Contributing Writer: Joshua Lindsey

Chicago native and Chicago Wolves’ defensemen Zach Miskovic propelled his team to victory against the Peoria Rivermen with a game-winning overtime goal  Oct. 17.

This 3-0 start marks the first time since the 07’-08’ season that the Wolves have started off the season winning three games in a row.

“I was excited,” Miskovic said. “Obviously it’s my home town and my parents and I had some friends in the stands I just want to make sure I play well every single night for them and that’s what’s important to me.”

Not only was this Miskovic’s first goal of the season, it was his first game of the season.

“He’s a hometown kid and it’s great to see,” said Head coach Scott Arniel. “He’s worked hard in practice, he went out there and did whatever he could in the game and it’s nice to see a guy get rewarded like that at the end.”

Goaltender Matt Climie, who started his first game of the year, was also a vital part to the team’s victory. He turned away thirty shots, helped kill four power play opportunities, and only allowed one regulation goal.

“I felt like a played a solid game,” Climie said. “I was prepared, I’ve been preparing all summer and just wanted to get off to a good start. As a team we came out of the gate with two wins early and we just want to keep that ball rolling.”

The Wolves played a solid game and did not allow the Rivermen to put the puck in the net until late in the third period. Head coach Scott Arniel believes this is widely due to the great play of the defensemen.

“The goaltenders have been rock solid,” Arniel said, “but we don’t give up a lot of quality chance. You can say that there are a lot of shots here and there but we’re not giving up too many grade A chances and when we do, those guys have been there to be big. I like what our defense has been doing, very physical, very aggressive.”

With only three games into the season, Arniel said he believes he will get a better feel for how certain players operate and the overall team play should improve moving forward.

All three victories have come at home for the Wolves. According to Arniel, it is a completely different atmosphere on the road, which is precisely what they will be doing when they head to British Columbia to take on the Heat this Friday.

“You have to take your same game on the road going into an atmosphere where [the Heat] won its first two [games],” Arniel said. “It will be a situation where when we simplify and we play a real good, smart game, the chances come and the opportunities happen”.