BY SCOTT HADDOW
It's the week from hell for the Sudbury
Junior Wolves and head coach Darryl Moxam is expecting his boys
to walk through the fire and brimstone prepared to
battle.
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John Sabourin
actioneventphotos.com Defenceman Rob Bonhomme will be
counted on to log heavy minutes for the Junior Wolves
before and during the 2006 playoffs. |
The NOJHL-leading Junior Wolves square off
against the three teams directly below them in the standings
this week.
First up is a tilt against the second place
North Bay Skyhawks tonight. Game time at the McClelland Arena
is 7:30 pm.
"Until someone displaces them, North Bay, as
the defending champions of the league, are the team to beat
night in and night out," said Moxam. "They play great defensive
hockey and have the lowest goals-against-average in the
league."
"To beat them this week, we need to be
patient. We can't expect to score a ton of goals. Their
work ethic is second to none and we have to out work
them."
Only six points separate North Bay and
Sudbury in the standings.
The Junior Wolves have no chance to relax as
they then face the third place Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds on
Friday, followed by a contest against fourth place Northern
Michigan on Saturday.
Moxam wants his troops to earn some points
against the league's other best teams.
"We hope to win all three and compete," said
Moxam. "If we're fortunate enough to take all three, then
we give ourselves some breathing room in the standings.
It's a huge week for us and we'll have a better
understanding of how good we really are come next Monday
morning."
Moxam expects team defence to start
prevailing in every player's mind as the playoffs get
closer and closer.
"I don't care what name or number is on
the back of the jersey...I expect one through 23 guys to play
good defensive hockey because that's what it takes to win
in the playoffs," said Moxam. "We can't rely on scoring
five or six goals a game."
The recent acquisition of defenceman Scott
Lavigne has paid immediate dividends.
"If anything, Scott adds stability to our
blueline," said Moxam. "He's raised the hopes and games of
everyone else on this team. I expect Scott to hit his stride
come playoff time. He has fit in nicely and he will be relied
upon come playoff time to contribute."
Another defenceman, Rob Bonhomme, has drawn
some praise.
"Rob's our leader...And will be one of my
go to guys," said Moxam. "I want him to commit more defensively
and he will be our horse back there and play a lot of
minutes."
