BY
KEITH LACEY
If the old saying is true that a picture speaks a thousand
words, then local hockey fans are going to be speaking a lot
about the impressive new artwork adorning the travel bus used
by the Sudbury Wolves and Sudbury Kal Tire Junior Wolves.
Local graphic artist Max Gray has been working with Wolves
management to develop a "bus wrap," which has become common
among Ontario Hockey League teams over the past few years.
Using computer graphics, Gray took the pictures of current
team captain Marc Staal and former captains Zack Stortini and
Mike Fisher and put together an impressive collage, which
decorates both sides of the team's coach, also used by the
Junior Wolves during road trips.
On the back of the bus, is another picture of current
overage goaltender Kevin Beech.
On both sides of the bus, besides the pictures of Stall,
Stortini and Fisher, there are two large images of Arctic
Wolves, the Wolves' team logo and a large graphic that reads
"Pride of the North."
While the bus is used heavily by the Wolves and Junior
Wolves, anyone wishing to rent it can call Sookram Bus Lines at
983-4347. On Wednesday morning, players, coaches and family
members with the Sudbury AA Atom Wolves gathered at the
Carmichael Arena to embark on a long trip to Ottawa for a
post-Christmas tournament in the nation's capital.
The bus wrap was just completed last week and will promote
the Wolves and City of Greater Sudbury for the next three years
as part of a deal the club has with Azilda's Sookram Bus Lines,
said Wolves vice-president Blaine Smith.
"We've been talking about doing a bus wrap for quite a long
time, a couple of years actually, and everyone is very pleased
with how things have turned out," said Smith. "The bus is sure
to attract a lot of attention in every city where the Wolves
and Junior Wolves travel. That's what this is all about."
The Wolves are actually late coming on board as almost every
OHL team has incorporated a bus wrap on their touring coach
bus, said Smith.
But it's better late than never and the Wolves' organization
believes it has one of the most impressive bus wraps in the
league, said Smith.
"I have to congratulate Max because he did just a super
job," he said.
The design concept showcasing Staal, Stortini and Fisher on
both sides alongside two Arctic Wolves, with a portrait of
Beech on the back of the bus, was first conceptualized by Gray
back in early November, said Smith.
The hockey club approved the final design in late November
and the actual artwork was completed over the past two weeks,
said Smith.
"This is all about increasing exposure for the Wolves and
the Junior Wolves and promoting our great city as well," said
Smith. "Increasing exposure is always a good thing and we
believe this is money well spent.
"There will now be a source of pride whenever our players
step off the bus in towns all across Ontario... that's why we
have the words 'pride of the north' written on both sides of
the bus'."
The cost of the project was in excess of $10,000, said
Smith.
Gray said he's proud of the finished product, which was
completed at Sign City in Greater Sudbury.
"The final product looked just like it was supposed to look
and that's great," he said.
The graphics were designed on a computer to scale, he said.
At the sign shop, huge panels were designed and then
laminated to the side of the bus, he said.
Bus wraps have become more and more popular and he's worked on
similar projects in the past, but he's especially proud to have
worked on a project that will cast the Wolves' organization,
city and its citizens in such a positive light, he said.
"I think the Wolves are very happy with the end result and I think it will certainly get people talking about Sudbury and the Wolves, which is what this project is all about," he said. "I think it's good for Sudbury and good for the Wolves and Junior Wolves. I'm very pleased with how things turned out."
