Thunder Bay Timberwolves Hockey Club

THUNDER BAY, ON-

>>>The Thunder Bay Timberwolves broke Training Camp on September 19th at the club's brand new, state-of-the-art training facility "The Den" on the outskirts of northwest Thunder Bay.

>>>Through the first two weeks of camp, all activities were closed to the public and limited access to the media. A move that was not met with overwelming satisfaction by the Timberwolves fanbase.

>>>"With Training Camp running a bit longer this season, we felt the need to focus on intensity and details without having some of the younger guys feeling the need to look over their shoulder and beyond the glass," said head coach, Craig Hartsburg.

>>>Some of those young players the coach of talking about were 2009 1st overall pick, John Tavares and 3rd overall pick, Matt Duchene. Other 2009 draftees invited after a strong Prospect Camp were Tomas Tatar, Michael Latta, Andrej Nestrasil and Justin Mercier. Aside from Tavares and Duchene, only Tatar and Mercier made it into October and the public viewing sessions. Both Latta and Nestrasil were sent back to their junior teams.

>>>"We don't normally bring in fresh players (newly drafted) from the Prospect Camp," said GM Blake Wendt. "Nothing is handed out here. Those guys all deserved a hard look and earned however long a stay they have with us."

>>>Tomas Tatar impressed the Timberwolves coaching staff and ownership so much, that while under contract with his Slovakian team it was nagotiated and payment sent to Zvolen HK to keep Tatar in North America.

>>>"Tatar is a special player," said Wendt. "He comes from a worthy program in Zvolen and showed the world how talented he was on a grand stage like the World Junior Championships. If in the end we had to send him back to Slovakia, we were comfortable with that. But our preference was to adapt him to the North American game and the smaller ice."

>>>Tatar was sent down the Duluth on October 2nd. There he will continue with the Pups through their camp and be given eight games to prove his stay. If not, he will be sent to the OHL's Kitchener Rangers to play out the 2009-10 season.

>>>A bit of a suprise to some, was the emergence of the 7th round pick of Justin Mercier. The Erie, Pennsylvania native played four years at Miami University in Ohio, and looked to cement his place with Thunder Bay.

>>>"Mercier is a guy we've been watching for a couple years," said Wendt. "Miami is a superior school in the NCAA that has made a name for themselves in the Frozen Four. Justin was someone we coveted prior to last seasons tournament, and solidified himself on our list after. He plays an all-around game, plays with drive and purpose every shift, and has a sniper's shot from the dots in."

>>>Like Tatar, Mercier was also sent to Duluth on October 2nd.

>>>Aside from the newly drafted players, the Timberwolves also had several new additions participating in their first camp in Thunder Bay.

>>>Through free agency there is Ethan Moreau, Dean McAmmond, Samuel Pahlsson, Sheldon Souray and Jay McKee.

>>>With the forwards, it is immediately seen that Blake Wendt is looking for speed, defense, leadership and grade-A work ethic.

>>>On the blueline, you don't get a much tougher guy that of Souray. His shot alone scares the souls out of those attempting to block them and keeps the Plexiglass company in business. McKee plays a solid stay-at-home game, clears his goalies sight lines and plays a smart game with an edge.

>>>Players picked up after the folding of three CCHL franchises, were goalie Tim Thomas and forward, David Backes.

>>>After spending the past two seasons rotating netminders, Thomas brings stability between the pipes for the first time in Thunder Bay. A hybrid of a hybrid-style is what the Flint, Michigan native brings to the table. His is a game you cannot teach. He does whatever it takes to keep the puck out of the net. And is successful at doing so.

>>>Backes is an emerging power forward with a hard shot and works for everything he has. Listed as a winger, Backes has been playing centre throughout Training Camp. He will likely be the pivot on the Timberwolves top line with Patrick Sharp and rookie, Bryan Little.

>>>Not one to shy away from a trade or two a season, Blake Wendt spent the summer continuing to mold his club with players that fit his style.

>>>Mike Fisher and Mason Raymond were brought in from Copenhagen to fill out what appears to be a very deep club up front. Fisher is a player who plays with alot of heart. He brings as much on the ice as he does off. Wherever he has been, Fisher has been a fixture in the community. When on the ice, he plays a solid two-way game, has lots of speed to burn, forces his linemates to give their all every shift and has a hard, accuarate shot.

>>>Probably the biggest acquisition was that of Marian Gaborik from Dayton. If the slick Slovak can shake the injury bug that has plagued him for the past couple seasons, the Timberwolves will be thrilled to have a player of his caliber in their lineup to years to come. Management drools at the possibility of having someone like a healthy Gaborik playing on a line with John Tavares and/or Matt Duchene.

>>>On defense, the Timberwolves brought in more power and abrasiveness in Bryce Salvador and Bryan McCabe.

>>>In an odd transaction, Salvador was brought in from Victoria for prospect Jonas Junland. The same teams and same players were swapped prior to the trade deadline.

>>>McCabe solidifies the Timberwolves blueline now. Especially with the loss of Erik Johnson for the season. With McCabe, Salvador, Souray, McKee and add captain, Keith Ballard, Thunder Bay may have the hardest defense to play against. Punishment is imminent for the opposition.