Wolves’ Top Prospect Camp Ends
33 Sudbury Wolves hopefuls wrapped-up the weekend with an early morning scrimmage at the Countryside Arena on Sunday with TEAM BLUE defeating TEAM WHITE 3-2. The game featured a better scrimmage than day one where TEAM WHITE won 9-4. On Sunday, the play was tighter, there was more physical play and the top prospects elevated their game.
TEAM BLUE captain NICK BAPTISTE scored the game winner on Sunday while RILEY DUNDA and MICHAEL SANDS chipped in with singles. TEAM WHITE goal scorers were COLTON SPICER and CONNOR BURGESS. SPICER led the camp in goals with four goals in two games. The Fort Frances native certainly made a case for himself with his solid offensive and physical game. MICHAEL MUZYKA had the best day in goal with a shut-out performance during his playing segment for TEAM BLUE.
“I thought the players competed hard today and the play intensified as the scrimmage wore on” noted Wolves’ Head Coach Trent Cull. “TEAM WHITE was really working hard to tie the game but TAYLOR DUPUIS made a great glove stop on TEAM WHITE captain JAKE HARRIS in the final minute.”
All-in-all the Wolves’ Head Coach was satisfied with his first viewing of a number of the Wolves’ prospects. “I thought the top prospects raised their level of play today. The goaltending was solid and there was some good contact out there. I thought the defence played well and they moved the puck well. The future certainly looks bright if all of these players continue to work hard and develop and focus on a career with the Sudbury Wolves.”
A number of Wolves’ veterans were in attendance at the Orientation Camp including graduate JOSH MCFADDEN, goaltender JOEL VIENNEAU and Vancouver Canuck prospect FRANK CORRADO. CORRADO just returned from a successful performance with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.
The Wolves will have some difficult decisions to make as the summer wears on. The Orientation camp is the first of three camps that the Wolves will host this summer. It is also the beginning of an off-season of signing top prospects for the future and getting ready for an international tournament in Russia in August.
“We will certainly be meeting in the days and weeks ahead and we will be making decisions on signing new players and determining which players will be participating in the Club Championship tournament in Russia in August” notes Wolves’ GM Blaine Smith. Smith expects the team to make some announcements in this regard by the end of May.
Next up is the CHL IMPORT DRAFT to be held in June. The Sudbury Wolves have two selections to make in the first round of this year’s Import draft. Smith noted that this weekend’s Orientation Camp provided some good insights on the depth that the team has in each position as they head into the CHL Import Draft.
