Calder Cup Champions Chicago Wolves sign two veterans forwards

The Calder Cup champs add LaBate and Melnick from Central Division rivals

The Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves announced Monday they have signed forwards Joseph LaBate and Josh Melnick to Standard Player Contracts (SPC).

LaBate, 29, has produced 52 goals, 59 assists and 592 penalty minutes in eight AHL seasons with Utica, Belleville and Milwaukee. The Eagan, Minnesota, native also earned 13 NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks during the 2016-17 season.

Last year, the University of Wisconsin graduate contributed 5 goals, 7 assists and a team-high 121 penalty minutes in 56 games for the Admirals.

Melnick, 27, notched 10 goals and 12 assists in 56 appearances last year for the Texas Stars. The Annandale, New Jersey, native and Miami (Ohio) alum posted 24 goals and 29 assists in 160 games spread across four seasons for the Stars.

Chicago Wolves celebrate Calder Cup Championship 2022. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Wolves

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky’s Wolves are preparing to defend their American Hockey League championship and plan to announce their home opener and full schedule soon.

To find the latest information on Calder Cup championship merchandise, official home dates and the team’s roster, visit ChicagoWolves.com or contact a team representative at [email protected].

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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