BY SCOTT
HADDOW
The Sudbury Wolves will make like Vikings and invade enemy
rinks this weekend as they head out on their first
three-games-in-three-nights road trip of the season.
It's not going to be a frolic in a pasture for the local
juniors as they face stiff competition in the form of the
London Knights (Friday, 7:30 pm), Sarnia Sting (Saturday, 7:35
pm) and Saginaw Spirit (Sunday, 2 pm).
All games can be heard on 790 CIGM.
The Wolves had their confidence raised last week when they
came from a three-goal deficit on the road to thump Belleville
5-3.
Head coach and GM Mike Foligno simply wants his troops to
take to the ice and give it their all.
"This road trip is another good test," said the bench boss.
"We showed last week we could do well on the road and we
learned a lot. We need a different mentality on the
road…keeping our game simple will be the real key. "
The return of stalwart defender Marc Staal and slick Nick
Foligno has given the club a renewed confidence boost.
Both players will not just log plenty of ice time with the
Wolves. Staal and Foligno could be pressed into duties with
other teams at events such as the OHL All-Star Game, the
Canada-Russia series and the World Junior Championship (WJC).
Staal played at last year's WJC for Team Canada and won gold.
If he plays again, he could be captain.
Rookie Patrik Lusnak has played strong in his first five
games, picking up three goals and six points and a +2 rating.
"Patrik is a very offensive player and a physical guy," said Foligno. "He doesn't get intimidated. He's also responsible defensively and we use him on the penalty kill."
With the return of Staal, the defence corps figures to get
bumped around a bit as playing time decreases overall.
Robust defender Stephen Miller is one player who will still
get some ice time despite not scoring any points in his first
five games. Miller brings a completely different element to the
Wolves lineup: toughness and courage.
Miller has already taken on two of the OHL's toughest
competitors - Brampton's Phil Oreskovic and Toronto's Michael
Haley - and asserted himself well while giving his teammates a
boost.
Here's a quick round up on the Wolves' opponents.
Friday, Oct. 6
London Knights
Game time: 7:30 pm
The Knights were supposed to be rebuilding after winning the
Memorial Cup two seasons ago, and then being a finalist in the
OHL championship last year.
Through their first three games, they have proved to be
anything but a rebuilding club.
The squad peeled off three wins in their first three games.
They looked solid with coach Dale Hunter weaving some early
magic.
London, usually known for a high-octane offence, has been
getting the job done defensively too.
They allowed 11 goals against in the three games, which was the best mark in the Western Conference and third best in the OHL.
Goalie Steve Mason has been rock-steady, with three wins and a
.911 save percentage.
Despite losing gunners such as Rob Schremp, David Bolland
and Dylan Hunter, a host of young players have filled the void.
Rookie Sam Gagner has been sensational, scoring 11 points in
his first three games. Third year winger Adam Perry has been
hot, recording six goals in his first three games.
Another rookie, Patrick Kane, has injected firepower into the lineup, registering seven points in his first three games.
Saturday, Oct. 7
Sarnia Sting
Game time: 7:35 pm
The Sting has missed the playoffs the last two seasons and
served as a good rest stop for other teams to wipe their feet.
It has changed dramatically this year. Armed with plenty of
decent talent from high draft positions, the Sting had a 3-1
record after their first four games. Steve Stamkos, 2006 first
overall OHL pick, has been the real deal so far, picking up
four goals and seven points in his first four games.
The club also features a potential high 2007 NHL draft pick
in defenceman Mark Katic. In 2005-06, as a rookie, Katic scored
34 points in 51 games. This year, he had five points in his
first four games.
The Sting acquired rugged Ryan Wilson from Toronto and
promptly made him captain. Wilson, well known to Wolves fans
for his surly demeanour and high degree of skill, has breathed
new life into the Sting defence corps. In his first four games,
Wilson had three goals and eight points.
He can also handle the rough stuff as his 388 career penalty
minutes in 194 games attests.
Also on the blue line is former Wolves player Thomas Sample. The stay-at-home defender had zero points in his first three games. In 101 career games with the Wolves, Sample had one goal, 10 points and 163 penalty minutes.
Sunday, Oct. 8
Saginaw Spirit
Game time: 2 pm
Considered by many hockey experts to be the team to beat
this season, the Spirit stumbled out of the gate and almost
fell flat on their face.
In their first five games, the team only picked up one win,
along with four losses, including one in a shoot out.
With an embarrassment of riches in all forward and defence positions, the only question mark was goaltending.
Veteran No. 1 puck stopper Ryan Daniels dropped four games,
forging an uninspiring 4.15 goals-against-average and a gaudy
.886 save percentage.
Daniels wasn't the only incumbent to trip at the starting
blocks. Veteran scorer and former Wolves players Ryan McDonough
has also disappointed. In his first five games, McDonough had
three points. Last season, he recorded 88 points in 68 games.
Sophomore Zack Torquato, who ripped 19 goals last year, was
goal-less in his first five games.
Saginaw won 36 games in 2005-06, placing second in the West Division, but was swept in the first round of the playoffs by Guelph.
