BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Kyle Musselman knew if he ever got the chance
to pull a Sudbury WolvesÂ' jersey over his head again, he would
do everything in his power to keep it on.
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Last season, Musselman made the Wolves at the
start of the year, but was released to a junior squad after 10
games.
Like most young players, Musselman was
disappointed, but not devastated. He channeled his energy in a
positive way, becoming a more complete hockey player.
Â"Kyle came in this year with the mindset he
was going to play for the Wolves,Â" said Foligno. Â"He told me
on day one that he was here to stay. He had an incredible
attitude, and we knew it was the right start for him. He has
done everything a young player is supposed to do. He didnÂ't
use a disappointment to end his hockey dream. He used his
disappointment last year to motivate himself.Â"
Musselman has endeared himself to WolvesÂ'
faithful with his spirited, rugged play and his willingness to
never take a shift off.
Â"I am a crash-and-bang player,Â" said
Musselman. Â"I also try and put the odd point up on the board
and stick up for my teammates. I mostly like to hit. ThatÂ's
what I am good at. I am going to keep doing it because my
teammates feed off the energy of a big hit or a fight or a
goal. It also gets the fans going and all of a sudden you get a
momentum boost and it helps the team win, so I have to keep
doing it.Â"
Musselman has taken his competitiveness to
the extreme by dropping the gloves with some of the leagueÂ's
tougher players and defending SudburyÂ's honour.
Musselman has a great secret weapon: he can
throw with both hands.
Â"I am primarily a south paw, but I can use
my right as well,Â" said Musselman. Â"When I was a kid in
karate, I found I could throw with both.
Sometimes itÂ's fun to throw with the left,
sometimes with the right, whatever gets the job done.Â"
MusselmanÂ's brave brawn has also endeared
him to the Wolves organization.
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| name="valign"
top > MUSSELMAN will battle
for his WolvesÂ' teammates. In last SundayÂ's game,
he went toe-to-toe with St. MichaelÂ's Majors
defenseman Ryan Wilson. |
Â"Kyle fits in nicely with our team,Â" said
Foligno. Â"The guys love him. Kyle looks at them like they are
brothers, and I think they feel the same way. HeÂ's really
helping the team be competitive every game.Â"
Musselman is looking to just help the Wolves
go as far as they can this season, and savour every minute he
has his WolvesÂ' jersey on his back.
Â"This is a great town and I am enjoying
every minute here.Â"
