BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The Sudbury Wolves hope to defend their
honour this weekend against the Brampton Battalion and the
Peterborough Petes.
The Wolves will host the red-hot Battalion on
Friday night at the Sudbury Arena. Game time is 7:30 pm.
"We have to just keep doing the things
we're doing so well," said head coach Mike Foligno. "We
need to shore up our penalty killing. We're taking so many
penalties, and that's an area we want to avoid because
Brampton is winning a lot of games with their power
play."
The Battalion features a host of naturally
skilled players. Colorado Avalanche 2004 first round draft pick
Wojtek Wolski will be keyed on.
"Wojtek Wolski is one of their top players,
and we will have to pay attention to him," said Foligno.
"He's a very dangerous guy and extremely
explosive. We have to contain him."
Here is a look at the top-three leading
scorers for the Battalion as of Northern Life press time
Thursday.
Dan McDonald has three goals and 10 points in
eight games, rookie Luch Aquino has one goal and eight points
in eight games, and Tyler Harrison has five goals and eight
points in eight games.
Former Wolves' player Howie Martin has
two goals and four points in eight games.
The Wolves top-three leading scorers are
rookie Ben Pouliot with seven goals and 13 points in eight
games, rookie Ryan McDonough with three goals and 12 points in
eight games, and veteran Bobby Chaumont with five goals and 10
points in eight games.
Patrick Ehelechner is sporting a decent 4-2
record, along with a 2.54 goals-against-average and a .919 save
percentage.
As it stands now, the Wolves are tied against
the Guelph Storm for second in the OHL for most goals scored at
30 each. The London Knights lead with 39 goals scored.
On Sunday, the Wolves face the Petes. Game
time at the Elgin Street barn is 2 pm.
Foligno isn't taking the Petes lightly
either.
"Peterborough is a sound team," said Foligno.
"They work hard on offence and defence. We have to match their
work ethic. The key is to capitalize on the few chances that we
will get."
Foligno and his coaches have been working
hard to keep their boys out of the penalty box which has become
an early Achilles Heel to the club.
"I have actually tried to take the
referee's whistle away, but I can't seem to get a hold
of him," said Foligno jokingly. "The penalties are
bothersome.
The penalties we are taking isn't because
we're physical, it's because we're behind the play
or in the offensive zone. They're just bad penalties. If
you can limit your opponents power play chances, we can give
ourselves the chance to win every game."
