BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The Sudbury Wolves will be looking to let
their offence run wild Friday night at the Sudbury Arena.
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Wolves defenceman Ryan Hastings,
along with fellow defenders Marc Staal and Jonathan
D'Aversa, have been producing offence from the
defence. The trio has combined for nine goals and 34
points in 35 games. Hastings has two goals and nine
points in 12 games. |
The Wolves host their southern rival,
Toronto, tonight (game time is 7:30 pm) and the locals will be
looking to fire up their offensive weapons after getting shut
out 4-0 by Brampton last Friday at home.
Sudbury will also have to stop the
Majors' scoring machine, which has produced the second most
goals for (64) in the OHL as of Oct. 27.
"Toronto has four scoring lines,"
said Wolves head coach and GM Mike Foligno. "They made
changes last year that made them a more offensive team. What we
have to do is eliminate as many as their scoring chances as
possible. If we can reduce their chances to about 10 or 12 than
it gives us a chance to be successful. Our last game against
Brampton we didn't capitalize on our chances. Any chances
we create this game...we have to score."
A good deal of offence might come from the
defence. The Wolves three big shooting defencemen, Marc Staal,
Jonathan D'Aversa and Ryan Hastings, have combined for nine
goals and 34 points in 35 games.
Factor in new guy Kyle Hope, who has two
goals and three points in seven games, and the Wolves defence
is one of the most offensively prolific units in the
league.
Hope has earned praise for his efforts.
"We brought in Kyle as a guy who could
relieve our defence or fill in case of an injury," said
Foligno. "Kyle has worked really hard and plays with a
will-to-win attitude. He's worked himself into our lineup
and it will be hard for us to keep him out of it. Kyle has
contributed, not only on defence, but on the offence as well
with his great shot from the point. It has allowed us to use
him on the power play."
Both of Hope's goals were on the power
play.
The Wolves have only one player out with an
injury, defenceman Troy Murray, who's expected to still
miss another six weeks.
Here's a look at the top-three Wolves
scorers:
Ben Pouliot 8-4-11-15
Marc Staal 11-5-8-13
Jonathan D'Aversa 12-2-10-12
