Sudbury Wolves

Hockey team | CAN_eng = 1|
team = Sudbury Wolves

city = Sudbury, Ontario
league = Ontario Hockey League
conference = Eastern
division = Central
founded = 1962 (NOJHL)
1972 (OHA)
arena = Sudbury Community Arena
colours = Blue, White, Grey
coach = Mike Foligno
GM = Mike Foligno
affiliates = Sudbury Junior Wolves
name1 = Barrie Flyers
dates1 = 1945–60
name2 = Niagara Falls Flyers
dates2 = 1960–72
name3 = Sudbury Wolves | dates3 = 1972-Present
|The Sudbury Wolves are 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 Cub Wolves nearly every year since World War I. The Sudbury Cub Wolves team from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League 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. This same team represented Team Canada at the 1938 and 1949 World Championships, winning gold in 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.

Sudbury Wolves fans are dedicated and have persevered through many tough years and northern winters to support their club, and the team frequently 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

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. The Wolves also won was the 2000–2001 Emms Trophy for the regular season Central Division title.

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) * 2003–08 - Mike Foligno (5)

Players

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

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 Defazio *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 *Mike Lenarduzzi *Kevin MacDonald

*Derek MacKenzie *Paul Mara *Hector Marini *Mike Marson *Dan McCarthy *Dale McCourt *Brian McGrattan *Jay McKee *Alex McKendry *Don McLean *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

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.
* 1999–00 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.

Uniforms & 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.

Sudbury wore a black third jersey briefly in the mid 1990's. 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 5,743 spectators - 4,743 seats and 1,000 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 faciltities. It is now ready for the 2007–2008 hockey season.

ee also

*List of ice hockey teams in Ontario

External links

* [http://www.sudburywolves.com www.sudburywolves.com] Official web site
* [http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/ Ontario Hockey League] Official web site
* [http://www.chl.ca/ Canadian Hockey League] Official web site
* [http://www.sudburymuseums.ca/index.cfm?app=w_vmuseum&lang=en&currID=1606&parID=1594 www.sudburymuseums.ca] History of hockey in Sudbury
* [http://www.ohlarenaguide.com/wolves.htm Sudbury Community Arena] The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
* [http://www.northernlife.ca/News/SudburyWolves/ www.northernlife.ca] Sudbury Wolves new coverage
* [http://www.gowolvesgo.com www.gowolvesgo.com] Sudbury Wolves fan site