Breslin, one of the first three players signed by the Wolves after the franchise was formed in 1994, passed away on Feb. 9, 2005, due to complications from appendiceal cancer. The Addison native and Driscoll Catholic High School graduate played five seasons for the Wolves and earned a ring on the 1998 Turner Cup Championship squad. Breslin’s family attended the on-ice ceremony for SWEATT.

“There are a lot of similarities between them,” said Wolves general manager WENDELL YOUNG, who was teammates with Breslin. “They’re both well-educated. Hockey-wise and community-wise, they’re the same way. When they come to the rink, they’re what coaches and general managers refer to as low-maintenance. Billy, like Tim did, plays as hard as he can with no complaints.”

SWEATT, a finalist for the honor last season, earned this year’s Breslin Award after fans went to ChicagoWolves.com and cast their votes for the three candidates nominated by the Wolves coaching staff: SWEATT, right wing Andrew Gordon, and defenseman Brad Hunt.

“I was pretty surprised,” SWEATT said. “It’s an honor to follow in the previous winners’ footsteps. It means a lot. Sometimes the hard work that you put in, you think it doesn’t go noticed. But it does and it’s a tremendous honor.”

The 24-year-old SWEATT, who grew up in Elburn, Ill., and starred for several Chicago-area youth hockey teams, ranks fourth on the Wolves this season with 12 goals and 26 points in 52 games. SWEATT joins Mark Matheson (2012) Jaime Sifers (2011), Matt Anderson (2010), Steve Martins (2009), Brian Sipotz (2008), Brian Fahey (2007), Kevin Doell (2006) and Tim Wedderburn (2005) on the list of Unsung Hero honorees.