Kernan

I think it’s safe to say the Wolves were expected to make a move or two at the OHL trade deadline.

The Christmas break is always a highly anticipated time for players, coaches, managers and even broadcasters and journalists. It’s a time to get away from the rink and spend time with family and friends.

This week, Hockey Canada named its 25-man roster of hopefuls who will be competing for a spot on the World Junior Hockey Championship team that heads to Sweden over the holidays.

Defence wins championships — that’s the old saying in a lot of sports, but I think it really holds true in hockey. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a saying the Sudbury Wolves can boast about over the first two months of the season.

Some observations as the Wolves hit the quarter point of the Ontario Hockey League season. They go into action tonight in North Bay with a record of 6-5-3-3 which puts them one point above the .500 mark.

There are a lot of phrases used to describe different kinds of hockey players. There is the “can’t miss prospect,” “offensively gifted forward” or “stay-at-home defenceman.” To me, the word that means the most is “character.

When you think of any successful team, you don’t often think about the rookies on that team or debate how their contribution led to success.

Michael Kantor, John Kurtz, Marc Staal and Zack Stortini are some of the players that come to mind when you talk captains of the Sudbury Wolves over the last decade.

It’s often said championships aren’t made in September, but there is no question the pieces to the puzzle are often put in place before the season starts.

The Wolves are off to Russia to defend their title at the Junior Club World Cup in Omsk, Russia. Last year, the team went into the tournament really not knowing what to expect.