PROSPECTS CONVENE AT NEW TRAINING DIGS

Tim Hortons QuadPlex (Thunder Bay, Ont, CND)- Monday, June 2nd was only the beginning for the prospects of the Thunder Bay Timberwolves. The Pre-Draft Prospect Camp will be in full swing until Friday.
--Some of the players not familiar with the area, arrived in Thunder Bay over the weekend to check out what the city has to offer. All seemed impressed.
--"It's a beautiful town," said defenseman Chris Summers. "The people seem very nice. I've liked everything I've seen so far."
--"I could definately see myself laying down some roots here," said centre Bryan Little.
--Little has a very good chance at landing a roster spot out of Training Camp. Due to a shortage of centres currently in the line-up. But don't think that anything is guarenteed or just given.
--"I really hope that no one thinks that a spot is theirs just because they showed up," said general manager Blake Wendt. "Everything will be earned. We'll find out soon enough who really wants it."
--Monday and Tuesday were structured so that the NCAA players got a good look. Due to NCAA rules that the players can only take part in two days of training from their drafted team. Or loose their college eligibility.
--"We'd really like to get more than these two days," said head coach Craig Hartsburg. "But those are the rules, and we have no intention of hurting their college status."
--Of those NCAA players, the University of Minnesota was well represented with seven current players, and one alumni in Alex Goligoski.
--"We all kind of drove up here together," said centre Ryan Stoa. "We're all pretty tight, and it was a fun drive. Long, but fun."
--Sunday night all the players took a walk-thru of the new training facilities in the northside of Thunder Bay then a team dinner at Caribou Restaurant.
--Last season, the Timberwolves held their training camp at Fort William Gardens and their home arena, the Canadian National Gardens. Then held practices during the season between the two and occationally other local rinks.
--This season, the Timberwolves have their own facilities at the brand new, state of the art, 'Tim Hortons QuadPlex'.
--The QuadPlex was the idea of Wendt and others within the organization.
--Under a single roof, there are four rinks. Each with their own home and away locker rooms and seating for fans. Each rink is also fully enclosed seperately to maintain constant climate control and to keep the ice in the best condition possible.
--There is also a skate shop, concessions (of course provided in part by Tim Hortons), restaurant, sports bar and a Timberwolves ProShop.
--"It's a great venue for local hockey games and general public skating to take place," said Wendt. "We hope the community responds in a positive way. We are very proud to be a part of Thunder Bay."
--The people of Thunder Bay didn't have to pay for any part of the construction of the QuadPlex. All contributions came from the Timberwolves and private donours.
--Included in the four rinks, the Timberwolves training facility occupies one rink (not open to the public except on special occations) which includes a workout area that overlooks the rink, locker rooms, trainers room, spas/saunas, video room, coaches offices and a running track surrounding the rink.
--"It's one hell of a set up here," said forward Tom Kostopoulos. "It's pretty neat to have all of this going on under one roof. Plus there's no training facilities that compare to this here. A+ for sure."
--After Tuesday, the Camp roster will be nearly cut in half after the NCAA players are dismissed. A total of thirteen.
--"I think most of us will stick around," said Stoa. "We just can't take part in the training camp stuff. I know I want to stay at least through the weekend before heading back down to the Twin Cities."
--The Timberwolves will be conducting their Post-Draft Prospect Camp, obviously after the 2008 CCHL Entry Draft. It will be an optional camp for these players, but manditory for the '08 draftees.
--There will be an optional Mini-Camp sometime in July, followed by an optional Conditioning Camp and then the manditory Training Camp for all players.