Sebastian Dahm, Justin Donati and Andrew Self came to Sudbury
under different circumstances, but all three have the same
expectations.
And that's to help the Sudbury Wolves win a championship.
All three figure prominently in the Wolves Eastern Conference
championship series against Belleville. Dahm and Self are
former Belleville players, while Donati's twin brother, Tyler,
plays for the Bulls.
Self came via a November trade with Belleville for a 2007
second-round draft pick. Dahm was picked up from Sarnia at the
deadline for a 2007 fourth-round pick. Sarnia had acquired him
in the off season from Belleville. Donati was also acquired at
the deadline for Jessie Messier, a prospect and two draft
picks.
It took awhile, but all three have made a major impact with the
Wolves, especially in the playoffs. All three players have
never been past the second round of the playoffs with their
previous clubs.
In their first nine games in the post season, Donati had seven
goals and 14 points; Self had five goals, including two game
winners, and nine points; and Dahm had a sharp 2.55
goals-against-average and a blistering .933 save
percentage.
Dahm is ready to face his old squad.
"I'm definitely excited…it's an opportunity for me to show
Belleville they were wrong by trading me," said the Danish
goalie. "It's not personal revenge for me. It doesn't matter
who we would be playing, I would be just as wired as I am. It
turns out it's my old team…it just gives me extra
motivation."
Dahm and the Wolves are jacked to be in the conference
championship.
"It means everything to us," said the five-foot-11 goalie.
"It's why we play hockey…to get the chance to compete in the
big games of the playoffs. It's our time to shine. Everyone
rose to the occasion in the first two rounds. I'm proud of what
we have done, but I know we have a lot more in us."
Donati is anticipating the challenge of facing his twin
brother.
"It's thrilling…but it's a team game and all of our players
have to be better than all of their players. It does give me
extra motivation…it would be nice to have bragging rights over
Tyler at the dinner table in the summer. Hopefully we can win
and then I would rub it in his face a bit. He's thinking the
same thing…I know. We put these things aside in the game.
There's no friends or family on the ice…just opponents. After
the game, we're still best friends."
Self is astonished he will get to face his former team in such
a high stakes environment.
"I couldn't have scripted this any better," said the
six-foot-three forward. "I played there and didn't get the
chances
