BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
How Swede he is.
Swedish import Anton Hedman has been a
smashing success for the Sudbury Wolves and made a huge
impression on opposition players with his combination of
toughness, grit, fighting and scoring ability.
The big and talented 19 year old rookie has
made an instant impact on the Wolves and the OHL with his
robust physical game.
Game in and game out, Hedman is always
looking for opponents who foolishly have their heads down so he
can smash into them full force, rattling their bones.
Hedman isn't just a one-trick pony. He has
all kinds of grit and skill, which has helped him pop five
goals and record nine points in his first 11 games.
The strapping Swede is most happy when he
levels opponents with pulverizing body checks.
"The physical game is my main thing," said
Hedman. "I have good size and I like to take advantage of it. I
try to use my body a lot."
"The Canadian game fits me well and it's why
I came here. The OHL is a good way to prepare to play in the
AHL or the NHL."
Wolves head coach and GM Mike Foligno has
used Hedman as a battering ram this season to fire up his team
and appreciates his efforts, especially since the team lost
plenty of size last season with the graduation of
six-foot-four, 225-pound winger Zack Stortini and the
suspension/graduation of
six-foot-one, 200-pound scrapper Kyle
Musselman.
"Anton is a great team player," said
Foligno."He's a hard worker and very physical. Anton doesn't
back down from anybody out there and he loves to make the big
hits.
"It's good to have a consistent physical
presence. Stortini was a physical player for us last season,
and Anton has definitely come in and filled that void. We would
like him to become more well rounded."
Hedman backs up his rugged play. Already a
couple of times this season, the feisty forward has engaged in
fights to stick up for himself and his teammates. Just this
week, Hedman squared off against Sault Ste. Marie's Andrew
Shennan, and pounded him into submission in a hurry.
Hedman played his best game in a Wolves
uniform so far early in the season as he scored a nice goal,
set up some nice plays and won the unanimous decision over
Shennan. He was selected the game's second star for his
efforts.
"I am not going to back down," said Hedman.
"When I get any opportunity to hit a guy, I am going to throw
my weight around. I am going to play hard, physical and fight
if I have to. Anything to help the team win."
Hedman is thrilled to be in the Nickel
City.
"I had no idea Sudbury was going to pick me,î
said Hedman. ìI am really glad they did. I heard a lot of good
things about Mike Foligno, the team and the city. I don't miss
Sweden at all.
"I am really comfortable with this town and
team. I really like the city. It's small, but it's a great
hockey town. The people are nice and friendly."
The Swedish smasher has found the gruelling
Canadian junior hockey schedule to be a bit demanding.
"Playing OHL is a lot different from playing
junior hockey in Sweden," said Hedman. "In Sweden, I played 30
games and on big ice surfaces. The rinks here are smaller,
which makes it tougher to play along the boards, but I enjoy
it. I feel better and better after each game."
Foligno agrees, but would still like to see
Hedman refine his overall game even more.
"Anton's still learning what part of his game
should be physical and what part should be skill," said
Foligno. "He's trying hard to show everyone what he can do.
Anton is also starting to grasp the give-and-go game here in
the OHL. He's only going to get better as time moves on."
Hedman was the Wolves second round pick in
the 2005 Import Draft. He was also an eighth round NHL
selection by the Boston Bruins in 2004.
The Wolves play the Brampton Battalion
tonight at the Sudbury Arena. Game time is 7:30 pm.
The Wolves Battle Report and Enemy Line will
return next week.
