The Sudbury Wolves board the bus for a
three-games-in-three-nights road trip, and GM and head coach
Mike Foligno wants them to be gentlemen.
He also wants them to keep playing hard.
The Wolves take on Guelph Friday, Erie on Saturday and wrap
things up with a tilt against Toronto on Sunday.
All games can be heard live on 790 CIGM.
"I really like what were doing as far as our offensive play and
I also like our defensive ethic," said Foligno. "What we have
to pay attention to is our discipline. I don't mean not taking
any penalties, but getting rid of the bad ones. That's going to
be our focus over the next couple of weeks. We have to really
eliminate the offensive zone penalties. Those are careless or
lazy penalties. We need our team more aware of that...it's
important."
The road isn't kind to travellers.
"We will get no breaks on the road," said Foligno. "We have to
really stress this to the team."
Sudbury has encountered an interesting overage situation with
the return of 20-year-old defender Nicholas Tuzzolino.
 He joins fellow defencemen Adam McQuaid and Jonathan
D'Aversa and goalie Kevin Beech as the overage players. Teams
can carry four until the deadline. Tuzzolino provides the
Wolves with many options and Sudbury seems set in keeping
Beech, McQuaid and D'Aversa, no matter what.
"It will take care of itself," said Foligno. "We have to
make the right decision. It's hard to win in this league with
young goaltending...you need experience. We're fortunate to
have a guy like Kevin. What we need from him, and he's well
aware of it, is for him to play consistent hockey and make that
first save. If he does that, it's not often we give teams extra
chances. Tuzzolino has played well for us. Adam and Jonathan
have done a great job for us since the start. We will keep the
phone lines open for potential trades."
The key match on the road trip could be the Toronto game.
Both teams are neck-and-neck in the standings and breathing
room is needed.
"We would love to be in a situation come Sunday where we're
in a position to pull away from them," said the bench boss.
"Toronto is finding ways to win and beating good teams. We're
looking for a good start in Guelph, followed by another solid
effort against Erie and then finish in Toronto and try to be
perfect."
As always in the regular season, the Wolves are getting
decent mileage out of centre Kevin Baker, who has 23 points in
18 games, including six in his last three.
"Kevin has done nothing but excel here and improve," said
Foligno. "He's a hard worker player and puts opponents on red
alert because he's always out there sniffing for the break
always and scoring opportunities."
Winger Matt Dias is also coming along. He has seven points
in his last five games.
 "He's starting to open it up more...and he has a real
nose for the net and finding the back of the net," said
Foligno.
Sudbury expects defender Ryan Crouch to return. Forward Gary Friesen was in town this week and could be back as earl as mid-December. The Wolves have also released defenceman Andrew Beuman.
