While the action in the NHL is fast and furious to begin the season, the Carolina Hurricanes aren't the only ones in the organization having fun. Down in the minor leagues, the Chicago Wolves and the Greensboro Gargoyles are getting their seasons underway, too.
While the Wolves are back as the Hurricanes' affiliate again this season, it marks the first season of their partnership with the Greensboro Gargoyles as they embark on the first campaign of their existence. Hockey in Greensboro, NC, isn't new, with the Greensboro Generals operating from 1999-2004, including a brief affiliation with the Canes.
Welcome to the ECHL, Greensboro Gargoyles
For the first time, the Gargoyles took the ice this weekend at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. The team is comprised mostly of players signed by the ECHL team, though there are a few players under contract with the Chicago Wolves, while goalie Ruslan Khazheyev is the lone player under contract with the Canes.
They opened their inaugural season against the Jacksonville Icemen, and while they lost both contests, they weren't completely shut out of the standings. Late in their season opener, with the goalie on the bench, David Gagnon buried the first goal in franchise history with 1:39 left, forcing overtime.
While the Gargoyles fell in overtime, they hoped it would be a good building block. Unfortunately, they laid an egg in their second game, losing 3-0 to the Icemen on Sunday. Khazheyev started both games, stopping 23 shots on Saturday and 19 more on Sunday. He figures to get a lot of playing time in Greensboro this season. The Gargoyles host the Reading Royals next Friday and Saturday.
The Chicago Wolves got results to open the home portion of their season
While this weekend didn't really mark the start of the Wolves' season, it was their first time on home ice for the 2025-26 campaign. The Wolves began with a quick trip to Iowa last weekend, beating the Wild, 4-1, to get their season off on the right foot. They returned to Chicago with two points in hand ahead of their home-opening back-to-back with the Rockford Ice Hogs.
The Wolves had to settle for just one point in the home opener, falling to Rockford, 3-2, in overtime. Gleb Trikozov opened the scoring, and Felix Unger Sorum added the tying goal on the power play in the third period before ultimately dropping the game in extra time.
Sunday's tilt was a barn burner. Combining for 11 goals, the Wolves emerged victorious, 6-5. Chicago jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, but Rockford scored four unanswered to take the lead. The Wolves responded by tying the game 4-4 and again at 5-5 before the end of the second. Ryan Suzuki played the hero, scoring the winner in the third to finish the weekend with three of four points.
Bradly Nadeau sets the internet on fire
The opening goal for Sunday's game in Chicago was an all-timer, courtesy of Carolina's top prospect, Bradly Nadeau. Skating around the net after retrieving a loose puck, Nadeau lifted it onto his stick and finished it lacrosse-style on Rockford's Drew Commesso to take an early 1-0 lead. Around these parts, we call it "The Svechnikov", though it is more commonly referred to as "The Michigan".
NADS MICHIGAN OH MY- pic.twitter.com/OXc2RUVZ0L
— Chicago Wolves (@Chicago_Wolves) October 19, 2025
Almost immediately, Nadeau's goal was everywhere. From the Hurricanes' official social media page, to the NHL's, to several other major hockey sites, all everyone was talking about was Bradly Nadeau. For good reason, too. He made it look so easy, giving the Rockford netminder and the defenders close to the net no chance to stop him.
Nadeau is off to another good start after hitting 30 goals in his first AHL campaign. His four points trail only Domenick Fensore and Ryan Suzuki (1 goal, 4 assists each), and his two goals are second only to Felix Unger Sorum's three. The Wolves don't play again until they host the Manitoba Moose at home on Saturday.