Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
City	Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
League	American Hockey League
Conference	Eastern
Division	Atlantic
Founded	1981
Home arena	Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza
Colors	Black, gold, white, red
Owner(s)	Ronald Burkle Mario Lemieux
General manager	Jason Spezza
Head coach	Kirk MacDonald
Captain	Vacant
Media	Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Scranton Times-Tribune AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh WILK Newsradio AHL.TV (Internet)
Affiliate(s)	Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) Wheeling Nailers (ECHL)
Franchise history
1981–1988	Fredericton Express
1988–1993	Halifax Citadels
1993–1996	Cornwall Aces
1999–present	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Championships
Regular season titles	2: (2010–11, 2016–17)
Division Championships	4: (2005–06, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2016–17)
Conference Championships	3: (2001, 2004, 2008)
Calder Cups	0
Current season

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (often called the WBS Penguins) are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. This team is part of the American Hockey League (AHL). They are the main minor league team for the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. The WBS Penguins play their games at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. They have won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy twice. This trophy is given to the team with the best record in the regular season.

History of the WBS Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins wanted their main minor league team to be in the AHL. So, in 1996, they bought the Cornwall Aces AHL team. This team was not playing at the time. The Penguins waited until 1999 to start the team. This was because a new arena was being built in Wilkes-Barre Township. Fans often call the team the "Baby Penguins." Their mascot is Tux the penguin. Tux wears the number 99, which is a nod to the team's first season in 1999.

Chasing the Calder Cup

The Penguins have reached the Calder Cup finals three times. However, they have not yet won the championship. In their second season (2000–01), they made it to the finals. They lost to the Saint John Flames in six games. They returned to the finals in their fifth season (2003–04). This time, they were swept by the Milwaukee Admirals. Their most recent trip to the finals was in 2008. They beat the Portland Pirates in a tough seven-game series. Then, they played the Chicago Wolves in the final. They lost that series in six games.

Top Seasons and Awards

The WBS Penguins had their best regular season in 2011. They won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy with 117 points. Their goalie, Brad Thiessen, won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award. This award goes to the AHL's best goalie. He had an amazing record of 35 wins, 8 losses, and 1 overtime loss. His goals-against-average was 1.94. The head coach, John Hynes, also won an award. He received the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award for being the most outstanding AHL coach. Even with this great season, the Penguins were eliminated in the second round of the 2011 playoffs. They lost to the Charlotte Checkers.

Playoff Streaks and Special Games

The Penguins have made the playoffs in almost every season they have played. They had an impressive streak of 16 straight playoff appearances. This ran from the 2002–03 season to the 2017–18 season.

Before the 2009–10 season, the team held a special "Penguins Black and Gold Game." This was a game between players from both the Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. It was the first time stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin played against each other. The game was completely sold out. They held a second Black and Gold Game in 2010.

In 2009, the team also started a youth hockey organization. It is called the Wilkes-Barre Junior Pens. This team practices at the Ice Rink at Coal Street Park. This rink is also used by the WBS Penguins.

Team Rivals

The Penguins used to have a big rivalry with the Philadelphia Phantoms. This team was the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. After the Phantoms moved, the Hershey Bears became the Penguins' main rivals. The Bears are also located in Pennsylvania. They are the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals. In 2014, the Phantoms moved back to eastern Pennsylvania. They are now called the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Players

Current Roster

Updated July 18, 2025.

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
80		Ansons, RaivisRaivis Ansons	LW/C	L	23	2022	Riga, Latvia	W-B/Scranton
43		Beck, JackJack Beck	RW	L	22	2024	Richmond Hill, Ontario	W-B/Scranton
56		Breazeale, DavidDavid Breazeale	D	L	21	2024	Grandville, Michigan	W-B/Scranton
82		Budnick, TommyTommy Budnick	D	L	21	2025	Petoskey, Michigan	W-B/Scranton
84		Calvert, AtleyAtley Calvert	C	R	21	2024	Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan	W-B/Scranton
54		De St. Phalle, MathieuMathieu De St. Phalle	RW	R	25	2024	Glencoe, Illinois	W-B/Scranton
36		Edwards, BraydenBrayden Edwards	F	R	20	2025	Abbotsford, British Columbia	W-B/Scranton
42		Gallant, ZachZach Gallant	C	L	26	2025	London, Ontario	W-B/Scranton
33		Gauthier, TaylorTaylor Gauthier	G	R	24	2022	Calgary, Alberta	W-B/Scranton
83		Huglen, AaronAaron Huglen	RW	R	24	2025	Roseau, Minnesota	W-B/Scranton
64		Klassen, GabeGabe Klassen	C	L	22	2024	Prince Albert, Saskatchewan	W-B/Scranton
–		McDonough, AidanAidan McDonough	LW	L	25	2025	Milton, Massachusetts	W-B/Scranton
–		Pavlenko, MaximMaxim Pavlenko	G	L	23	2025	Aksu, Kazakhstan	W-B/Scranton
62		Renwick, NolanNolan Renwick	RW	R	24	2025	Milestone, Saskatchewan	W-B/Scranton
28		Urdahl, ZachZach Urdahl	LW	L	23	2025	Eau Claire, Wisconsin	W-B/Scranton

Team Captains

Many great players have served as team captain for the WBS Penguins over the years. Some of these leaders include Tom Kostopoulos, who was captain for several seasons, and Ryan Craig. The captain helps lead the team on and off the ice.

Notable Alumni

Many players who started with the WBS Penguins later played in the NHL. These include goalies like Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray. Other notable players include Colby Armstrong, Alex Goligoski, and Brooks Orpik. These players spent time developing their skills in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before moving on to the NHL.

Team Records

The WBS Penguins have set many team records over the years. These records show the best performances by players in a single season or throughout their careers with the team.

Single season records

• Goals: Chris Minard, 34 goals (2008–09)
• Assists: Jeff Taffe and Janne Pesonen, 50 assists (2008–09)
• Points: Janne Pesonen, 82 points (2008–09)
• Penalty minutes: Dennis Bonvie, 431 minutes (2005–06)
• Goaltending wins: Brad Thiessen, 35 wins (2010–11)

Career records

• Career goals: Tom Kostopoulos, 181 goals
• Career assists: Tom Kostopoulos, 269 assists
• Career points: Tom Kostopoulos, 450 points
• Career penalty minutes: Dennis Bonvie, 1081 minutes
• Career goaltending wins: John Curry, 103 wins
• Career games: Tom Kostopoulos, 627 games

AHL Records

The WBS Penguins and their players also hold several records across the entire AHL.

Team AHL Records

• Most road wins in an 80-game season: 28 wins (2010–2011), tied with another team.
• Longest road winning streak in one season: 13 games (October 9 – December 3, 2005), tied.
• Longest road winning streak overall: 15 games (April 10 – December 3, 2005).

Player AHL Records

• Most points by a defenseman in a career: John Slaney, 486 points.
• Most goals by a defenseman in a career: John Slaney, 157 goals.
• Most goals by a defenseman in a season: John Slaney, 30 goals (1999–2000).
• Most penalty minutes in a career: Dennis Bonvie, 4,104 minutes.
• Most penalty minutes in a single game: Steve Parsons, 64 minutes (March 17, 2002).

AHL Awards and Trophies

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and their players have won many awards and trophies from the AHL.

See also

• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights