WOLVES HOWL LOUDER THAN THUNDER

THUNDER DOME (Niagara Falls, ON, Canada)- For the Thunder Bay Timberwolves, this pre-season game against their divisional rival couldn't come soon enough.
-"It's been a long summer," said captain, Keith Ballard. "A lot of time to think about last season, and work to improve for this season."
-The Timberwolves won a league low nine games in their inaugural season last year. Their position in the league was not a surprise to anyone in the CCHL. The number of wins though did not sit well with Thunder Bay managment, fans and returning players.
-"It's an embarrassment," said Ballard. "We weren't expecting to be one of the better teams. We started off focused and poised. But for whatever reason we lost that and were completely dominated too often.
-With five rookies and only a handful of returnees in their lineup. The Timberwolves arrived in Niagara Falls with a youthful jump and a fresh start.
-Like years past, the penalty-prone Thunder took all of sixteen seconds to put themselves a man down when Jonathan Toews took a minor. The Timberwolves would not capitalize, but the tone of the game was set.
-One of Thunder Bay's newest acquisitions, Kyle Brodziak took a feed from Ballard and Dean McAmmond and buried it behind Jason LaBarbera at just over the five minute mark of the game.
-Niagara Falls would even things up when German speedster, Marco Sturm beat the 'wrong handed', Josh Harding three minutes after Brodziak's tally.
-The first period ended without anymore goals. But did introduce the Timberwolves to the Thunder's pesky, Steve Downie. Downie spent seven minutes of the first in the penalty box. Five for his first CCHL fight against Bryce Salvador and a two minute slash.
-"He's there to push your buttons," said Timberwolves forward, Patrick Sharp. "He makes himself known out there. Our job is to not feed into him and do our own thing.
-The second period did not lose any of the games nastiness, when Niagara's goaltender became frazzled with too many Wolves in his crease. He took liberties with these trespassers and drew a two-minute minor.
-Patrick Sharp would put his team back on top with a power play goal one minute into their advantage.
-Thunder Bay grinder, Stephane Veilleux made it 3-1, but Marco Sturm brought Niagara Falls back to within one to finish out the second period.
-Almost on que, the Thunder couldn't go two minutes into a period without being shorthanded. And just like the start of the second period, Patrick Sharp made the opposition pay with his second powerplay goal of the game.
-Once again though, Marco Sturm brought his team back to within one by completing the hattrick in front of the Thunder faithful.
-"The place just went nuts for a while," said Timberwolves goalie Josh Harding. "The ice was definitely tilted in their favour after that goal. But we showed poise and didn't get caught up in the madness."
-Thunder Bay survived and hushed the crowd when Kyle Brodziak scored his second of the game with less than four minutes to play.
-The game concluded with a 5-3 Thunder Bay victory.
-"It was a good start, but we still need alot of work," said Timberwolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "Our rookies were timid. Not one of them took a shot. But none of them were also a minus. So they didn't hurt us out there. Hardy played very good for us. We were outshot in every period, and he kept us in the game." Hartsburg did not say if Harding would get the next pre-season game or not. It is expected that Thunder Bay will rotate between Harding and Niittymaki throughout the season. With Finnish youngster, Karri Ramo maybe getting a couple games.
THREE STARS:
1: Marco Sturm (NIA) 3 goals off of 13 shots
2: Patrick Sharp (THU) 2 PP goals and an assist
3: Josh Harding (THU) 30 saves