Sudbury Wolves

 

For other uses, see Sudbury Wolves (disambiguation).

Sudbury Wolves
City	Sudbury, Ontario
League	Ontario Hockey League
Conference	Eastern
Division	Central
Founded	1962 (1962) (NOJHL) 1972 (OHA)
Home arena	Sudbury Community Arena
Colours	Blue, white and grey
Owner(s)	Mark Burgess
General manager	Blaine Smith
Head coach	Trent Cull
Affiliate(s)	Sudbury Junior Wolves
Website www.sudburywolves.com
Franchise history
1945–60	Barrie Flyers
1960–72	Niagara Falls Flyers
1972–present	Sudbury Wolves

The Sudbury Wolves are an OHL ice hockey team from Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the "Wolves" (or "Club Wolves" for their junior team) nearly every year since World War I. The Sudbury Wolves, the senior men's AAA team, have twice been chosen to be Canada's representatives at the Ice Hockey World Championships. They were Canada's team at both the 1938 and 1949 World Ice Hockey Championships, winning the World Championship title for Canada in 1938, and the silver medal in 1949.

The Sudbury Cub Wolves junior team began play in the 1920s as a member of the Nickel Belt Hockey League, then later in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. In 1932 and 1935 this team won the George Richardson Memorial Trophy as Eastern Canada's Junior "A" champions. They won the Memorial Cup in 1932 and were runners-up in 1935.

The current edition of the Sudbury Wolves is a junior ice hockey team that play in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The Sudbury Wolves have existed since 1962 in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, and 1972 in the OHL.

History

Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the Wolves or Club Wolves nearly every year since World War I. A Sudbury Cub Wolves junior team began play in the 1920s as a member of the Nickel Belt Hockey League, then later the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. Under the management of Max Silverman, this team won the George Richardson Memorial Trophy in 1932 and 1935, as Eastern Canadian champions. They won the Memorial Cup in 1932 and were runners-up in 1935. The senior Wolves represented Team Canada at the 1938 and 1949 World Championships, winning gold in 1938.

Sudbury Wolves, 1938

The second incarnation of the Wolves was the 1962 entry into the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Wolves won the McNamara Trophy as NOJHL Champions in 1969 and 1971.

The Ontario Hockey Association arrived in Sudbury in the fall of 1972 when the owners of the NOJHL's Sudbury Wolves bought the Niagara Falls Flyers franchise and merged the two teams.

The Wolves frequently garner support from the hometown fans, and the team often ranks near the top of the OHL in attendance. Sam McMaster was named OHL Executive of the Year in 1989–90 as the general manager, helping his team have its first winning season in 10 years. Sudbury celebrated their 35th anniversary in 2006–07, also reaching the OHL championship series the same year.

Championships

Sudbury Wolves make an entrance on home ice

The current OHL Sudbury Wolves have never won the OHL championship, and have never participated in the Memorial Cup. Theirs is currently the third-longest championship drought in the Canadian Hockey League, and is now the longest in the OHL since the London Knights broke their 40-year drought in 2005.

In 1976, the Wolves finished first overall in the OHA with 102 points, winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy, and the Leyden Trophy for the Leyden Division. That year Sudbury reached the OHA finals, losing to the eventual Memorial Cup champion Hamilton Fincups in 5 games. The Wolves returned to the OHL finals 31 seasons later in 2006–07, where they were they fell just short in 7 games by the Plymouth Whalers. The Wolves also won was the 2000–2001 Emms Trophy as the regular season Central Division champions.

J. Ross Robertson Cup 1976 Lost to Hamilton Fincups 2007 Lost to Plymouth Whalers George Richardson Memorial Trophy 1932 Defeated Ottawa Shamrocks 1935 Defeated Ottawa Rideaus Bobby Orr Trophy 2006–2007 Eastern Conference Champions

Hamilton Spectator Trophy 1975–1976 102 points Leyden Trophy 1975–1976 Leyden division Emms Trophy 2000–2001 Central division

Coaches

Jerry Toppazzini was awarded the Matt Leyden Trophy as the OHA coach of the year in 1976, leading his team to a first-place finish in the regular season.

List of Sudbury Wolves coaches with multiple years in parentheses.

1972–73 - B.MacKenzie, L.Rubic, T.Boyce 1973–74 - Mac MacLean 1974–75 - Stu Duncan 1975–77 - Jerry Toppazzini (2) 1977–78 - Marcel Clements, Andy Laing 1978–81 - Andy Laing (4) 1981–82 - Joe Drago 1982–83 - Ken Gratton, M.Clements, B.Harris 1983–84 - Billy Harris (2), Andy Spruce 1984–85 - Andy Spruce (2) 1985–86 - Bob Strumm, Wayne Maxner

1986–87 - Guy Blanchard 1987–88 - John Wallin, Ken MacKenzie 1988–92 - Ken MacKenzie (5) 1992–95 - Glenn Merkosky (4) 1995–96 - Glenn Merkosky, Todd Lalonde 1996–97 - Todd Lalonde (3) 1997–98 - Todd Lalonde, Tom Watt 1998–99 - Reg Higgs 1999–03 - Bert Templeton (4) 2003–09 - Mike Foligno (5) 2009-10 - Bryan Verreault 2010-present - Trent Cull

Players

Sudbury Wolves against the Ottawa 67's in Ottawa

The Sudbury Wolves have retired three players' numbers, and have sent 77 players onto the NHL.

Current roster

Goalies

• 1 -- Joel Vienneau (Hearst, Ontario)
• 66 -- Johan Mattsson (Huddinge, Sweden) ~ CHI 2011

Defencemen

• 3 -- Justin Sefton (Thunder Bay, Ontario) ~ SJ2011
• 4 -- Josh McFadden (Guelph, Ontario)
• 5 -- Jeff Corbett (Uxbridge, Ontario)
• 7 -- Ryan Hanes (Kanata, Ontario)
• 11 -- Mackenzie Braid (Mississauga, Ontario)
• 22 -- Frankie Corrado (Woodbridge, Ontario) ~ VAN2011
• 44 -- Charlie Dodero (Bloomingdale, Illinois)

Forwards

• 8 -- Derek Shoenmakers (Kitchener, Ontario)
• 12 -- Samuel Schutt (Palmer Rapids, Ontario)
• 13 -- Michael MacDonald (Thunder Bay, Ontario) "C"
• 14 -- Nicholas Baptiste (Ottawa, Ontario)
• 16 -- Jacob Harris (Georgetown, Ontario)
• 18 -- Chad Thibodeau (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)
• 19 -- Alex Racino (Merrill, Wisconsin)
• 20 -- Michael Kantor (Lake Forest, IL)
• 21 -- Andrey Kuchin (Russia)
• 27 -- Joshua Leivo (Innisfil, Ontario) ~ TOR2011
• 37 -- Matthew Campagna (Mississauga, Ontario)
• 51 -- Jason Lacroix (Hearst, Ontario)
• 61 -- Nathan Pancel (Orleans, Ontario)
• 92 -- Michael Sgarbossa (Campbellville, Ontario) SJ signed
• 94 -- Brody Silk (Iroquois Falls, Ontario)

Retired numbers

# 6 Randy Carlyle, # 10 Ron Duguay, # 17 Mike Foligno

Award winners

• 1975–76 - Jim Bedard, Dave Pinkney Trophy (Lowest Team GAA)
• 1978–79 - Mike Foligno, Red Tilson Trophy (Most Outstanding Player), Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy (Scoring Champion), Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy (Top Scoring Right Winger)
• 1981–82 - Pat Verbeek, Emms Family Award (Rookie of the Year)
• 1984 - Dave Moylan, Jack Ferguson Award (First Overall draft pick)
• 1985–86 - Jeff Brown, Max Kaminsky Trophy (Most Outstanding Defenceman)
• 1987 - John Uniac, Jack Ferguson Award (First Overall draft pick)
• 1993–94 - Jamie Rivers, Max Kaminsky Trophy (Most Outstanding Defenceman)
• 1994–95 - David MacDonald, F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy (Best Rookie GAA)
• 1998–99 - Norm Milley, Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy (Top Scoring Right Winger)
• 1998–99 - Ryan McKie, Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year)
• 2000–01 - Alexei Semenov, Max Kaminsky Trophy (Most Outstanding Defenceman)
• 2004–05 - Benoit Pouliot, CHL Rookie of the Year, Emms Family Award (OHL Rookie of the Year)
• 2006–07 - Marc Staal, Max Kaminsky Trophy (Most Outstanding Defenceman), Wayne Gretzky 99 Award (Most valuable player in playoffs)

NHL alumni

Mike Allison Derek Armstrong John Baby Ryan Barnes Don Beaupre Jim Bedard Adam Bennett Jason Bonsignore Kip Brennan Jeff Brown Randy Carlyle Tom Colley Brandon Convery Dean De Fazio Paul DiPietro Ron Duguay Craig Duncanson Dave Farrish Fedor Fedorov Mike Fisher Rory Fitzpatrick	Mike Foligno Nick Foligno Jim Fox Dan Frawley Sean Gagnon David Goverde Josh Gratton Scott Gruhl Richie Hansen Randy Hillier Randy Holt Dale Hunter Dave Hunter Mike Hudson Dan Jancevski Wes Jarvis Jason Jaspers Chris Kelly Chris Kontos Marc Laforge Ben Dunn	Mike Lenarduzzi Kevin MacDonald Derek MacKenzie Paul Mara Hector Marini Mike Marson Dan McCarthy Dale McCourt Brian McGrattan Jay McKee Alex McKendry Don McLean Adam McQuaid Ken McRae Max Middendorf Norm Milley Mike Moher Barrie Moore Ethan Moreau Glen Murray Zdenek Nedved Sean O'Donnell	Mike Peca Randy Pierce Benoît Pouliot Taylor Pyatt Andrew Raycroft Jamie Rivers Shawn Rivers Warren Rychel Mike Sands Rod Schutt Alexei Semenov Jason Simon Brad Smith Mike Smith Marc Staal Steve Staios Zack Stortini John Tanner Eric Vail Steve Valiquette Pat Verbeek	Dave Watson Dennis Wideman Mike Wilson

Team records

Team records for a single season
Statistic	Total	Season
Most points	102	1975–76
Most wins	47	1975–76
Most goals for	397	1978–79
Least goals for	171	2001–02
Least goals against	185	2004–05
Most goals against	427	1983–84

Individual player records for a single season
Statistic	Player	Total	Season
Most goals	Rod Schutt	72	1975–76
Most assists	Ron Duguay	92	1975–76
Most points	Mike Foligno	150	1978–79
Most points, rookie	Pat Verbeek	88	1981–82
Most points, defenceman	Jamie Rivers	121	1993–94
Best GAA (goalie)	Matt Mullin	3.04	1994–95
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

Yearly results

Regular season

• 1962–1972 NOJHL
• 1972–1974 OHA
• 1974–1980 OMJHL
• 1980–2010 OHL

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	SL	Points	Pct %	Goals For	Goals Against	Standing
1962–63	40	11	29	0	-	-	22	0.275	127	222	5th NOJHL
1963–64	39	26	12	1	-	-	53	0.679	213	170	2nd NOJHL
1964–65	40	7	33	0	-	-	14	0.175	167	275	5th NOJHL
1965–66	40	23	16	1	-	-	47	0.588	267	211	3rd NOJHL
1966–67	40	21	19	0	-	-	42	0.525	213	189	3rd NOJHL
1967–68	40	19	19	2	-	-	40	0.500	211	198	4th NOJHL
1968–69	48	31	15	2	-	-	64	0.667	229	160	2nd NOJHL
1969–70	48	33	11	4	-	-	70	0.729	341	192	2nd NOJHL
1970–71	48	39	7	2	-	-	80	0.833	353	159	1st NOJHL
1971–72	52	23	23	6	-	-	52	0.500	214	194	2nd NOJHL
1972–73	63	21	32	10	-	-	52	0.413	289	379	7th OHA
1973–74	70	31	26	13	-	-	75	0.536	298	288	5th OHA
1974–75	70	31	29	10	-	-	72	0.514	324	289	5th OHA
1975–76	66	47	11	8	-	-	102	0.773	384	224	1st Leyden
1976–77	66	38	24	4	-	-	80	0.606	385	290	2nd Leyden
1977–78	68	16	42	10	-	-	42	0.309	255	377	6th Leyden
1978–79	68	40	27	1	-	-	81	0.596	397	361	2nd Leyden
1979–80	68	33	33	2	-	-	68	0.500	299	309	5th Leyden
1980–81	68	20	45	3	-	-	43	0.316	284	380	6th Leyden
1981–82	68	19	48	1	-	-	39	0.287	274	401	7th Emms
1982–83	70	15	55	0	-	-	30	0.214	269	422	7th Emms
1983–84	70	19	50	1	-	-	39	0.279	287	427	8th Emms
1984–85	66	17	46	3	-	-	37	0.280	224	348	8th Emms
1985–86	66	29	33	4	-	-	62	0.470	293	330	5th Emms
1986–87	66	20	44	2	-	-	42	0.318	285	377	8th Emms
1987–88	66	17	48	1	-	-	35	0.265	208	339	8th Emms
1988–89	66	23	36	7	-	-	53	0.402	262	334	7th Emms
1989–90	66	36	23	7	-	-	79	0.598	295	267	3rd Emms
1990–91	66	33	28	5	-	-	71	0.538	288	265	6th Leyden
1991–92	66	33	27	6	-	-	72	0.545	331	320	4th Leyden
1992–93	66	31	30	5	-	-	67	0.508	291	300	4th Leyden
1993–94	66	34	26	6	-	-	74	0.561	299	275	3rd Leyden
1994–95	66	43	17	6	-	-	92	0.697	314	208	2nd Central
1995–96	66	27	36	3	-	-	57	0.432	262	288	6th Central
1996–97	66	21	37	8	-	-	50	0.379	251	302	6th Central
1997–98	66	25	34	7	-	-	57	0.432	257	268	5th Central
1998–99	68	25	35	8	-	-	58	0.426	261	288	2nd Central
1999–2000	68	39	23	5	1	-	84	0.610	262	221	2nd Central
2000–01	68	35	22	8	3	-	81	0.574	237	196	1st Central
2001–02	68	25	33	5	5	-	60	0.404	171	216	3rd Central
2002–03	68	16	46	4	2	-	38	0.265	175	273	5th Central
2003–04	68	25	32	6	5	-	61	0.412	185	220	5th Central
2004–05	68	32	23	6	7	-	77	0.515	201	185	4th Central
2005–06	68	34	28	-	1	5	74	0.544	227	222	3rd Central
2006–07	68	29	30	-	3	6	67	0.486	225	241	3rd Central
2007–08	68	17	46	-	2	3	39	0.287	175	292	5th Central
2008–09	68	26	35	-	3	4	59	0.434	227	282	5th Central
2009–10	68	26	35	-	4	3	59	0.434	193	267	5th Central
2010–11	68	29	35	-	2	2	62	0.456	235	276	4th Central
2011–12	68	36	26	-	4	2	78	0.574	242	240	4th Central

Playoffs

• 1972–73 Lost to Ottawa 67's 8 points to 0 in first round.
• 1973–74 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 0 in first round.
• 1974–75 Defeated Ottawa 67's 8 points to 6 in first round.
  Lost to Toronto Marlboros 9 points to 7 in second round.
• 1975–76 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 9 points to 5 in quarter-finals.
  Defeated Ottawa 67's 8 points to 2 in semi-finals.
  Lost to Hamilton Fincups 8 points to 2 in finals.
• 1976–77 Lost to Kingston Canadians 4 games to 1 with 1 tie in quarter-finals.
• 1977–78 Out of playoffs.
• 1978–79 Defeated Oshawa Generals 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
  Lost to Peterborough Petes 8 points to 2 in semi-finals.
• 1979–80 Defeated Kingston Canadians 3 games to 0 in first round.
  Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals.
• 1980–81 Out of playoffs.
• 1981–82 Out of playoffs.
• 1982–83 Out of playoffs.
• 1983–84 Out of playoffs.
• 1984–85 Out of playoffs.
• 1985–86 Lost to Guelph Platers 8 points to 0 in first round.
• 1986–87 Out of playoffs.
• 1987–88 Out of playoffs.
• 1988–89 Out of playoffs.
• 1989–90 Lost to Owen Sound Platers 4 games to 3 in first round.
• 1990–91 Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in first round.
• 1991–92 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 3 in first round.
  Lost to North Bay Centennials 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
• 1992–93 Defeated Newmarket Royals 4 games to 3 in first round.
  Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals.
• 1993–94 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
  Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in division semi-finals.
• 1994–95 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
  Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
  Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 3 in semi-finals.
• 1995–96 Out of playoffs.
• 1996–97 Out of playoffs.
• 1997–98 Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
  Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
• 1998–99 Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
• 1999–2000 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
• 2000–01 Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
• 2001–02 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2002–03 Out of playoffs.
• 2003–04 Lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2004–05 Defeated Brampton Battalion 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
• 2005–06 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
• 2006–07 Defeated Mississauga Ice Dogs 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  Defeated Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in conference finals.
  Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in finals.
• 2007–08 Out of playoffs.
• 2008–09 Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2009–10 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2010–11 Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
• 2011–12 Lost to Brampton Battalion 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.

Uniforms and logos

From 1972 to 1987 the Sudbury Wolves' colours were green, white and gold, using the logo dispayed on the right. The home jerseys featured white background with green and gold trim. The away jerseys had a green background with white and gold trim.

Since the 1987–88 season, the Sudbury Wolves' colours have been blue, white and silver, with the current logo at the top of the article. The home jerseys have a white background with blue and silver trim. The away jerseys have a blue background with white and silver trim.

The Sudbury Wolves have also had special logo designed and worn as patches on the jersey for their 25th and 30th anniversaries.

Jake Cardwell of the Wolves wearing the 2009 version of the away jersey

Sudbury wore a black third jersey briefly in the mid-1990s. The current third jersey was first worn October 13, 2006. The jersey has a silver background, with blue and white trim, and the name "Sudbury" on the front diagonally from upper left to lower right.

Arena

The Sudbury Wolves play their home games at the Sudbury Community Arena, which was constructed in 1951 and is located in the downtown core. The arena holds approx. 5,100 spectators - 4,600 seats and 500 standing room, and has an ice size of 200' x 85'. Every time the Wolves score a goal, a taxidermic wolf rolls out on a pulley system to howl at the opposing team's bench. The City of Greater Sudbury and the hockey club have recently upgraded the facility. The 1.5 million dollar expansion includes 12 new suites, 990 club seats, a new lounge as well as improved lounge and washroom facilities.

Media

In the 2009-10 hockey season, Wolves games will be broadcast on CJTK-FM in Sudbury. On TV, games are broadcast on local programming in Sudbury.

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Ontario

External links

• Sudbury Wolves
• www.sudburymuseums.ca History of hockey in Sudbury
• Sudbury Community Arena
• Sudbury Wolves fan site