Merchandise Orders

Our online merchandise ordering system is currently down. Please call the office and we will gladly place the order for you!

Thanks!

 

603-627-9653

 

Don't forget that our footballs are only on sale until November 28th!

 

Wolves 2009 Player Tryouts

Think you have what it takes to become a professional football player? Then we are looking for you! The Manchester Wolves will hold open tryouts in our search to find players to take us to the ArenaCup championship in 2009!

January 31st, 2009

8:00 AM-Player Registration

9:00 AM- Tryouts Begin

·        40 Yard Dash

·        Short-Shuttle

·        Broad Jump

·        Position Specific Drills

11:00 AM- Kickers Only

February 21st, 2009 

8:00 AM-Player Registration

9:00 AM- Tryouts Begin

·        40 Yard Dash

·        Short-Shuttle

·        Broad Jump

·        Position Specific Drills

11:00 AM- Kickers Only

  

Pre-Registration $50                   Day of Tryout $60

To pre-register please call the Wolves main office at (603)627-9653 or e-mail BJosselyn@Manchesterwolves.com to receive a pre-registration form 

ALL players will need to bring a t-shirt, shorts and shoes (cleats are suggested), along with identification (must be at least 18 years of age by time of tryout). Both tryouts are held at the The Hampshire Dome in Milford, NH. Player training camp will begin on March 7th, 2009.

 

Holiday Football Special!

We have discounted our af2 game footballs for a limited time only!

Call now to get your game football at this great price...but hurry!

This sale will only last until November 28th!

Regular Price: $75.00

Holiday Sale: $60.00

Don't forget to check out our merchandise blowout too!

 

2009 Schedule Announced

The Manchester Wolves have finalized their schedule for the upcoming 2009 season!

 

Our season will start away on March 27th against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers at 7:30 p.m. The first home game is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 7:30 against the Albany Firebirds on the Acting Loft Field of Verizon Wireless Arena.

 

For the complete details of our upcoming season, please visit the schedule section of our website. Call our office today to find out about all the ticket options we are offering this year!

 

Go Wolves!

 

We Thank Our Veterans!

The Manchester Wolves would like to salute our veterans and also thank those still serving today.

 

Join us for Protect and Serve night this coming 2009 season, where military, police and fire will all be honored for their contributions to our community.

 

 

Did you know...?

-Armistice Day (after the signing of the Armistice that ended WWI) was first proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson for November 12th in 1919

-On May 13th, 1938, an Act made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday..."a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day"."

-In 1953 a Kansas shoe store owner named Al King had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those in World War I. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954

-Congress amended this act replacing "Armistice" with Veterans on November 8th, 1954...and it has been known as Veterans Day ever since.

 

 

Expand Your Fun!

The Manchester Wolves have joined forces with New Hampshire’s professional basketball team, the Manchester Millrats, so that you can be a sports fan all year long!

 Every season ticket account held with the Manchester Wolves will automatically receive one (1) free youth season ticket (value: $40) to the Millrats for this coming season! 

Fans who already hold a 2009 season ticket account with the Wolves will still receive their free youth season ticket to the Millrats…Call the office for more information.

 Don’t miss out on this chance to support your Manchester sports teams! Great entertainment at an incredible value! www.manchestermillrats.com

 

SPONSOR OF THE MONTH!

VITAZEST® Water is a premium vitamin enriched water that contains  no carbs, no sugar, no calories, and no sodium. This refreshing drink is perfect for the health conscious consumer and exceeds expectation in both nutritional value and great taste, providing 10 vitamins and minerals in every bottle. VITAZEST® Water is available in 6 delicious natural flavors: Pomegranate, Blueberry, Kiwi Strawberry, Passion Fruit, Pineapple Mango and Green Tea and comes in a 20 oz size. The flavors are derived from natural fruit and green tea essences. VITAZEST® Water is compatible with most diets and has been deemed diabetes friendly by medical experts. VITAZEST® Water is available locally at Shaws Supermarkets. The VITAZEST® Water label displays the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation logo alerting consumers that VITAZEST® Water is a healthy option for people with diabetes. A percentage of all  sales gets donated to The Diabetes Research Institute.  For more information, please visit www.drinkvitazest.com

 

Wolves Support the SNH Beavers

The Southern New Hampshire Beavers are hosting a Beaver Bash on Satuday November 22nd! There will be comedians, appearances by the Lady Wolf Pack and Blitz, along with the Beavers Ladies and Billy the Beaver! There will be a Silent Auction that will include the chance to win a limo ride from Racing Limos!

The Beaver Bash starts at 8:00p.m. at 55 Northeastern Blvd. in Nashua. Admission is $5.00 at the door.

 

Wolves at the Manchester Marathon!

Come support our own Stephanie Bike (General Manager) and Kimberly Laurendi (Account Executive) as they run the half marathon this coming Sunday, November 2nd starting at 8:45 a.m..  Wolves staff will be greeting runners and supporters all weekend at the Sports and Health Expo, sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Our booth will be inside the Manchester Radisson Hotel located on 700 Elm St., on Friday from 2-8 and Saturday from 10-6.  Stop by to learn more about tickets for this upcoming season, meet our staff, and try complimentary VitaZest…the official drink of the Lady Wolf Pack!  Hope to see you there!

 

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE WOLVES TEAM?

The Manchester Wolves front office is looking for additional members to join their team! Positions currently available include: Account Executive (full and part time) along wtih several internship opportunities. If you are interested in joining a great staff, getting experience in the sports world, and working towards the goal of producing a championship winning football team, contact us today!

Full posting information is available under Manchester Wolves on teamworkonline.com

or

Call the office today!

603.627.WOLF (9653)

 

WOLVES MERCHANDISE BLOWOUT SALE!

All your favorite Manchester Wolves merchandise is on sale! Sweatshirts, hats, t-shirts...Men's, women's, kid's and even baby...Prices are cut by 50% or more! Visit the merchandise site through the home page or call the office to pick out your gear today! Don't wait, because this blowout won't last long!

603.627.WOLF (9653)

 

Blitz's Manchester Wolves Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest

Attention Manchester Wolves fans and kids of all ages...

Carve your pumpkin with a Manchester Wolves theme and you could win four tickets to our 2009 home opener!! Send your photos to blitz@manchesterwolves.com by October 31st, 2008 to be entered. See if you can top the amazing pumpkin of Blitz carved by Blitz himself!!Please include your name and telephone number with all entries!

 

HEAD COACH DANTON BARTO TO RETURN TO THE MANCHESTER WOLVES FOR THE 2009 SEASON

Danton Barto, who led the Manchester Wolves all the way to the arenafootball2 league American Conference Championship game in 2008, will return as the team’s head coach for the 2009 season.

 

Terms of the contract extension were not released according to af2 policy.

 

“I am excited to be coming back to the Manchester Wolves organization,” said Barto (60-45 overall, 54-42 regular season, 6-3 playoffs). “I believe we have laid a great foundation going to the Conference Championship Game. In my opinion, Manchester is one of the premiere organizations to coach for in all af2.  I believe we have all of the components to have a chance to win an ArenaCup this coming season.”

 

Barto, who is legendary as both a coach and a player in arena football, guided the Wolves to an 11-8 season (9-7 regular, 2-1 playoffs) in 2008. The Wolves fell to the Tennessee Valley Vipers, who would advance to win the 2008 ArenaCup the following week, in Manchester’s first appearance in the American Conference championship.

 

After getting off to a rocky 1-6 start, under Barto’s strong leadership the Wolves won 10 of their next 12 games to make the deep run through the playoffs.

 

“Last year we hired Danton to bring the Manchester Wolves to another level. In his first year, after a tough start, he achieved that stepping stone,” said Stephanie Bike, the Wolves general manager. “We look forward to having Danton on board again this year to take that next step to the Arena Cup.”

 

Barto joined the Wolves for the 2008 season after serving as the head coach of the Arena Football League’s Las Vegas Gladiators in 2007. Over the previous five years, he was the head coach of the af2 Memphis Xplorers and capped his tenure there with honors as the af2 Coach of the Year and the ArenaCup Championship in 2005. 

 

In 2004-05, Barto had the highest winning percentage of any coach in the af2 and he currently ranks fourth overall in the number of victories among active af2 coaches. Going into 2009, his record is 54 wins and 42 losses in regular season games and six wins and three losses in playoff games for a combined overall record of 60 wins and 45 losses.

 

            In each of his first four years with the Xplorers, his teams improved their number of victories with each successive season. On the way to af2 Coach of the Year honors and the ArenaCup Championship in 2005, he led the team to its best season in franchise history with a 13-3 regular season mark and the Midwest division title.

 

            As a professional player, Barto enjoyed a five-year career in both the AFL and the Canadian Football Leagues. In the AFL, he played for the Connecticut Coyotes, Shreveport Pirates, and Memphis Mad Dogs and in the CFL he played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders.

 

            During a stand-out collegiate career from 1990 to 1993, he became a legend at the University of Memphis.

 

            Barto is the only player in Tigers history to be named to the All-America team in  three seasons, and he still holds the record for career tackles with 473 hits. Moreover, he was nominated twice for the prestigious Dick Butkus Award given annually to the nation’s most outstanding linebacker.

 

The Memphis Tigers recognized his accomplishments in 2008 by granting him the high honor of induction into the university’s Hall of Fame.

 

Barto, who is a native of Niceville, Florida, maintains a permanent residence in Tennessee with his wife, Rachel, and their nine-year-old son, Will.

 

STEPHANIE BIKE NAMED MANCHESTER WOLVES GENERAL MANAGER

Stephanie Bike, formerly the director of corporate operations for the Manchester Wolves and the team’s acting general manager, has been named general manager, the team announced today.

 

Peter Morris, the general manager last season, will remain as one of the seven partners in the franchise’s ownership group.

 

Bike, who enters her fourth season with the Wolves, has a clear vision for the future of the franchise.

 

“With the support we received from Manchester and the surrounding communities this past season, and with Danton (Barto) coming back as our head coach, I envision the 2009 season as another huge success,” she said. “The team’s ability to make it all the way to the American Conference championship this past season leads me to believe that the coming season will bring another year of exciting football for our team and our fans.”

 

Bike a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and Manchester Central High School, oversaw the advertising, marketing, sales, and sponsorship assignments for the Wolves in her role as the corporate operations director over the past four seasons. As acting general manager, she was responsible for all aspects of team management through the Wolves thrilling playoff run to the American Conference title game in 2008.

 

Bike started and operated a personal assistant business, “Those Girls” in 2002 in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Before that, she worked for Maxim and Stuff magazines in New York City in the editorial, advertising, and marketing departments.

 

Bike lives in Merrimack, NH with her husband, Keith and their son and daughter.

 

 

LADY WOLF PACK DANCE TEAM TO ENTERTAIN AT MANCHESTER WOLVES HOME GAMES AGAIN; THE WORKOUT CLUB NAMED OFFICIAL GYM OF THE LADY WOLF PACK

There will be sparkle and sizzle back on the sidelines at all Manchester Wolves home games in 2009 when the Lady Wolf Pack professional dance team returns to delight the fans. The 22-member Lady Wolf Pack dance team, which was on hiatus for the 2008 season while the team fielded a 12-person promotional squad instead, returns under the new direction of Jessica Shea and Kim Connor.  In 2009, the Lady Wolf Pack will be comprised of 20 ladies on the dance team and another five members on the promo squad.  Shea and Connor have extensive experience as members of the Lady Wolf Pack and as performers.   Shea entertained the fans as a member of the dance team for four years before heading up the promo squad last year and she has been dancing for 18 years. Connor danced with the Lady Wolf Pack for three years and was on the sidelines with the promo squad last season. She has been a dancer for almost all of her life. The Lady Wolf Pack dance team is open to performers 18 or older and the Lady Wolf Pack promo squad is open to young ladies 18 and older who have winning personalities and a dedication to community service.  The try-outs will be held on January 10-11, 2009 at the Workout Club, newly designated as the official gym of the Lady Wolf Pack, locations in Manchester and Salem. For more information, please email: ladywolfpack@manchesterwolves.com

 

WOLVES WILL BE AT HOME ON THE ACTING LOFT FIELD AT THE VERIZON WIRELESS ARENA

The Manchester Wolves arenafootball2 league franchise and The Acting Loft, a non-profit educational theatre serving the Greater Manchester Area, have entered into an agreement for the naming rights of the Wolves home field at the Verizon Wireless Arena. “We’re symbiotic,” said Charles Basbas, a member of The Acting Loft’s board of trustees. “The Wolves and The Acting Loft are both relatively new organizations in the community, we’re both striving for excellence, we both improve our product every year, and we’re both family-oriented and keep our prices low as we provide an entertainment venue for the community of Manchester.” The three-year agreement will be funded by Bill Ritchie, a Washington, DC philanthropist who is the major benefactor of The Acting Loft.  The mission of The Acting Loft, which has been located in Manchester for 14 years and now makes its home in the former St, George’s Church, is to provide the community with quality classes, camps, and productions at affordable prices. Moreover, the company offers the free “Spotlight” program for at risk and inner city teens where they can learn self-confidence, self-esteem, teamwork, and responsibility through involvement in live theatre. The “Off the Streets and On to the Stage” program is a free after school program designed to help at risk kids which is funded by the City of Manchester through a grant written by Basbas. The Acting Loft, which became a promotional partner with the Wolves for the 2008 season, will feature the team prominently at its venue and in its advertising. While the Wolves will play all of their games on The Acting Loft Field at the Verizon Wireless Arena, they will continue to practice at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, which is the team’s official practice facility.

 

Press Conference Scheduled for Thursday, September 18th at 3pm

MANCHESTER WOLVES NEWS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

The Manchester Wolves arenafootball2 league franchise invites you to attend a news conference on Thursday, September 18th at 3 PM in Murphy's Tap Room located at 494 Elm Street in Manchester.

The Wolves have several exciting news items concerning the 2009 season to announce, and members of the staff and management and some of the players will be available for one-on-one interviews.
 
Please RSVP to the Wolves at 603-627-9653.

 

THANK YOU!!

The entire Wolves organization would like to thank all our season ticket holders, corporate partners and fans for coming out and supporting us in our fifth year in Manchester. Making the Conference Championship game was a huge accomplishment for our organization! We appreciate fans like you who supported us and cheered us on all season long!

We are looking forward to 2009! Keep checking our website for updates as we plan for another exciting year of arena football!

 

BRADLY CHAVEZ NAMED JLS IRONMAN OF THE YEAR

 

Manchester Wolves defeated by Tennessee Valley 45-35 in American Conference Championship

The Wolves dreams of an arenafootball2 league championship went down to defeat in the Tennessee Valley on Saturday night as the Vipers prevailed 45-35 in the American Conference title tilt and sent them home to Manchester instead of on to the ArenaCup next Monday night against the National Conference champion Spokane Shock.

 

MANCHESTER WOLVES TAKE ON TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS IN af2 AMERICAN CONFERENCE TITLE MATCH ON SATURDAY NIGHT

The Manchester Wolves, making a remarkable run through the arenafootball2 league playoffs, will take on the Tennessee Valley Vipers in the American Conference Finals on Saturday (8-16) and stand only one victory away from their first appearance in the ArenaCup.

The Wolves (11-7) entered the post season as the seventh seed in the field of eight conference playoff teams and advanced with dramatic, come-from-behind road victories in the final seconds to upset the second-seeded Wildcats in South Georgia and then the third-seeded Blizzard in Green Bay in the first two rounds. While it was the defense which came up with the heroics with under a minute to play against the Wildcats and then it was the offense which scored on a 2-pt. conversion against Green Bay with only a second on the clock, the Wolves have put together back-to-back total team efforts for the entire 60 minutes of play to get this far. 

They know that there can be no let down against the fourth-seeded Vipers (12-6), who return to the friendly confines of the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama after pulling off the shocker of upsetting the top-ranked and heavily favored Pioneers in Wilkes-Barre last week.

"This weekend is going to be a match-up between the two hottest teams in the American Conference," said Head Coach Danton Barto. "Both of us are coming off of big upsets on the road last weekend to be here in the conference finals, so we need to be prepared for the highest level of play. Both teams know what is at stake in this game and its looking like it will come down to the final play in the final minute so we need to be ready to play our absolute best football."

The American Conference Finals are slated to kick off at 8:30 PM (EDT) and can be heard on WFEA 1370 AM and seen via the internet on NIFTYtv.com.

Although the Wolves have been in the playoffs for four straight seasons, Saturday night's tilt marks the first time they have ever made it all the way to the Conference Finals. In the history of the franchise, which played its inaugural season in Connecticut as the Mohegan Wolves, there has been only one other game against the Vipers. Tennessee Valley knocked the Mohegan Wolves out of the playoffs with a 47-30 defeat in Conference Semifinals in 2003 and Manchester would love to return the favor this time around. 

The Vipers, who are 1-2 in Conference Finals and have never won the ArenaCup, have no intention of being accommodating or hospitable on their home turf.

"It's all on the players," said Vipers Head Coach Dean Cokinos. ""They all did a great job (in upsetting the Pioneers and earning the right to host the Finals) and we just have to keep it going."

The Wolves will ride the arm of quarterback Brian Jones, who is also a remarkable story himself. The former Arena Football League starter was brought in in Mid-April for immediate help during the dismal early season losing streak, but only played in two games before suffering an injury to the shoulder on his throwing arm that required surgery and sent him to the long term injured reserve list. Jones went home to Tennessee and was replaced by first-year man James Pinkney, who grew into the starter's role, became an impact player, and was a major reason why the Wolves turned around their season. But then Pinkney broke his leg in the playoff win against the Wildcats and was forced to long term injured reserve, so in a strange twist of irony, Jones answered the call and replaced the man who had replaced him for the Green Bay playoff game.

Jones played brilliantly in his first game since April 26th, completing 24 of 36 passes for 194 yards and six touchdowns with one interception and two rushing scores. It was his clutch 17-yard scoring strike to Emery Sammons to pull the Wolves within one at 54-54, and then his game-winning two-point conversion on the quarterback sneak that earned him the af2 Schutt Offensive Player of the Week honors. Jones' throws to Sammons and fellow receivers Bradly Chavez, Keith Stokes and Davis Bailey had no rust on them.
 
Nonetheless, Vipers quarterback Kevin Eakin is hot as well. He stepped right into the quarterback role when the starter was benched during the game in week 6 and has rallied his team ever since. Eakin also has an outstanding corps of receivers, but the Vipers are banged up. Injuries may be a factor for leading receiver Maurice Johnson and Michael Johnson so expect Eakin to look for big playmaker Alonzo Nix and clutch performer Gary Elliott. 

Both the Vipers and the Wolves have excellent pass rushers along the defensive lines and both have offensive lines who have given their quarterbacks outstanding protection all through the playoffs, so there should be an all-out war fought in the trenches. Given time to get comfortable in the pocket and find open receivers, both Jones and Eakin can light up the scoreboard.

As Barto said, the Wolves fortunes in the American Conference Finals could well come down to the final play in the final minute. Given that's the way Manchester has pulled off playoff upsets on the road so far, the odds are with the Wolves. 

***Notes: If the Wolves prevail, they would advance to the ArenaCup against the Amarillo Dusters (#7 seed) or Spokane Shock (#1 seed ), who play for the National Conference title in Spokane, also on Saturday night in a game which starts at 10 PM. Spokane would host the ArenaCup on Monday, August 25th but if the Dusters win, the Wolves would be the host team for the ArenaCup on Saturday, August 23rd by virtue of a better won-loss record.....Starting defensive end Larry McSwain, who left the Wolves after the first playoff round to accept full time employment, returned to the team and should see action against the Vipers. He replaces defensive back Jacoby Shepherd, injured in the second playoff round, on the roster....Johnny Bad's Sports Bar on Elm Street in Downtown Manchester will show the Wolves-Vipers game on all TV screens and host a Wolves Playoffs Party. All Wolves fans are invited to cheer the team on to victory there.

 

BRIAN JONES NAMED af2 SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Manchester Wolves starting quarterback Brain Jones, who came off the Long Term Injured Reserve List to lead his team to an upset win on the road in the American Conference Semifinals last Saturday, has been named the Schutt Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced today.

 

FORMER MANCHESTER WOLVES STAR MAURICE FOUNTAIN SIGNS WITH MIAMI DOLPHINS

Maurice Fountain, who was a standout defensive player for the Manchester Wolves during the 2007 season, has signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins and is now in their training camp vying for one of the linebacker slots on the final roster.

While every player in the arenafootball2 league aspires to move up to the Arena Football League and ultimately make it all the way to the National football League, Fountain is in position to be one of the very few to live out the dream.

Fountain (6-4, 270), who set a Wolves franchise record for sacks with 13 during his rookie year with the af2 Wolves in 2007, started nine games and one playoff game for the AFL Utah Blaze as a defensive lineman in 2008 and made the AFL All-Rookie Team after recording 14.5 tackles, four sacks, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one recovered fumble.

In his one year with the Wolves, Fountain started in all 16  regular season games and on the defensive line and finished with 29.5 tackles, four pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

The Dolphins have been decimated by injuries in their linebacking corps so far in training camp and brought Fountain in for immediate help.

*** The Wolves, who take on the Tennessee Valley Vipers on the road on Saturday night in the af2 American Conference Championship for the right to advance to the 2008 ArenaCup, will be feted on Wednesday evening and the public is invited to the send-off party.

The event will be start at 6 PM at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, NH,  where the team has practiced all season. Hampshire Dome General Manager Rick Holder will have the Milford High School football team, the Milford Mustangs Pop Warner team, and local cheerleading squads on hand.

"It's our pleasure to host this send-off party," he said. "The guys have been great this year and we want to show our appreciation and do our part. All of the Manchester Wolves fans are welcome to come on out and support the team."

The Wolves will fly out of Manchester on Thursday morning and have their final practice session in Alabama.

 

ROAD TO 2008 ARENACUP CONTINUES… Conference Championship matchups set for Saturday, Aug. 16

CHICAGO – The Road to the 2008 ArenaCup continues next weekend with the American and National Conference Championships. Both games are set for Saturday, August 16 and can be seen on niftytv.com.

 The American Conference Championship will feature No. 4 Tennessee Valley (12-6) hosting No. 7 Manchester (11-7). The game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala.  The National Conference Championship will feature No. 1 Spokane (17-1) hosting No. 7 Amarillo (10-8) at 10:00 p.m. ET at Spokane Arena.    Below is the af2 conference championship schedule (subject to change). All times are Eastern.   American Conference CHAMPIONSHIPSaturday, August 16No. 7 Manchester (11-7) at No. 4 Tennessee Valley (12-6) 8:30 p.m.  NATIONAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, August 16No. 7 Amarillo (10-8) at No. 1 Spokane (17-1) 10:00 p.m. - A PROUD MEMBER OF THE ARENA FOOTBALL FAMILY -

 

Manchester Wolves Ice Green Bay Blizzard 55-54 to Advance to af2 American Conference Title Game

The Manchester Wolves engineered another dramatic late fourth quarter comeback in the arenafootball2 league playoffs to upset the Blizzard in Green Bay 55-54 in the second round and advance to the American Conference title game against the Tennessee Valley Vipers on Saturday, August 15th.

 

BRIAN JONES TO START AT QUARTERBACK FOR WOLVES IN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS SATURDAY NIGHT

Brian Jones, who started two games at quarterback for the Manchester Wolves earlier in the regular season before being placed on long term injured reserve, has been activated and will call the signals when the Wolves (10-7) take on the Blizzard  (12-5) in Green Bay in the arenafootball2 league American Conference semifinals on Saturday night. 

Jones (6-2, 212) replaces James Pinkney, who led the Wolves through their remarkable turnaround from 1-6  to the second round of the playoffs. Pinkney broke his leg during last week's upset win over the Wildcats in South Georgia.and has been moved from the roster to the IR list.

Jones, a starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League in 2007, was assigned to the team on April 16 and started the Wolves first home game of the season on April 18. He also started the following week against the Pioneers in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton but suffered a serious shoulder injury on his throwing arm that required surgery and was placed on long term IR.

 

MANCHESTER WOLVES BRADLY CHAVEZ AND DANIEL OLIPHANT NAMED TO ALL-AF2 TEAM

Two members of the Manchester Wolves have been recognized for their outstanding play this season in the arenafootball2 league, with linebacker Bradly Chavez named to the All-af2 American Conference First Team and offensive lineman Daniel Oliphant earning Second Team honors.

Both Chavez and Oliphant have been major impact players all season long for the Wolves (10-7), who have won eight of their last nine games and are headed to Green Bay on Saturday night to take on the Blizzard in the second round of the playoffs in the American Conference semi-finals. 

Chavez (6-2,205), a two-year af2 veteran who started every game this season on both sides of the ball at linebacker and at wide receiver, is a true throwback to the two-way player of old and is known as a big playmaker. He earned honors as the af2 JLS Ironman of the Week twice during the regular season, and was voted the JLS Ironman of the game six times, the Schutt Offensive Player twice, and had the Cutters Catch of the Game four times. In the first round playoff win over the South Georgia Wildcats, he was also voted the JLS Ironman of the Game.

On offense, Chavez finished the regular season with the team's most receiving TDs (28), the most passes caught (86), and the third most receiving yards (1,147) for an average of 13.3 per catch and 71.7 per game, and added another 14 rushing yards on seven carries. On defense, he was the second leading tackler with 34 solo hits and another eight assisted for a total of 38 and he picked off two passes and returned one for a touchdown. He also recovered two fumbles and returned one for a score.

In the playoff win, he contributed two tackles and scored two touchdowns after catching nine passes for 69 yards. 

Oliphant (6-6,330), a rookie out of Colby College in Maine, has been called "the undeniable presence on the offensive line" this season by Head Coach Danton Barto.

He is one of the few players on the team who also started all 16 games, even though he played two different positions on the line. Oliphant was the force in the middle playing center for the first 13 games, but then had to make the switch to guard for the last three regular season games and the playoffs after veteran Darnerius Watson returned to the team in mid-July.

The Wolves next playoff opponent, the Midwest Division Champion Green Bay Blizzard, have a league-best eight players on the All-af2 First and Second teams, and the Blizzard also led the league in most First-Team players with six.

When the Wolves take on the Blizzard on Saturday night (8:30 PM ET), they will be without starting defensive lineman Larry McSwain, who left the team this week to accept a full time job. He has been replaced on the roster by rookie Matt King (6-3,260) from the University of Maine.

 

Wolves head to Green Bay for 2nd round of playoffs

The Manchester Wolves will head to Green Bay this Saturday to face the Blizzard in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The game is at 8:30 and will be live on nifty-tv.com!

 

Manchester Wolves 46 South Georgia Wildcats 42

The seventh-seeded Manchester Wolves recovered a fumble near the goal line with under a minute to play and punched the ball in for a touchdown to come from behind and upset the second-seeded South Georgia Wildcats on the road in a thrilling arenafootball2 league first round playoff game on Saturday night.