Wolves Reflect On Inaugural Season

THUNDER BAY, ON, Canada- The inaugural season for the Thunder Bay Timberwolves is now officially over. For some, this was a day that could not have come soon enough.
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"This was a season that I think everyone in this locker room is glad is over," said Joe Pavelski as he cleaned out his locker at the Canadian National Gardens this morning. "I'll stay positive and as upbeat as possible. This team is headed in the right direction. I think everyone that is in this for the long haul knows that."
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"Everyone just wants a fresh start," said Keith Ballard. "No one likes to lose. It became a cancer with this team this season. We almost got used to it. Towards the end, at least the last couple games for sure. You could just tell we weren't focused. At least not with hockey. The normal chatter wasn't about the game ahead. It was about the summer. There's alot of free agents on this team that know they won't be back here next season. They just didn't give a sh*t anymore. That combined with the young guys, that are looking up to these veterens. You basically had a locker room full of guys who basically quit trying. I hope that management doesn't bring any of these guys back. The ones that quit. Maybe I've got my head in the clouds or something. But it shouldn't have been like this."
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Ballard's words to the media could be heard across the locker room and into one of those free agent's ears. Andre Roy was non too happy with what he heard. Roy first cursed at Ballard from across the room, and then made his way towards the defenseman before being seperated by other players. Roy isn't expected to be signed by the Timberwolves this summer. Ballard is the front runner for the captain's position.
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Away from the hurt egos and tempers in the locker room, head coach Craig Hartsburg was at the podium in the Timberwolves Media Room.
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"This was obviously the toughest season in my professional career, and most definately in my coaching career. As the head coach, I take full responsibility for this season. This is a wonderful organization to work with. The pieces are here. There's alot of talent coming up through the pipeline out of Duluth. And there's surely more to come through the draft. We will win. We will put a product on the ice that makes the people of Thunder Bay proud. They deserve as much. To fill this barn every game... I'm just... I just apologize to you, the fans, for having to go through a first season like this. It will get better though.
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Later in the morning, the Timberwolves waited anxiously for a call from the League office about how they faired in the 2008 Draft Lottery. The news was a bitter pill to swallow.
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"We will be drafting fourth overall," said general manager, Blake Wendt. "It's a deep draft, so we're not worried about not getting talent. Obviously we were hoping for the #1. But it is what it is. I personally think the lottery should be for only the number one pick. Last five draw for that one pick, then you fall back to the order you finished in the rankings. I'm not going to sit here and act like I'm happy about this. I'm not. But I'm not happy when I don't hit the Powerball every week either. It's luck of the draw, and simply that. It's just luck. We didn't have it on our side this time."
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When asked if he thought of making an offer to winner of the first overall pick (River Cities), Wendt said this:
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"Chris knows what he's doing. This pick will not come cheap. If he even moves it at all. Which I seriously doubt. I wouldn't move it with (Steven) Stamkos on the table. No chance in hell. So that being said, I highly doubt we have the resources to reach what will be the demand for that pick. But anything can happen I guess."
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The Timberwolves will waste no time in getting right back to work. June 2nd will be the start of manditory Prospect Camp. It will be two weeks of on-ice and dryland drills and scrimmages at the Wolves brand new training center, the Tim Hortons QuadPlex in Thunder Bay. Players taking part in this camp will be current "prospects" in the system. There will be another post-draft camp after the 2008 Entry Draft.

INJURIES/PENALTIES DROP WOLVES

THUNDER BAY, ON, Canada- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves, coming off two days of rest, showed some grit in River Cities. But in the end, it was one more goal that they needed to defeat the Renegades.
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The Renegades opened the scoring on the powerplay after a Jason Krog hook. Talented winger, Dustin Brown beat Antero Niittymaki under the netminder's glove on a screen. River Cities took the one to nothing lead into the first intermission.
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It took Scott Thornton a little over two and a half minutes in the second period to even the score while deflecting a shot from Eric Lindros in front of Cam Ward.
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Things started to look up for Thunder Bay in the second after Joe Pavelski padded the score with two more goals for the Timberwolves. But things changed dramatically in the third period.
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"We just sat back and gave them too much room," said Pavelski. "We're not a team in a position to give games away. Tonight we did just that."
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This may not be a team that makes excuses. But after the second period ended, they had a gaping hole in their blueline. Two slapshots and two Thunder Bay defensemen hobbling off the ice.
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First it was Keith Ballard (pictured) when he took a slapper from PJ Axelsson just below the right knee. Ballard tried to get up, but eventually had to be assisted to the bench.
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Almost exactly two minutes later, Petteri Nummelin laid out his body in front of a Jeff Carter shot. Nummelin took his shot off his right foot and also had to be assisted off the ice by teammates.
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"It's tough to lose anyone," said head coach Craig Hartsburg. "It's tougher to lose a defenseman. But to lose two in just a couple shifts... it's hard to recover. Which, obviously we didn't recover in the third."
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Thunder Bay went into the third period with a two goal lead, but only skating four defensemen.
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It took River Cities almost eight minutes to capitalize on the Timberwolves loss. But they did, with Brooks Laich deking out Matt Walker and then sliding the puck under Niittymaki's left leg.
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Thunder Bay held onto the one goal lead for most of the third period. But at 18:56, Martin St. Pierre slashed Steve Ott after Ott gave St. Pierre a facewash. Jeff Carter capitalized thirty-seven seconds later. Tying the game with twenty-seven seconds remaining.
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The Wolves would make it to overtime. But another bad penalty by Eric Lindros put the Renegades on the powerplay once again. A little over a minute into their advantage, River Cities sealed the game with another deflection in front of Niittymaki. This time off the stick of Thunder Bay native, Taylor Pyatt.
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"I really don't know how much we have left in the tank," said Hartsburg. "We're at the point where I know these guys just want to get the season over. You seen that tonight. The fight for survival. The will to win, or at least hold a lead isn't there. We've had alot of injuries this season. And that's not an excuse for the losses. But when you lose two key guys like we did tonight, and it's the last couple games of the season. It's just tough to motivate guys that just want a fresh start. We do have to come out tomorrow and give the people of Thunder Bay something to look forward to for next season."
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The Timberwolves play their final home game this season tomorrow night against the Quebec Remparts. They then have Friday off and will play their final game of the season on Saturday against the Hamilton Predators.

WOLVES WIN!

THUNDER BAY, ON, Canada- It's been far too long for the Timberwolves and their always faithful fans since the hockey clubs last win. That finally ended on Saturday night.
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No one associated with the Wolves has made any excuses for this season. The fans show up for every home game and fill CN Gardens to capacity. Everyone knows that there is a light at the end of this long tunnel.
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There are big things on the horizon. As early as next season there should be several players from the farm in Duluth fighting for roster spots.
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There's the upcoming draft, where Thunder Bay currently holds fourteen picks. Two in the top five and three in the top thirty. Obviously the team hopes to nab the OHL phenom, Steven Stamkos. Only a draft lottery puts a damper on those aspirations. But the Timberwolves would be more than happy with anyone in that top five.
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But on Saturday night, there was something of more immediate importance. To win.
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It seems simple enough. It should be the goal for every game, for every team. But for this team, in this inaugural season the wins are hard to come by. They've been challenged more in recent days by managment and the coaches to tighten up their skates and finish this season with a couple more wins.
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The goal is of course to finish out these last eight games with eight wins. But at this point, management will settle for two numbers in the wins column.
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The game itself on Saturday was against Springfield. Thunder Bay was outshot 28-43, only had one powerplay opportunity. But still managed to score five goals past Peter Budaj, while Antero Niittymaki (pictured) was solid in stopping forty shots. The Timberwolves won 5-3 in front of 19,434 (sellout). Joe Pavelski scored a goal and added an assist for TB. Teammates Keith Ballard and Jason Krog added two points with two assists.
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Thunder Bay gets Sunday off. They play again on Monday in Hamilton.

Preds Drop Wolves, Take Out Rook

THUNDER BAY, ON, Canada- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves played a solid all around game against their appointed provincial rival. But the losing streak continues as the Hamilton Predators leave The Lakehead with a 3-1 victory.
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"We were simply beat by the better club," said Wolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "I'm pleased with the effort from the players. But obviously not the outcome of the game."
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The Timberwolves stayed with the Predators for two periods. Sheldon Souray opened up the scoring at 4:35 in the first with a cannon from the point that Antero Niittymaki did not see coming. Joe Pavelski evened things in the first, beating Dominic Hasek high glove side.
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Less than a minute after Souray's goal, he quickly became the most hated man in Thunder Bay when he drove rookie defenseman, Alexander Edler (pictured) hard into the boards face first. Edler had to be assisted by trainers and teammates off the ice and is done for the season. To further infuriate the crowd, Souray was only given a two minute minor. "He should of been given the boot," said Wolves defenseman, Keith Ballard. "It was as obvious an intent to injure as there is. To basically lineup a guy with his back to you, and hit him as hard as he did. It's just disgusting."
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Sheldon Souray was the target of not only the fans whenever he touched the puck. But also the Timberwolves players themselves. Souray was bullseyed for several big hits for the remainder of the game. None bigger than when Matt Walker drove Souray hard into the Hamilton bench to the delight of the Wolves faithful. Souray responded by slashing Walker as he skated away. The two players jawed at each other as the play continued on before finally dropping their gloves. It took only seconds for the two Alberta natives to each land thundering punches. But in the end the 6'3", 230 pound Walker, pummeled the 6'4", 230 pound Souray and took him down hard to the ice.
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"It's great to see the guys sticking up one another," said Hartsburg. "I would expect nothing less when you lose a guy like Edler in such an unfortunate way. If we could just put more goals in their net than they put in ours we'd be in a different situation."
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The Timberwolves have the next two days off before welcoming the Southwest Scorpions to the Canadian National Gardens on Saturday.
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Injury Update: Dustin Byfuglien will be in the lineup against the Scorpions. Loui Eriksson and Bill Thomas should be ready to go in a week or less. Zack Stortini, who has been skating hard in practice could be ready to play before the season ends. Stortini is still wearing a red "no contact" jersey in practice and has not been given a timetable from the trainers or coaches on when he can take part in full contact sessions. Alexander Edler is done for the remainder of the season.

Injured Wolves Set For Returns

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, USA- Three of the four Timberwolves who are currently on the Injured Reserve are hoping to finish the season on the ice rather than the trainer's table.

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Rookie, Loui Eriksson (pictured) began his CCHL career with an amazing Training Camp and landed himself on the team's top line with Joe Thornton. Eriksson is third in points for the Timberwolves (2-19-21) even though he has missed twenty one games to injury. Loui hopes to be in the lineup for one or more games this season.

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Fellow rookie, Bill Thomas who suprised many when he was acquired from Beverly Hills and made an immediate impact Thunder Bay's first line. Thomas was heavily scouted by the Timberwolves staff before the 2007 Draft and they were completely aware of the talent he possesed. Thomas was brought in at the time to replace the injured Eriksson on the top line. He filled in admirably with thirteen points in eighteen games.

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Dustin Byfuglien is all but assured he will be back in the Wolves lineup soon. Like Eriksson and Thomas, "Big Buff" was thought to be done for the season. But the Roseau, Minnesota native has been skating hard in practice and even rid himself of a red jersey (worn by injured players) recently. Byfuglien did not travel with the team to California, but will join them in Winnipeg tomorrow. He still has not been cleared to play, but the more practice time he has with the team only helps in getting his game speed back. The Timberwolves are expecting Dustin back in the lineup by next Saturday when they play at home against the Southwest Scorpions.

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Thunder Bay plays the Law Masters tonight in what will be three games in three nights that will take them across North America and the Atlantic. The Wolves play Winnipeg tomorrow and head to Scandinavia for a game on Monday night against Wisborg.

No Goal Wolves Play For Next Season

THUNDER BAY, ON, Canada- This was one of the worst hockey games one could ever see in their lives. That being unless you are a Quebec Remparts fan.
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The Thunder Bay Timberwolves were once again playing in front of a packed barn. Don Cherry was here with the rest of CBC's 'Hockey Night in Canada' crew. This was another chance for the people of Thunder Bay to show off their passion for the national game. The fans were ready to go. Thier beloved hockey team was not.
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The fans were on Quebec's goalie, Robert Esche from the player introductions. The drawn out "Bobby" was alternated between the "Go Wolves Go" chant. It looked like this was going to be a fun game. Then came the second period.
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One second past the first minute and the Remparts Andrew Brunette quieted the crowd with his twenty fifth of the season. Eight and a half minutes later, Chris Drury had a pair and Quebec was up three zip. Drury finished the period with four goals. Quebec went to the locker room with a somewhat comfortable eight to zero lead. The game ended with two more goals in the third. Neither of which came off a Wolve's stick.
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"This was as bad as it gets," said Thunder Bay general manager Blake Wendt. "Games like this make it very easy for me to decide who will be here next season. No one." It may have been just frustrating comments from a GM immediately after watching his club get beat in every aspect of the game. But Wendt was just as harsh on his team this morning from his office at Canadian National Gardens. "I've said this many times. I don't get in an uproar if we lose a game. It's going to happen. Doesn't mean I'm fine with losing. I hate to lose. But a loss is alot easier to swallow if we're beat by the better team. If we show up and do our jobs, and just get beat by the better team, that's fine. But when you're beat because you quit... leave your jock at the door. Because you weren't using it anyway. I will not stand for guys that quit or play lazy out there. So we're dead last in the standings. So we're down eight, nine, ten to nothing. So what! Our building was filled up last night. It's filled up every night. They haven't quit on you. Don't quit on them! These last eighteen or so games will show me who wants to and will be here next season. Free agent or not... you don't play out these games for three periods to the best of your abilities. Then you're gone."
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The Timberwolves have the next two days off. They welcome in one of the CCHL's best, Denver Spurs on Tuesday.

Wolves No Show at Deadline, Portland

PORTLAND, OR, USA- This being the trade deadline in the CCHL, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves decided that the current lineup would not be changed to finish out the season.

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"We had a couple offers come in and go out," said general manager Blake Wendt. "But nothing we felt benefitted our club now or in the future."

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It was rumoured that defenseman, Tom Preissing was being shopped around the league. The Rosemount, Minnesota native has been one of the few healthy players on the Wolves blueline. But with the emergence of blueliners Matt Niskanen, Niklas Grossman and Alex Goligoski expected to make a push for roster spots next season, Preissing seemed to be more available than before. The Timberwolves of course will not name players involved in trade talks.

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The Thunder Bay hockey club arrived in the Pacific northwest yesterday after some brief, but much needed rest. That didn't seem to matter as the outcome of the game was as bad as most this season. The Owls put six straight goals behind Antero Niittymaki before the Wolves answered for a solo goal in the third. But Portland added insult to injury (literally) when they finished off Thunder Bay seven to one.

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The literal part of the "insult to injury" was the loss of the suprising youngster, Bill Thomas. The rookie was lost for the season with an undisclosed, but what appeared to be a shoulder injury. Thomas was acquired from Beverly Hills without having played a single game in his rookie season. He will finish his first CCHL season with six goals, seven assists for thirteen points in fifteen games. Thomas joins Loui Eriksson, Dustin Byfuglien and Zack Stortini in the press box for the remainder of the season.

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It's hard to find anything good when you are on the losing end of a seven to one game. But newly acquired free agent Matt Walker (pictured) has been more than willing to lay out in front of shots. Walker had a team high three against Portland. "Matt's been really good for us since we lost Buff (Byfuglien)," said head coach Craig Hartsburg. The Beaverlodge, Alberta native is a restricted free agent at season's end. It's unknown if he will be resigned or will even be able to make the club with guys like Niskanen, Grossman and Goligoski in the wings.

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The Timberwolves will play the North Dakota Ibex tomorrow night in Bismarck. This will be the first meeting against former Thunder Bay captain, Joe Thornton.