ThunderDome (Niagara Falls)- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves arrived in Niagara Falls riding a three-game winning streak and adding a former first rounder to their roster from the previous night.--The Timberwolves landed in Toronto on Wednesday afternoon after a skip across the pond from Sweden, where they won their third game in a row against the Wisborg Donuts. While in-flight, general manager, Blake Wendt pulled off an amazing coup of sorts when he was able to acquire 2006 first overall draft pick, Erik Johnson (pictured) from the Southwest Scorpions.
--Thunder Bay sent Nick Schultz and prospects Andreas Nodl and Kevin Porter to Soutwest for Johnson and prospect defenseman, Matt Corrente. Corrente was immediately sent down to Duluth.
--Johnson, in his rookie season is joining his third hockey club in a month. He was traded from Dayton to Southwest on December 5th. That alone might lead some to wonder "what's wrong with this kid?" Not something that worries the Timberwolves at all.
--"I can't imagine that Erik will moving any time in the near future," said Wendt. "We've coveted him since his U.S. under-18 and NCAA years. We made more than one offer to Dayton when they had him. We made an offer to the Scorpions almost immediately after they acquired him. He is everything in a defenseman that we want. He's huge (6-4, 225 lbs), he skates very well for a big man. He plays with poise beyond his years. Head is up with or without the puck. Plus he has a mean streak and will crush you open ice or in the boards. Erik Johnson is an all around defenseman that excels in all aspects of his game. He will be in Thunder Bay for a very long time."
--The former Minnesota Golden Gopher, Johnson was in the lineup for the Timberwolves in Niagara Falls against the Thunder on Thursday night.
--Wearing number 4, Johnson opened up the scoring in the game at 16:32 in the first. Thunder Bay would go on to score four more goals before Niagara Falls ended Josh Harding's shutout bid at 18:43 in the third. The Thunder goal was scored on Antero Niittymaki, who was in due to an injury to Harding. Per the team it is a "lower body injury".
--"Josh was hurt in his last start with the same thing," said head coach Craig Hartsburg. "We thought we had it resolved, but I guess not. He had showed no signs of anything lingering the last few days in practice and he didn't show anything in the warm-up. It's a minor thing and we'll get it taken care of and he'll be back."
--Karri Ramo was recalled from Duluth and was able to make it to the team plane in Toronto before they left for Havana, Cuba for their Saturday contest against the Moon.
--Even while boarding the plane at 2 am, Wendt couldn't stop gleaming about his recent acquisition. And not just about Erik Johnson
--"To get a cornerstone defenseman like Johnson on our roster is amazing," said Wendt. "But honestly, Matt Corrente is what put this deal over the top for us. We seen alot of him last season at Niagara (IceDogs, OHL) when we were specifically looking at Alex Pietrangelo. Like Johnson, we made offers last season for Matt's rights. He caught our eye and we enjoy the game he brings to the table. He's abrasive and hits like a freight train. He's similar to Dion Phaneuf in that he's physical and in your face, but also skates very well and carries the puck with poise and control. He can easily be the best player on the ice in any game. All the skills are there, they just need some polishing and refining. But we think he makes us better."
--Timberwolves fans will have to wait until after Christmas to see their new bluechip defenseman in person. Thunder Bay doesn't play at home until next Saturday against Reykjavik.
3 STARS vs NIA...
*Patrick Sharp (THU) - Goal and two assists
**Josh Harding (THU) - Zero goals against off twenty-six shots in forty-nine minutes before injury
***David Perron (THU) - Game-winner at 18:40 in first period
No comments:
Post a Comment