loved the old IHL. Ahhh, so many good memories.  So here is some of the hockey fun I collected over the years being a Chicago Wolves fan.

I love this Jersey

Bobby Nardella's game used stick.

Mike Weaver's stick. My wife loved Dream Weaver!

The third stick is Brad Larsens

Kevin Doell's helmet!

Bobble heads of course!