BY SCOTT HADDOW
The Kal Tire Sudbury Junior Wolves are ready to defend their NOJHL Championship. The Junior Wolves bumped off Manitoulin (in six games)and Sault Ste. Marie (in five games) in the first two rounds to make it to their second straight NOJHL championship series.
Sudbury won last year, beating North Bay in six games.
The squad has grown closer in the playoffs, especially during the Manitoulin series.
"Beating Manitoulin was an emotional win," said head coach Darryl Moxam. "We dealt with difficult circumstances. (Forward) Brenden Biedermann's father died in a work related accident on the eve of the playoffs.
"The players rallied around Brenden and Jordan Cheechoo, it was his uncle too. It brought the team closer together. The family mentality is there now. I know these 25 players will go to battle for one another no matter the circumstances. It's one of the reasons we're peaking right now."
Dumping the high-flying Thunderbirds in five games also provided the club with a boost.
"The guys really got down to business in that series," said Moxam. "In the last two to three games I've started to see what potential we have as a hockey club.
"Our leaders stepped up and offensively, we're getting contributions from everyone. Our defence and goaltending has been unbelievable. It's been a complete group effort."
Sudbury is loaded with NOJHL veterans, former OHL players and other players from different levels, but the unit has meshed well over the last few weeks.
"There's no question everyone is on the same page," said Moxam. "They had no choice.
"Manitoulin battled as hard as I've seen a team battle in a long time. It took everything we had to get through them. Then we kept Sault Ste. Marie to under two goals a game against. They're a highly offensive team and to shut them down says a lot about our attention to detail on defence."
The 2006-07 version of the Junior Wolves have many similarities to the club from last season, but is more rounded.
"Our new faces have been molded by our veterans who went to the Dudley Hewitt Cup last year," said Moxam. "They've made them realize what's at stake and what a great opportunity this is.
"Last year, we relied on a few key guys on defence to log a lot of ice time. This year, we have defence by committee...the entire defence corps has stepped up."
Sudbury is ready to face either the Soo Indians or North Bay Skyhawks. Those two teams are going to a seventh and deciding game Thursday night in Soo, Mich. to determine who will play Sudbury.
"We're on a roll and want to keep it going, but having a few days to rest doesn't hurt," said Moxam. "It doesn't matter who we play because we know we have to win if we want to move on.
"It's a great opportunity to defend the championship. Our guys feel they have some unfinished business and are ready to go. We expect a long series no matter who it is because the teams in the league are so close."
No dates or times have been set for the NOJHL championship series.
