2025 Hartford Wolf Pack Team Awards

The Hartford Wolf Pack's 2024-25 season didn't meet expectations. However, there were still plenty of players, games, and moments that deserve significant recognition. Today, we're going to do that by handing out some awards.

Before we get started, let's go over the awards to be handed out:

• Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Goaltender of the Year: These are self explanatory. We'll highlight the best forward, defenseman, and goaltender of the season. One of these players will also earn the Team MVP Award as the best overall Wolf Pack player.
• Rookie of the Year: Again, self explanatory. We'll highlight the best Wolf Pack rookie this season.
• Most Improved Player: We'll highlight the player that had the biggest jump in overall performance and perception this season.
• Best AHL-Contracted Player: You can't build an AHL roster without them. We'll shout out the best Wolf Pack player on an AHL contract.
• Best Single-Game Offensive Performance: The best single-game offensive performance by a Wolf Pack player will get a shoutout.
• Best Single-Game Goaltending Performance: Similarly, the best single-game goaltending performance by a Wolf Pack player will get a shoutout.
• Game of the Year: We'll relive the best Wolf Pack game of the season.
• Moment of the Year: Lastly, we'll relive the single best moment from the Wolf Pack's season.

Onto the awards!

Offensive Player of the Year: Alex Belzile

Alex Belzile was everything the Wolf Pack wanted and more this season. The veteran forward paced the attack, leading the team in assists, points, and points per game while placing second in goals and plus-minus.

Belzile represented the Wolf Pack at the 2025 AHL All-Star Game in Coachella Valley. The Quebec native also became the first Wolf Pack player to score multiple hat tricks in a single season since P.A. Parenteau back in 2009-10.

Belzile played with various linemates throughout the course of the year, but one thing remained true - he was a consistent threat to score every time he stepped onto the ice. Belzile was far and away the Wolf Pack's best overall offensive player, and he officially earns Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Defensive Player of the Year: Chad Ruhwedel

Steady, calm, and consistent, Chad Ruhwedel was the anchor of the Wolf Pack's blueline this year. Ruhwedel played big minutes for a relatively young Hartford defensive group and excelled, posting a team best +12 plus/minus. The veteran added in 18 points across a 50-game stint.

I wrote about this in my grade of Ruhwedel, but longtime NHL vets who are waived and sent to the AHL can have their tenure go one of two ways. They can mail it in and play out the season, or they can play good hockey in the hopes of earning another NHL stint. Ruhwedel did the latter, playing great hockey and earning Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Goaltender of the Year and Team MVP: Dylan Garand

It's extremely difficult to overstate how good Dylan Garand was for the Wolf Pack this year. The third-year pro led Hartford to 20 wins while posting career-best numbers in GAA (2.73) and SV% (.913). Garand also recorded back-to-back shutouts this season - the last Wolf Pack goalie to do that was David LeNeveu in 2013-14.

The performance earned Garand plenty of honors. Garand represented the Wolf Pack at the 2025 AHL All-Star Game in Coachella Valley. He was also named AHL Goaltender of the Month for December, becoming the first Wolf Pack netminder to earn the honor since Igor Shesterkin in October 2019.

Again, I'll steal a line from my grade of Garand, but he was the Wolf Pack's best player every time he stepped onto the ice. There's no better choice for these two awards.

Rookie of the Year: Dylan Roobroeck

The Wolf Pack entered the season with a roster mostly consisting of second- and third-year players, plus a share of veterans. Naturally, rookie Dylan Roobroeck ended up leading the team in goals with 20 on the campaign.

Roobroeck, a sixth-round pick (#178) in 2023, really grew as a player this season. He started the year on the fourth line, but by year's end, was playing top six and special teams minutes. Roobroeck will project to be a big part of the Wolf Pack next season, and if he continues the strong play, could find himself getting an NHL look sooner rather than later. He's an easy choice this year's Rookie of the Year.

Most Improved Player: Matthew Robertson

Fourth year pro Matthew Robertson entered the season with a lot to prove. The 2019 second rounder (#49) had his early career marred with ineffectiveness and injuries.

However, things started to come together for Robertson in year four. He recorded career-best marks in assists and points while playing top-pair minutes for the Wolf Pack. As a result of his efforts, Robertson made his long-awaited NHL debut on April 14th.

After a really disappointing 2023-24 season, Robertson made big improvements in his game and may be in line for an extended look at the NHL level next season. He's our winner of the Most Improved Player award.

Best AHL-Contracted Player: Blake Hillman

AHL-contracted players are the backbone of AHL teams. They provide steady play, quality leadership, and a great locker room presence. The Wolf Pack had a few this season, but none were more important than Blake Hillman.

Hillman, in his third season with the Wolf Pack, lined up at both defense and winger this season, providing head coach Grant Potulny with versatility. Hillman's most notable moment of the season came on February 28th when he scored the game-winner in the seventh round of a shootout against Springfield.

Hillman is highly valued by the Wolf Pack organization, and he's already signed an extension for a fourth season in the Connecticut capital next year. He's a shoo-in for Best AHL-Contracted Player this year.

Best Single-Game Offensive Performance: Alex Belzile, November 19th, 2024 vs. Charlotte

It's only fitting that Belzile, Hartford's Offensive Player of the Year, wins this award as well. Belzile had plenty of great games this season, but his game on November 19th against Charlotte stands out among them.

In the contest, Belzile notched his first hat trick of the season, scoring an even-strength goal, a shorthanded goal, and a power-play goal. To top it off, Belzile scored the game-winner in the shootout to seal a 5-4 win for the Wolf Pack.

“It was a good day. We found a way to get the dub at the end,” Belzile told me after the contest. “It feels good to contribute, a good day in general.”

I'd say it's more than a good day - it's a performance worthy of being the Best Single-Game Offensive Performance this year.

Best Single-Game Goaltending Performance: Talyn Boyko, December 31st, 2024 at Springfield

After a Garand suffered a lower body injury and Louis Domingue was recalled to New York, Talyn Boyko was forced into his first AHL start on New Year's Eve. The result? A 32-save shutout and an assist in a 7-0 rout of Springfield.

"It was super exciting. Been waiting to get an opportunity here for a while," Boyko told me after the contest. "The guys played awesome, can’t say enough good things about them."

It wasn't just the offense who played well in this contest - Boyko excelled in his own right, pitching a shutout after suddenly being thrown into the starter's net. It's a performance worthy of the honor of Best Single-Game Goaltending Performance of the season.

Game of the Year: March 22nd, 2025 - Wolf Pack 2, Milwaukee 1 (OT)

There were plenty of games I considered for this spot - two honorable mentions include a wild 6-5 win over Providence from February 22nd and a 4-3 comeback victory against Hershey on March 21st - but ultimately, I have to give the nod to this fantastic game between the Wolf Pack and Milwaukee Admirals.

The game was a goaltending showcase as Garand and Magnus Chrona put on clinics for the 6,000+ in attendance. Brandon Scanlin finally broke the ice 19 seconds into the third period, but Grigori Denisenko found the equalizer with under a minute and a half to play to force overtime.

In the extra frame, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, playing in just his third game with the Wolf Pack, danced through traffic and fired a shot by Chrona to cement the win and send the Hartford faithful into a frenzy.

This game had all the makings of a playoff contest - a close game, a hot crowd, and a thrilling finish. It earns the nod as my Game of the Year this season.

Moment of the Year: Wolf Pack, Americans Line Brawl, January 25th, 2025

Over the past three seasons, I've gotten the chance to see some extremely memorable moments in downtown Hartford. I've seen a playoff-clinching goalie goal, Hartford's first playoff game since 2015, and countless comeback and overtime wins.

The line brawl between the Wolf Pack and Rochester Americans was equally memorable to those moments.

The sides engaged in an all-out brawl that electrified the XL Center. Belzile, Brett Berard, Casey Fitzgerald, and Matthew Robertson engaged in the brawls for Hartford, while officials ridiculously prevented Garand from fighting fellow netminder Felix Sandström.

The Wolf Pack ultimately lost this game, but the result didn't matter. This moment is one I'll always remember, and I think I can say the same for many of the fans in attendance. It's an easy selection for Moment of the Year.

With that, I'm officially wrapping up coverage for the 2024-25 Wolf Pack season. It was a season with ups and downs, hope and heartbreak, and I loved every single minute of it.

Now, we turn our attention to the offseason. I'll have plenty to tide you over until the fall and the return of Wolf Pack hockey!