BY SCOTT
HADDOW
Darryl Moxam has unfinished business with the Kal Tire Sudbury
Junior Wolves.
And at the midway point of the season, he has the chance to get
that business done.
After coaching the club to its best season in the history of
the franchise, including coming one goal away from competing at
the national championship, Moxam stepped down as head coach for
family reasons.
His infant daughter, Ella, was stricken with a rare liver
disorder and the situation at home needed 100 percent of
Moxam's energy, time, and will.
Now, his daughter's condition has vastly improved and he's back
as head coach and looking to pick up right where he left off:
completing the task of winning a national title. Moxam wasted
no time getting back to a familiar ground by winning his first
three games.
The opening to come back occurred last week after new head coach Tom Faganely resigned due to personal reasons.
Moxam's thirst for glory, coupled with his daughter's improving
health, made the decision to come back easy when the Junior
Wolves came knocking on his door as a replacement for
Faganely.
"They needed help…and I owe a lot to the entire organization,
right from Mark Burgess (owner) all the way to the players, so
it was the right situation for me to return," said Moxam. "They
approached me to come back, but it had to be under my terms
with the understanding my family and my job comes first,
especially with Ella's situation, albeit everything is great
right now with her. My family is my top priority. That being
said, there's a core group of players from last year's
team…they called me and it got my juices flowing again. With
the overtime loss last year (in the Dudley Hewitt Cup)…I felt I
had unfinished business to take care of."
Moxam's daughter has made positive progress with her
condition.
"She had liver problems…rare complications, which is the
easiest way to explain it," said the Lively native. "At this
time…things are going very well for her. We just keep our
fingers crossed."
The Junior Wolves' brass was thrilled to bring Moxam back into
the fold.
"Darryl has not only played at this level and in the OHL as
well as coaching at this level, so he knows what it takes to
get these guys to compete to get to the highest level
possible," said Gm Mike Rowlandson. "He proved it last year by
going to the final of the Dudley Hewitt Cup. He has a proven
track record and valuable experience. I believe Darryl will get
the maximum production out of these kids because that's the
type of coach he is."
Moxam found out quickly he has a much different squad from last
season, despite many returning players.
"My first impression is the ability this team has to score
goals is incredible," said the bench boss. "The ability to
score goals is more natural with this team compared to last
season."
There's plenty of areas that need polish though.
"There's still a long way to go to get where we were last April
as far as having 25 guys on the same page at all times," said
Moxam. "The main goal of the coaching staff from now until play
off time…is to get these guys all on the same page."
Moxam will have high expectations for the Junior Wolves,
especially considering their fully stocked cupboard of talented
ex-OHL players.
"This club was in first place before I came back, so they were
doing something right," said Moxam. "I want to build on the
positives. If we can learn to be the best team in our end of
the ice...we will be in really good shape come play off
time."
Moxam's return had the squad buzzing with anticipation.
"For sure…he will make us a better team," said scoring ace
Scott Restoule before a game last week.
The club also recognized the contributions from Faganely in his
short tenure.
"Tom did a very good job," said Rowlandson.
Moxam's goal of building the team seems to be proceeding well
as he announced on Sunday that Mike Mills, another former OHL
player, will be added to the lineup in the near future.
Mike Mills is expected to join the squad very shortly.
"Mike has committed to playing for this team down the road once
he gets his schooling straightened out," said the bench
boss.
Sudbury hosts their bitter rivals from the Gateway City, the
North Bay Skyhawks tonight at the McClelland Arena.
Game time is 7:30 pm. Sudbury has won three straight games. They have been scoring at a wicked clip as well, with 24 goals for in those three games.
North Bay enters the game in unfamiliar territory. Perennial
league leaders over the past few seasons, the Skyhawks have
been grounded this year. They sit in sixth place in the
standings with a record of 15-13-0-1. They're 3-2 in their last
five games.
