Championship Memories: 2000 Turner Cup

Next in a series looking back at the Wolves’ five league championships.

By DANNY KARMIN and Chris Kuc

After the Wolves’ first league title in 1998, the franchise’s expectations were set: Cup run or bust.

Only nine players from the ’98 championship were a part of the roster for the 1999-00 season: Steve Maltais, Chris Marinucci, Steve Larouche, Tom Tilley, Scott Pearson, Bob Nardella, Kevin Dahl, Wendell Young and Jeremy Mylymok.

The turnover was evident, but the mindset and goal remained.

The season after ’98, the Wolves lost in crushing fashion in the conference finals, losing to the Houston Aeros in seven games. Their back-to-back title hopes were over.

Despite the loss, the Wolves had created a strong organizational culture and players around the league took notice. The team was in the market for some new blood and interest was mutual.

“I think the fact we had won (in ’98) had people wanting to come play for us and we created positions,” defenseman Tom Tilley said. “We upgraded some positions and some players and (management) did whatever it had to do to continue winning. It wasn’t, ‘hey, we won it, great, our fanbase is bigger than it’s ever been. We’ll keep the same guys for the next five years.’ ”

The Wolves acquired impact players such as forwards Brian Noonan, Chris Ferraro and Derek Plante, defensemen Chris Ferraro and Greg Andrusak as well as goaltender Andrei Trefilov.

“Going into that season, you look down the roster and see the number of NHL games on that roster and you’re going, ‘yeah, we’re going to be really good again,’ ” Tilley said.

The Wolves found strength within their elite scoring forwards. Maltais led the way offensively in the regular season (44 goals, 46 assists) as well as the playoffs (nine goals, four assists). Larouche followed with 31 goals and 57 assists and paced the Wolves in playoff scoring with 14 points (six goals, eight assists).

“It was a special group of guys,” Maltais said. “It was an older group. When you went on the road, it was fun and respectful.”

Maltais and the Wolves cruised through the first two playoff rounds, defeating Long Beach in four games and Houston in six.

The team that remained opposite to Chicago proved to be the ultimate gauntlet: Grand Rapids.

During the regular season, the Wolves were the highest-scoring team in the IHL, while the Griffins placed third. In goals-against, Grand Rapids ranked No. 2 and the Wolves…