BY SCOTT HADDOW
Even though they're dominating the NOJHL, the
Sudbury Junior Wolves aren't taking any days off as they keep
their eye on a championship title.
The Wolves are in action tonight as they face
off against one of their top rivals, the Sault Ste. Marie
Thunderbirds at the McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff. Game time
is 7:30 pm.
It's a true heavyweight tilt as both teams
led their respective divisions (Sudbury leads the Eastern with
a record of 23-7-0-0, while the Thunderbirds led the Western
with a record of 18-10-0-1) and lead the NOJHL in scoring.
Sudbury has fired 136 goals in 30 games, while the Thunderbirds
have pumped in 144 goals in 29 games.
Both teams have even tyrannized the NOJHL
scoring leaders chart as seven of the Top 10 scorers come from
either Sudbury or Sault Ste. Marie.
The Wolves' captain, Brian McGarry, is first
in scoring with 30 goals and 72 points in 30 games. The
Thunderbirds' Ryan Maunu is second with 25
goals and 62 points in 29 games.
Wolves head coach Darryl Moxam expects
nothing but another epic clash between the two
powerhouses.
"The players will be fired up and ready to
go," said Moxam about his troops. "The coaching staff has
challenged the players to be, not only the best team in the
second half of the season, but the best team defensively
because that's what wins championships. Playing [Sault Ste.
Marie]is a great way to start the second half."
The Wolves will have to keep slick forwards
Maunu and Mike McMillan in check as they have accounted for 40
of the Thunderbirds' 144 goals scored among other things.
"We have to keep those two guys under wraps
and concentrate on our own end," said Moxam. "Specialty teams
are always important in these games, so we have to stay out of
the box and get our power play to start clicking."
All the players are chipping in, but they're
are some who have really turned heads, including crafty forward
Nick Heins (18 goals and 37 points in 29 games, good for
seventh in league scoring) and defenceman Brodie Wilson (16
points and 107 penalty minutes in 28 games).
"Nick has stepped up...If he's not the best,
he's one of the top three all around players in the league and
he brings it every night," said Moxam. "Brodie's been our
muscle...He competes, sticks up for the guys and in the last 10
games, he's been playing really great defence."
A positive boon for the Junior Wolves has
been the play of defenceman Stephen Miller, who was sent down
by the OHL Sudbury Wolves in late October.
"He's been a great impact...I can't put into
words what he has meant to our defence," said Moxam. "He fit in
right away and he's just as important off the ice as he is on
the ice to us."
A championship is being targeted.
"We are at the top of the league because of a
lot of hard work by the players and the coaching staff," said
GM Mike Rowlandson. "Our goal is to win this league...If we are
all on the same page, there's a very good opportunity for us to
do it."
The Jan. 10 trade deadline is also looming
for NOJHL clubs, and a potential deal to further bolster the
Junior Wolves chances of winning aren't out of the
question.
"Who knows what's going to happen over the
next (six days)," said Rowlandson. "There may be players
available to us and we may get a few additions that will
improve our club."
The Junior Wolves made an interesting move
signing defenceman Scott Lavigne earlier this week. Lavigne, a
Sudbury native, last played for the Toronto Majors in the OHL.
He will be in the line up tonight.
