An All-Star performance By Sal J. Barry Webmaster Jim Norman /Chronicle Wendell Young was sharp in Monday's IHL All Star Game, turning away nine shots in 10 minutes.      The Chicago Wolves defeated the IHL All-Star Team Monday evening at the AllState Arena, shutting them out 4-0. Chicago, who stood at a 15-21-3 prior to the All-Star break, were not expected to win this matchup, which pits the previous season's Turner Cup Champion-the Wolves-against a team of the league's best and brightest players. Lately, the Wolves are hardly playing like the championship team that they were last year, so how could they possibly beat a team of All-Stars?      With slick playmaking, standout goaltending, and overall great teamwork, that's how. The Wolves proved to be more than a match for the IHL All-Stars.      A big reason for that was their goaltending. Wolves goalies Wendell Young, Richard Shulmistra, and 19-year-old Rick DiPietro stopped a combined 34 shots for the shutout.      Fan favorite Wendell Young started the game for the Wolves playing the first 10:55 of the game. During that stretch the All-Stars outplayed the Wolves, but Young was sharp, turning away all nine shots he faced. The remainder of the game was split between Shulmistra, who stopped 24 shots, and DiPietro, who stopped ten shots. DiPietro-the NHL's first overall draft pick in the 2000 draft-also earned the Rising Star award for being the first-time All-Star who made the most valuable contribution to his team. After his performance Monday, you can see why the New York Islanders (the Wolves NHL affiliate) chose him first overall; DiPietro, 19, showed great poise against players older and much more experienced than him. Jim Norman /Chronicle Wolves center Guy Larose lines up for a faceoff against IHL All-Star Todd White.      Meanwhile, opposing goaltenders Mike Fountain (Grand Rapids Griffins), Frederick Chabot (Houston Aeros), and Johan Hedberg (Manitoba Moose) did a decent job for the IHL All-Star Team, turning away 35 of the 39 shots. Fountain, who leads the IHL with a 2.03 goals-against average, stopped 17 of 18 shots. Chabot turned away eight of the nine shots he faced, while Hedberg was 10 for 12.      While decent goaltending may prevent goals, you still need to score goals to win. Luckily, the Wolves big guns-Steve Maltais, Steve Larouche, and Rob Brown-stepped up to the challenge. Wolves captain and perennial All-Star Steve Maltais scored a goal and an assist. Alternate Captain Steve Larouche tallied a goal and two assists, and earned the game's Most Valuable Player award. Rob Brown-the IHL's leading scorer in 1994, 1996, and 1997-tallied a goal and an assist. Also scoring a goal for the Wolves was center Guy Larose. All goals scored were even strength, as no penalties were called on either team the entire game.      Monday's game set two IHL All-Star Game records. Maltais two point performance made him the all time leading scorer in IHL All-Star contests. Maltais now has a total of 12 points in 8 All-Star appearances. Monday's game was also the first ever shutout in an IHL All-Star Game.      And what better a team to shut out than a team made up of the league's All-Stars? This may be the turning point in the Wolves' season. Currently, the Wolves are last in the Western Conference, and second to last in the "I" with 33 points. Only the Detroit Vipers, with a pathetic 28 points, are worse.      Although this game didn't count in the standings, perhaps the victory can turn things around for the Wolves mentally. Man for man, the Wolves have an excellent squad. Monday evening, they gelled as a team, playing a great defensive game, taking no chances in their own zone, and waiting for opportunities to arise. And if the Wolves can score four times against three of the league's best goalies, then they are a better team than their current record indicates.      Now, if the Wolves can realize their potential like they did in Monday's All-Star game, then they should have little problems in winning their third Turner Cup Championship come June. Back to top   |   Home Webmaster: Sal J. Barry   Copyright © 2001, Columbia Chronicle Columbia Chronicle articles, photos, and graphics are the property of the Columbia Chronicle and may not be reproduced or published without written permission from the staff, editors, or faculty advisor. The Columbia Chronicle is a student produced publication of Columbia College Chicago and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of Columbia College administrators, faculty or students.

January 16, 2001 This week in Sports: An All-Star Performance Julian's blue collar phenom I hate that 'thing' The building of a program ...and the man behind it The Sports Guys Takes Local college hoops: UIC wins in four OT's Oklahoma football is back Quick hits Search our archive: The Columbia Chronicle is an award-winning college newspaper written and distributed weekly by the students at Views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Journalism Department or the college. Visit the Columbia College Chicago Web Site