New Chicago Wolves Head Coach Spiros Anasatas: ‘Hockey Was Always My First Love’

By Ross Forman

The trek home from Toronto was a sad one as, on June 19, the Chicago Wolves’ 2025-26 American Hockey League season ended when they fell to the host Marlies 4-3 in Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals.

The motivation is set for the 2026-27 Wolves season: repeat and complete the mission.

Spiros Anastas guides the Wolves as two months earlier, almost to the day, the Carolina Hurricanes named Anastas as the 15th head coach in Chicago Wolves history.

Anastas had been serving as interim head coach of the Wolves since Dec. 12, 2025, when the Hurricanes, the NHL affiliate of the Wolves, relieved Cam Abbott of his duties. After Anastas took over the head coaching duties, the Wolves compiled a record of 25-14-5-6 and secured second place in the Central Division and a second consecutive postseason berth.

“I’m really excited to join such a historic organization, one I competed against when I was an assistant in Grand Rapids,” Anastas said during the Wolves’ playoff run. “(Chicago) was always the standard, the bar you tried to reach in terms of competitiveness, style of play, atmosphere. So, to be part of (this team is) super exciting for me and my family.

“Taking over as head coach was a big moment. Being with one of the best organizations in the league makes it even better. I love the people here, the family environment. There’s an expectation of greatness, and that drives me. It was a perfect fit when I took over.”

Prior to the Wolves, Anastas worked as a head coach in international competitions for Greece and China, as well as a scout for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. He also has head coaching experience with the ECHL’s Brampton Beast and South Carolina Stingrays. The Toronto native won a Calder Cup championship as an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013.

“Some great coaches have come through (Chicago as the Wolves have had) some great teams, great players and amazing seasons,” Anastas said. “What I love is, the pride everyone takes into that history. Whether it’s someone who has been here for 25 years or just two years. Once you become part of the Chicago Wolves family, you become part of their history – and you’re proud of that fact.

“It’s a perfect fit, that’s how I coach. We want to honor the past while growing the future. I’m proud to be a representative of the Chicago Wolves.”

Anastas, 41, is fluent in English and Greek, with some knowledge of Serbian, Russian and French, plus limited Korean and Chinese. He is a perfect fit for a team filled with international flavor – six nations on the Wolves’ roster are represented. And he’s coaching in a city known as a melting pot of cultures.

“I love Chicago, which is such a great sports city, with so much history. From all the major league teams to all the minor league teams, such as the Schaumburg Boomers. People love sports here in Chicago,” said Anastas, who has been welcoming to the city and the suburbs.

To that, Wolves’ practices are open to the public, intentionally. “I’d just like to continue to grow (the interest in hockey). I want to continue growing that love for the game,” he said. “After the season, I’d like to get more involved with the youth programs; it’s something I’ve done in every city I’ve lived in. For players and coaches. Anything I can do to help grow the youth programs, I’m in.”

Anastas said he interacted this past spring with area players and coaches as the Illinois High School Hockey State Championships were held at the Allstate Arena, home of the Wolves. “I thought that was really cool,” he said. “I thought it was really cool that the Wolves were able to host,” the state finals.

Anastas played through 2010, ending his four-year career at Lebanon Valley College, where he was a captain at the NCAA Division III school. He also was an assistant coach as a senior, starting his long, winding coaching journey that included stops in college and pros, plus stops on teams in Canada, South Korea, Estonia, Greece, Serbia and China.

“I played house league/rec hockey until (age) 12,” he said. “I was a better baseball player, but hockey was always my first love. But I wasn’t a very good hockey player. At 13, (I was) elevated to single-A hockey, then AA, then AAA, then junior A, and finally, college. I am the child of immigrant parents who fell in love with the game when they came over (to) Canada.”

Anastas coaches the way he was coached – and still is in contact with a coach of his from 30-plus years ago, Dave Martin, who guided Anastas when he was 9, 10 and 11 years-old. “He’s the one who really made me love the game. Without him, maybe I’m not doing this today,” Anastas said. “Dave was one of the most impactful people in my hockey career. With him, it was never about getting to the NHL or the next level; it was about the friends we made and the fun we had.”

To that, Martin often hosted team bonding sessions, where the youngsters would congregate to watch pro wrestling supershows or enjoy a pizza party “to cultivate that family feel,” he said.

“I use that same method with pro hockey, and that’s what it’s all about.”