Embarrassed Wolves fan disgusted by fan behaviour
“As a former player for the Wolves, I continue to follow news about the team from my hometown of Nashville, TN. The city of Sudbury is a very special place to me, and the people there treated me so well. I want to remind fans that OHL hockey is a game played by kids. Please set a positive example by treating the players with dignity and respect, as your words and actions can have a lasting effect for many years to come.”
Mike Fisher
Former Wolves Captain
BURGESS BELONGS
After reading all of the hype about Connor Burgess, I decided to go to the game last night against Peterborough. Other than needing to improve his
foot speed (which I could accuse a few wolves players of not doing last night), I thought Connor made some smart plays with the puck. He made a great pass to Jake Harris and set him in the clear and he made some good plays along the boards to get the puck out of the zone. To top it off, he got jumped by a Petes player and he managed to hold-on and throw a few paws. He is defensively responsible and I really didn’t see how he hurts the team. Besides, he played limited minutes on the 4th line. I for one won’t be listening to the detractors any longer as they obviously have personal issues. Keep up the good work Connor. You belong and you are helping your team win games. Nothing wrong with that.
Peter Hanson
I just read that the wolves “fans” were booing Conner Burgess. That, in my mind, is disrespectful. I remember one incident many years ago, when some of the “fans” were booing coach Ken Mackenzie because of the teams lack of motivation on the ice. I told this one “fan” to cheer on the team and show support, they are only kids, and as I had driven 4 hours to support them no matter what. The “fan” shut up as did a few of the other “fans” in my area. The kids turned the game around and won that night. I no longer drive up to Sudbury but I still cheer for them when they show up in Owen Sound. In fact I encourage the people around me to cheer for Sudbury when they score a goal and I’ll cheer for the Attack when they get a penalty. To the booing “fans”, if you don’t like it stay at home.
Keith Bennett
(Father of Ex Wolf Adam Bennett)
Go Wolves Go
Last Friday Night was one of the most exciting for me.
The return of hockey to the City of Sudbury. Nothing more exciting then that! But when I heard about the fans booing Connor Burgess, I was in a state of shock. That was the first time I was “embarrassed” to be a Wolves fan.
Connor is a skilled hockey player who just needs to adjust to the OHL just like every other player. All I’m trying to say is the fans need to grow up and if you have a problem with it don’t come at all. There is no need for this at our rink. I wish Connor all of the luck this year!!!
GO WOLVES GO
Z. Zambelli
Embarrassed Wolves fan disgusted by fan behaviour
Courtesy of the Northern Life. Letter to the Editor from Tuesday October 1st, 2013
Nothing spells fall in our city like the return of the Sudbury Wolves, and I was happy to be at last Friday’s game to welcome our boys back to the ice for another season of (hopefully) exciting hockey.
But what I saw displayed by the fans of our hometown team makes me question whether or not I’ll go back again this year.
The reaction to the introduction of Connor Burgess was disgusting.
At the mere mention of his name, a rain of boos came down from the stands while he stood there and took it all.
People seem to be forgetting is this young man is only 17 years old. Having thousands of people showing a negative reaction to your name — in your hometown no less — is nothing less than bullying.
The list of hockey players who have elite skills at his age is short – think Crosby or Stamkos, or for someone my age, Gretzky.
The Ontario Hockey League is where young men figure out if they have a professional future in the game they’ve played for most, if not all, of their lives.
Connor is no different than any of the other players — Nick Baptiste, Kevin Raine or Nathan Cull — with the exception these players are years older than he is. In hockey years, two years of growth and development are huge, but we seem not to even be prepared to give him that opportunity.
Connor was last year’s winner of the Ontario Hockey League’s Ivan Tennant Memorial Award, given to the top high school student in the OHL. That means he’s a smart kid. But when strangers hoot and holler at the mere mention of your name that can take even the strongest individuals and bring them down, just like any other teenager.
Picking on him just because he’s the owner’s kid is beneath all of us. If you don’t like the ownership of the team, stay home – don’t take it out on the one person who’s accessible.
He deserves better. Sudbury deserves better.
Angie Slazyk
Greater Sudbury
