Tom Brady and the Patriots have nothing on the Chicago Wolves.

With the Super Bowl around the corner, my eyes will be glued to Comcast digital cable and the Chicago Wolves American Hockey League hockey team.

Don’t get me wrong, I will be watching the Patriots destroy Eli Manning on Sunday, but when I hear all the hype about football, I can’t help but wonder why hockey continues to fall through the cracks.

Both National Hockey League and AHL hockey provide exciting entertainment for its fans. Whether it’s the goal that ricochets off the post or the hard check into the boards, hockey is the most engaging sport out there.

And let’s be honest here, who doesn’t love a good fight that draws penalties and a lot of blood?

In my opinion, the AHL, even acting as a feeder league for the pros, is more exciting than the NHL. Of course, if you actually play hockey, you are probably going to see a more satisfactory performance with NHL players.

But if you’re a college student looking for cheap entertainment, the AHL is the place to be.

Illinois has three AHL hockey teams, including the Chicago Wolves, the Peoria Rivermen and the Rockford IcePiggies – Hogs, I mean the IceHogs. Even better, all three teams are battling for the top spot in their division.

These three interstate rivals create a pretty decent hockey scene in Illinois and depict the competitive nature of the sport in a light that cannot be seen anywhere else in the AHL.

Typically, the NHL is packed with competition, while the AHL lags behind. In the AHL’s defense, it’s hard to maintain a decent team when your players constantly fluctuate between the feeder and professional teams.

Still, with the instability of the competitors, the Wolves remain aggressive in their play. Chicago has managed to bring new talent to the table while holding on to the heroic veterans that fans have come to love.

Providing this mix, the Wolves are able to give the fans what they want: affordable entertainment that draws them into the next season.

Although the AHL is not free entertainment, it does come pretty cheap. A student looking to sit in the upper level at the AllState Arena would pay $9-24 to watch Wolves high-energy action.

This is a respectable price to pay to see a winning Chicago sports team. In fact, it would be a decent price for a losing Chicago sports team, too.

Win or lose, my heart is devoted to hockey and, like I have mentioned before, the Chicago Wolves. The Wolves provide Chicago’s fans with a much-needed personality.

I guess we can say the Bulls have personality too, with Joakim Noah on the loose, but how many fans can say they played hoops at GameWorks with their favorite players? Wolves fans can say they have.

They can also say they have been waited on by the Wolves, swam with the Wolves, and read with the Wolves. With all the chances to meet the players and engage in conversation about the sport, who wouldn’t want to be a fan of hockey?

That great sense of competition and personality I see from the Wolves’ players has gotten me addicted to the game. I just wish others would see the potential in AHL hockey.

NHL fans are starting to come around, packing the United Center to watch the Blackhawks, but I would love to see the AllState at maximum capacity for the Wolves.

So once the Patriots complete their perfect 19-0 season and you feel like you need a break from the NBA, check out a Wolves game. Who knows, maybe you will get addicted too.