Thunder Bay, ON- Training Camp for the Thunder Bay Timberwolves came to an end on Friday. As with last year and for years to come, camp officially ended with the grueling run up Mount McKay. The run signifies to a player, not only that they have made all of the cuts so far and will at least see game action in the pre-season. But also that they have done everything that the coaching staff has asked of them and more.
>>>"Mount McKay is a reward," said head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "All summer long and through camp, this run is a huge goal for alot of these players. It doesn't mean you've made the team. But it does mean you will wear a don a Timberwolves sweater."
>>>One player that made the Mount McKay run last season, but not the team, was Bryan Little. The former Barrie Colts captain knew coming into this year that nothing was a guarentee.
>>>"Last year was tough," said Little following the run. "I thought that I did everything I needed to do to make this team. I was here, overlooking the city and already looking at it as my home. I made it to a single pre-season game and was sent to Duluth. I never even got called up. So as soon as we finished our season in Duluth, I came back up here and worked all summer with the trainers and worked my tail off. Duluth is a very nice city. But I had no intentions of going back this year."
>>>The fight for the backup netminder spot came to an end shortly before the players boarded the bus for Mount McKay.
>>>Tim Thomas is the clear cut starting goalie for the upcoming season. But Josh Harding and Brian Elliott were making it difficult for the coaches and management to decide who was staying or going.
>>>Josh Harding was ultimately beat out by the University of Wisconsin alumni, Elliott. Instead of sending Harding to Duluth, he was dealt to the River Cities Renegades for twenty-three year old defenseman, Roman Polak and a 3rd round pick in 2010.
>>>"Josh is a hell of a goalie," said Timberwolves GM, Blake Wendt. "It was not an easy decision to move him. But we had some underlying needs on the back end. With the loss of Erik Johnson for the season, I was not comfortable with our lack of depth back there. Having a solid number one goalie and having two guys fighting neck-and-neck for the number two spot, I knew I was going to have to move a goalie to get that depth on defense I felt we needed."
>>>While assuming his place on the club, Brian Elliott also shed his #72 for the #1.
>>>"Polak's game is that of a steady defensive defenseman," said Wendt. "There's not alot of flash and he's not going to be a guy that the fans will notice most of the time. Which is exactly what we want. His positioning is excellent. He forces opponents to the boards either with his positioning or by force with his thundering hits. Timmy (Thomas) is going to love this guy. He'll clear his sight lines and do whatever is necessary to prevent the puck from getting passed him. We're very excited to add Polak to our hockey club.
>>>Players sent to the minors on Friday were of course John Tavares and Matt Duchene. Neither were allowed to participate in pre-season or regular season games due to CCHL rules. Both were sent down to Duluth along with defenseman, Tom Preissing.
>>>The Timberwolves will go into the pre-season with 17 forwards, 7 defensemen and 2 goaltenders. They will have to cut their active roster down by 5 forwards and a defenseman before the regular season.
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