Saving lives is the name of the game at Wolves blood drive

Two hundred people participated in the Chicago Wolves blood drive Saturday, held in partnership with Vitalant across the street from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

Blood donors received two vouchers for Chicago Wolves hockey tickets, a Chicago Wolves and Vitalant 2024 limited edition T-shirt, a Wolves hat, and they were entered into a drawing for a Chicago Wolves autographed jersey.

Vitalant, a nonprofit that provides hospitals and patients in the U.S. with a safe blood supply, and the Chicago Wolves have partnered for two annual blood drives. In 2025, they will add a third to be held in July. The organizations say the blood drives help address the critical need for blood, which ultimately save lives.

“We’ve been working together for 14 years doing blood drives and it’s been a fantastic relationship, and has helped a lot of people,” said Greg Sprott, Chicago Wolves vice president of partnerships.

Sprott said the offer of apparel helps bring in people who might not otherwise think to sign up for a blood drive.

“We think we offer some nice incentives with the T-shirts and the hats and the tickets, but the fact is most people donate out of the goodness of their heart because they realize how much of a need there is,” Sprott said. “If we need to give people a little bit of a push to get them the rest of the way, that’s what all the goodies are for.”