The Chicago Wolves announced today that longtime general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has been named Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Chicago Blackhawks. This marks Cheveldayoff’s first NHL position.
Cheveldayoff’s 12-year tenure with the Wolves saw the club net four league titles – the 1998 and 2000 Turner Cup championships and 2002 and 2008 Calder Cup championships – and compile a .616 regular-season winning percentage (544-320-24-31-49).
He guided the Wolves to back-to-back International Hockey League Midwest Division championships in 1997-98 and 1998-99; the American Hockey League West Division titles in 2004-05 and 2007-08; the club’s first IHL Regular-Season championship in 1999-2000 and five Western Conference championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2008.
“I am very proud of Chevy and everything that he has accomplished with the Wolves in these last 12 years,” said Wolves Chairman of the Board Don Levin. “This is akin to me having a son going off to college. He has been a fantastic asset and a great general manager for our organization. I am very proud of him and he certainly deserves this opportunity. I know this is the next step towards his goal of becoming an NHL general manager.”
In the last 14 years, the 39-year-old Cheveldayoff has earned two AHL and four IHL championships as a coach and an executive. Eight of the 14 teams he has helped build have cracked the 100-point mark in the regular season, which includes six Chicago squads.
“I will always be grateful for my time working with the Chicago Wolves, and would especially like to thank Don Levin and Buddy Meyers,” Cheveldayoff said. “The memories and friendships that I have gained over the last 12 years will stay near to my heart always. The Wolves have been more than just a hockey team that I have worked for, they have been like my family. I know that the tradition and the commitment to excellence that begins at the top will continue to guide this organization as it moves forward. I am excited about the opportunity to move from one successful organization to another.”
The Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan, native joined the Wolves before the start of the 1997-98 season after serving as the assistant vice president of hockey operations and assistant coach for the 1995 Denver Grizzlies and 1996 Utah Grizzlies – both Turner Cup champions.
