Wolves need some teeth replaced

Hey sports fans, it's time to lift the lid off the local scene and see what's cooking up.

I'll take a round out of the Sudbury Wolves this week. Since the unbelievable run to the 2007 OHL Championship, the local OHL franchise has undergone some major transformations. Under the guidance of head coach and GM Mike Foligno, the Wolves have taken to the ice with a hard-nosed line up, one capable of playing a grinding, pound-and-ground game.

This formula has worked, to some degree, quite nicely. Sudbury made the playoffs in each of Foligno's first four seasons, and then they enjoyed some decent playoff runs thanks in large part to the big, bad Wolves' roster.

This summer, however, the Wolves have lost a great deal of their size and toughness.

Whether people like to admit it or not, toughness and intimidation is still a huge factor in junior hockey, and Sudbury has big holes in that department.

The defence lost Marc Staal, Adam McQuaid and Jonathan D'Aversa to graduation. All three, topped the six-foot-two mark and weighed over 200 pounds. The trio played with an edge and made foes pay the price constantly.

Up front, the losses have also been big.

Emotional leader, and arguably one of the toughest fighters, pound-for-pound in the OHL, Devin DiDiomete (six-feet, 190-pounds and 205 penalty minutes) was traded to Sarnia to complete a mid-season deal.

Hulking winger Akim Aliu (six foot-three inches, and 209 pounds and 104 penalty minutes) was dealt to London.

Rugged winger Andrew Self (six-foot-three, 200-pounds and 119 penalty minutes) signed on with Carleton University.

The team also lost Justin Larson (six-foot-three, 200 pounds) to Toronto as part of another mid-season trade.

Barring Foligno pulling the trigger on another deal to acquire some size and toughness, the Wolves will have to look in-house to fill the void left by the team's out-going big men. (One good thing about junior hockey in Ontario, is the fact there's no shortage of tough guys patrolling the rinks, so Foligno might be able to make a move.)

So, who's left to do the dirty work and smash opponents on a regular basis?

Actually, quite a few potentially physical players.

Scrappy forward Gerome Giudice (five-foot-11 and 200-pounds) has shown he's a capable middleweight fighter. Giudice plays hard and clean and takes no guff. He had 124 penalty minutes in 59 games. He will be thrown into a bigger role this season, and it will be interesting to see how he responds.

Then there's big defender Stephen Miller (six-foot-two, 220-pounds). He's not the fastest skater, but Miller puts forth his most honest effort every game. Miller would be an overage player, but one which is badly needed. The defence corps needs some teeth and Miller is just that. He only had 77 penalty minutes, but left a wake of destruction. He didn't fight much because he scares the hell out of opponents. Just ask Erie's enforcer Luke Gazdic, who was knocked out by Miller in a tussle last season. Miller makes skilled foes wary and keeps the opposition honest.

Others to step up could be wingers Geoff Guimond, Kyle Tarini and J.K. Gill. I believe Guimond really elevated his play in the playoffs to show he can be a hard-hitting, corner-mucking grinder.

Tarini is being honed as a scorer, but he can swing the fists. Tarini fought Mississauga tough guy Nathan Martine last season to a draw.

Gill is also a scorer, but has good grit and can play the body.

As with anything in hockey, only time will tell if the Wolves have the in-house toughness to do battle with their opponents in 2007-08.

Sudbury has enjoyed a luxury of toughness for the last four seasons. They've used it against their enemies. Hockey people have long memories and teams that were pushed around by the Wolves in the recent past, will be looking to push back this year.