BY DARCY MACRAE
The Sudbury Northern Wolves know how to develop a young hockey player.
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Last season the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League franchise had Jean-Michel Rizk on their roster, and watched as he went on to be chosen fifth overall in the Ontario Hockey League draft by the Saginaw Spirit.
In the 2001-02 campaign the Northern Wolves had a youngster by the name of Bobby Chaumont on their roster. HeÂ?s now the assistant captain with the Sudbury Wolves.
This year the Northern Wolves hope to help another pair of youngsters get to the next level in hockey. Forwards Scott Restoule of Sudbury and Matt Leszczynski of Capreol have cracked the Junior A teamÂ?s roster at the tender age of 15, and so far both have shown they can play with the big boys.
Northern Wolves head coach Wayne Goudreau is confident the pair will continue their solid play throughout the season.
Â?Our goal is to develop them like we did with Rizk last year. I hope we can get them to the next stage, which is the OHL. They could make the OHL next year, if not weÂ?ll have a spot for them here,Â? said Goudreau.
While Leszczynski and Restoule are very different on the ice, Goudreau feels both have qualities that will take them to the next level.
LeszczynskiÂ?s crash and bang style could make him an attractive power forward to many OHL squads, while RestouleÂ?s soft hands and scoring ability will help him find the back of the net no matter where he plays.
The only disadvantage the duo faces now is that much of their competition is three, four, and even five years older than they are. However, neither player seems bothered by this, with Restoule going as far as to say it only makes him a better player.
Â?ItÂ?s just provides me with a bigger challenge. I donÂ?t mind it at all,Â? said Restoule.
The 5-10, 185-pound centre finds a lot of differences between the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Sudbury Minor Bantam team he played for last season.
The size and strength difference he now faces forces him to play smarter on the ice, he said.
Â?You have to keep your head up and keep your feet moving. You play tough, but not too tough because the guys out here are a lot older,Â? said Restoule with a chuckle.
While the lure of the OHL is strong for both of the Northern WolvesÂ? young players, the possibility of getting a free college education south of the border courtesy of a hockey scholarship also weighs heavy in their minds.
For Leszczynski, this route is starting to look more and more attractive every day.
Â?IÂ?d probably prefer to play university (hockey) right now. IÂ?d rather go to school because I donÂ?t know if IÂ?ll make any money playing hockey,Â? said the 6-1, 185-pound winger.
The Northern Wolves face Sault Ste. Marie tonight at McClelland Arena. They are on the road this weekend playing Blind River Saturday and North Bay Sunday.
For more information, visit the team website at www.northernwolves.net/news.html.
