BY
KEITH LACEY
This will be unlike any training camp ever in the long history
of the Sudbury Wolves.
Because the team has so many returning players, only 40 players
are expected when fitness training and medicals officially kick
off training camp Monday morning at the Sudbury Arena.
And because the Wolves organization has scheduled a European
vacation in two weeks, where the team will play three junior
teams from Poland, the Czech Republic and Russia, this will be
the earliest date ever to begin training camp.
"The opening of training camp is just around the corner and
you're always excited to get going this time of year," said
Wolves head coach and GM Mike Foligno. "We've got some real
nice additions to our hockey club this year and we're all
anxious and ready to go."
Because of the European vacation, the number of quality
returning players and solid core of new draft picks and picks
from previous years, Foligno said the coaching staff decided a
smaller camp would be the better way to go this year.
"Our philosophy is a smaller camp should make this one of the most competitive camps we've ever had," he said.
"We think most of the players coming in will have a chance
to win a job on this hockey team depending on how they perform
in training camp and that should make things very competitive.
"A smaller group also allows for more one-on-one instruction
from the coaching staff with players."
Some returning players will be in for a shock if they
believe they already have a spot on the hockey club, said
Foligno.
"I really like the group of older draft picks who haven't
yet made this level and our latest group of draft picks," he
said. "With the exception of only a few players, there won't be
any guaranteed jobs on this hockey club.
"The majority of players will have to earn a spot based on
solid play throughout practices, scrimmages and in exhibition
games."
The one-week trip to Europe should be beneficial in many
ways, said Foligno.
"It will allow the players we bring over to gel and it will
provide a great opportunity to learn something about the
history of Europe and make some of these young kids realize how
life is over there and maybe bring home a real appreciation for
our own way of life here in Canada," he said.
Scoring sensation Benoit Pouliot won't be attending training
camp even though he could potentially be an overage candidate,
said Foligno. Pouliot has nothing left to prove at the major
junior level and will either be playing with the Minnesota Wild
(fourth overall selection in the 2005 NHL draft) or play for
their farm team in the American Hockey League.
Captain Marc Staal, who anchored Team Canada to the World
Juniors gold medal early this year, will be at the training
camp, said Foligno.
Even though Staal has one more year of junior eligibility,
the Wolves are moving forward because they think the talented
rearguard is going to make the New York Rangers, who selected
him 12th overall in 2005, said Foligno.
Any scenario where Staal plays for the Wolves this coming
season would be a giant bonus, he said.
A veteran core of returning forwards sure to start in the
season wearing blue and white include Nick Foligno, Devin
DiDiomete, Akim Aliu, Matt Dias and Kevin Baker.
The blueline corp should be solidified by returning
potential overagers including Adam McQuaid, Jonathon D'Aversa
and Nick Tuzzolino. Goaltender Kevin Beech will also be given
very strong consideration for one of three overage positions.
Who will fill those overage positions depends on what
happens at various NHL camps, said Foligno.
"I think we have a very good core of returning players, but
there will be plenty of opportunity for young players to make
their mark," said Foligno. "Some players are going to earn jobs
based on their performance before the regular season starts and
some who expected jobs will lose them."
Daily practices open to the public start next Tuesday at 9
am, to be followed by a 10 am scrimmage. An afternoon practice
begins at 2:30 pm. This same routine continues until the team
leaves for Europe Aug. 27.
The blue-white game next Wednesday begins at 4 pm.
