YOUNG WOLVES GETTING TASTE OF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thunder Bay, ON- Although their season may be over, the summer has yet to come for members of the Thunder Bay Timberwolves' management team and scouting department.
>>>"After the [entry] draft, we'll take a break," said general manager, Blake Wendt from his office at Canadian National Gardens. "We have most of our prospects come to Thunder Bay after their seasons are over in junior or college or wherever to meet with our trainers and scouts and try to give them the right program to follow in the offseason to prepare for our Training Camp in September. This is a huge part of our season right now. Everyday we're going over draft strategy. Whether it be going over the kids that look to be where we're drafting at, or if we should maneuver to position ourselves where the players will be that we're high on."
>>>Even with the offseaon activities in full swing, there are still Timberwolves prospects very much playing hockey for their respective junior teams.
>>>In the Ontario Hockey League, the defending Memorial Cup champion-Windsor Spitfires will be taking on Alex Pietrangelo and the Barrie Colts for the Robertson Cup. Pietrangelo was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2008 in the first round, fourth overall. The King City, Ontario-native was dealt by the Niagara IceDogs to Barrie after winning silver at the World Junior Championships in Saskatchewan for Canada.
>>>In the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Moncton Wildcats will take on Marco Cousineau and the Saint John Sea Dogs for the President Cup. Cousineau was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2008 in the fifth round, one-hundred eleventh overall. This is the second consecutive year that Cousineau has back-stopped his team to the QMJHL championship. Last year the St. Lazare, Quebec-native took Drummondville all the way to the Memorial Cup.
>>>In the Western Hockey League, the Tri-City Americans will take on Martin Jones and the Calgary Hitmen for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Jones was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2009 in the fifth round, ninety-second overall. The North Vancouver, BC-native was a teammate of Alex Pietrangelo for Team Canada at this years World Junior Championships.
>>>As host of the 2010 Memorial Cup, the Brandon Wheat Kings are automatically included in the Canadian Hockey League championship. Playing for the Wheaties is Timberwolves prospect, Colby Robak. Robak was acquired by Thunder Bay in the summer of 2009 during the Contraction Draft after the Southwest, Lahr and Hamilton franchises folded.
>>>In the United States Hockey League, Nick Oliver and the Fargo Force will take on Anders Lee and the Green Bay Gamblers for the Clark Cup. Oliver was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2009 in the fifth round, ninety-first overall. He is in his first full season for the Force and is slated to go to St. Cloud State University in the fall. Lee was drafted by the Timberwolves in 2009 in the sixth round, one-hundred fourteenth overall. The Edina, Minnesota-native led the Gamblers in points in his first season in the USHL. He is slated to go to the University of Notre Dame in the fall.
>>>"It's exciting to have these young men in games like these," said Wendt. "They're all coming from excellent programs and organizations and to play in championship situations at any level is great for their overall development. This is wonderful for the future of the Thunder Bay Timberwolves."

The Future is Near: MAGNUS PAAJARVI-SVENSSON

The Future is Near: MATT DUCHENE

The Future is Near: JOHN TAVARES

THU 3 | DEN 4 (OT)

Denver, CO- For the Thunder Bay Timberwolves, Thursday was a disappointing end to an otherwise steller 2009-10 season in the CCHL.
>>>The Timberwolves held on as long as they could. But ultimately it was a Marco Sturm shot 4:55 into the first and only overtime in a Game 7 that would bring it all to a crashing halt.
>>>"It's a bitter pill to swallow," said Timberwolves defenseman, Nick Schultz. "We believed we would be playing in a long post-season. It's just tough right now."
>>>"We wanted more," said Timberwolves rookie forward, T.J. Oshie. "This is not the ending any of us envisioned. Regardless of what anyone else thought. We didn't once believe that we'd be dropped in the first round."
>>>The shock continued to resonate amongst the players, coaches and management while getting ready to board AirWolf One back to Thunder Bay. But also some optimism from some.
>>>"Today sucks," said general manager, Blake Wendt. "Tomorrow is going to suck. I was confident that we'd make a bigger impact in the playoffs. But credit the Spurs and the resiliency they showed throughout this entire series. We played them pretty evenly overall, but the ending favoured them. They have a talented group of guys over there that know how to get the job done."
>>>Despite the emotion of losing a Game 7 in overtime, Wendt is hoping his players take something from this negative emotion and take it to their offseason workouts, training camp and through next season and hopefully a long post-season.
>>>"If we don't learn from this, then that's where we truly lost," said Wendt. "We will be hungry next season."
>>>With their season now over, the off-the-ice work begins for the Timberwolves scouts and management. Twelve picks in the Entry Draft will keep the dog birds busy once again.
>>>"This is where we've put all our eggs if you will, " said Wendt. "The clubs that build through the draft and develop their own players, are the clubs that have continuous, long-term success. We're here for the long run and it begins with our scouts, the draft and the development."
>>>Some of those young players will be looked to next season. John Tavares and Matt Duchene are all but locks for securing roster spots in 2010-11. With guys like Matt Halischuk also getting solid looks. Then there's the blueline with Erik Johnson returning after missing all of 2009-10 due to an offseason injury. With him, fellow rearguards like John Carlson, Matt Corrente and Jason Garrison will try to open some eyes.
>>>"It's an exciting time to be a Timberwolves fan," said Wendt. "We're starting to see the fruits of our labour. In the shadow of a disappointing ending, the beginning of a bright future is just over the hill."

DEN 1 | THU 5

Thunder Bay, ON- In a game that was do-or-die for Thunder Bay, the Timberwolves responded with force and unrelenting pressure on the Denver Spurs in Game 6.
>>>Forty-seven seconds into the game, rookie forward Bryan Little put the home team on top with his second of the playoffs from Keith Ballard and Tom Preissing. The first twenty minutes concluded with the Timberwolves up 1-0.
>>>Marian Gaborik made it 2-0 for the Timberwolves at 8:23 in the second for the Slovak's second of the playoffs from David Perron and Marc Savard.
>>>Through forty minutes, Thunder Bay dominated Denver. Leading 2-0 and outshooting the Spurs 31-23. A far cry from the one-sided affair from boys in orange from Colorado.
>>>"There's not one guy in our room that wanted to come close to the poor play we put forth in the last game," said Timberwolves centre, Marc Savard. "We needed to clean up our own end while also not letting up on the gas and pushing the puck forward."
>>>In the third period, Maxime Lapierre cut the Timberwolves lead in half for his first of the playoffs from Ian Laperierre and Ryan Smyth. Making it 2-1 at 1:58 into the third.
>>>But pressure would subside and David Perron would take that goal back with his forth of the playoffs to make it 3-1 Thunder Bay.
>>>Niclas Wallin and TJ Oshie would polish off the Spurs and end the game at 5-1.
>>>Game 7 will be tomorrow in Denver.

THU 0 | DEN 5

Denver, CO- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves needed to make some serious adjustments after losing Game 4 at Canadian National Gardens by a another 3-2 ending. Forcing their netminder to make 52 saves in the process.
>>>"Absolutely unacceptable," said a furious Timberwolves head coach [Craig Hartsburg] after Monday's loss. "This cannot happen in any game at anytime in the season, and especially not here and not now!"
>>>If the Thunder Bay coach was not pleased then, he was in need of a straight jacket after Game 5 in Colorado.
>>>There is no need to summarize the details of this contest. The Timberwolves were never in it. Losing 5-0, and heading back home to face elimination in the first round.
>>>"We needed to respond to Game 4 and our miscues there," said Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard. "We not only did not do that, but we were completely dominated on every shift. We know how to win here. Otherwise this would've been over an done with after Game 4. We just have to forget about the past and get back to the basics for this next game. I'm not ready to call it a season and pack it in. I know the rest of the guys aren't either."
>>>Like Game 5, the Timberwolves will be without defenseman Jay McKee for Game 6 due to injury. McKee has been paired with Nick Schultz all season as the club's shutdown pairing. Schultz was paired with Aaron Ward in Game 5, but will likely be with Niclas Wallin for Game 6 and Ward will sit.

DEN 3 | THU 2

Thunder Bay, ON- Jonas Hiller's 52-save performance makes one-goal loss respectable.

DEN 3 | THU 5

Thunder Bay, ON- Timberwolves dominant with help of Marc Savard's hat trick.

THU 2 | DEN 3

Denver, CO- For the second game in a row, the first round series between the Thunder Bay Timberwolves and Denver Spurs ended with a 3-2 final. This time though, it was the home team Spurs that came out on top.
>>>Sophomore forward, David Perron netted two goals for the Timberwolves through forty-plus minutes. The only goals scored by either club. But it was not enough to overcome the onslaught brought on by Denver in the final fifteen minutes of the game that would eventually end up with three pucks behind Jonas Hiller.
>>>"I thought we matched up well for most of the game," said Timberwolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "But we couldn't finish and keep a tight grip on their throats. We gave them too much room and once again gave them too many quality shots on Jonas [Hiller]. We're better than this and can't let up on these guys. Sixty-minutes of the best hockey of our lives is the only way for success at this stage in the season."
>>>Sunday's game moves to Thunder Bay for what should be an absolute awesome scene for anyone in the city and in particular anywhere near Canadian National Gardens.
>>>With nearly a quarter of the near 110,000 citizens of Thunder Bay going to be in the 19,434 seat CN Gardens, thousands more will be outside for the festival-like atmosphere outside before, during and after the game for tailgating, music and the game simulcast to several screens outside the arena.
>>>"They say it's going to be unlike anything this city has ever experienced," said Timberwolves general manager, Blake Wendt. "We have the greatest fans in the world, and even that's an understatement. We've soldout that barn for every game since we moved here. They've put up with some pretty mediocre hockey for a couple years. They deserve this, and we hope to continue building on this success for many years of excellent Timberwolves."
>>>For Game 3, the Timberwolves will be without the services of rookie forward, TJ Oshie due to an undisclosed injury. The former Warroad Warrior should be available for game four.

THU 3 | DEN 2

Denver, CO- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves are in the playoffs for the first time in their brief three-year history on the Superior lakehead. But if you think they're simply happy to be here--you're dead wrong.

>>>

>>>"We're here to stink up the place," said Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard. "We're fine being the underdogs and no one giving us a chance. But we plan on making a statement and solidifying our place here."

>>>

>>>In front of a raucous crowd at a packed Denver Coliseum in Colorado, the Timberwolves first had to overcome the jitters associated with a powerful opening for the home team Spurs, and settle things down early to maintain control.

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>>>Through the first twenty minutes, both clubs would feel each other out. Not wanting to do too much and get caught too deep with the puck without back-end support. The period would end 0-0 with Denver getting 15 shots in on Thunder Bay's Jonas Hiller to the Timberwolves 6 on Martin Brodeur.

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>>>"We did what we wanted to do there," said Timberwolves centre, Mike Fisher. "We did what we had to do. Probably let too many shots get in on Hiller. But he seen the shots taken and made routine saves."

>>>

>>>The second period started and almost finished the same as the opening period. But at 17:54, Denver's Marco Sturm finally opened up the scoring by putting his team up 1-0

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>>>Not to be outdone and wanting to keeping things equal going into the second intermission, Patrick Sharp (pictured) netted the first ever playoff goal for the Timberwolves at 18:36.

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>>>Looking to build on some momentum, the Timberwolves turned the ice in their favour and started to really pick their spots and taking quality shots on the veteren Brodeur.

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>>>At 4:57 into the third, Sharp scored his second of the game to take the lead for the first time in the game from Matt Niskanen and Marc Savard.

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>>>Less than three minutes later, rookie Bryan Little took a feed from Mike Zigomanis and buried a wrister five-hole on an out-of-position Brodeur to make it 3-1 Thunder Bay.

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>>>Petr Sykora would end up breaking through a poorly executed "trap" system and bring the Spurs within one at 15:08. But the damage was done, and the Timberwolves tightened up their blueline to go onto to win their first ever playoff game, 3-2.

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>>>"The outcome is what we set out to do," said Timberwolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "We did what we needed to do for the win. But we also have alot of work to do if we want to continue this success in the post-season. Jonas [Hiller] seen way too many shots. He also seen most of those shots, but we have to clean up our own end. We have the offense to score at will. But we really need to not continue to give them the room inside our blueline like we did here."

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>>>Thunder Bay will get some help on the backend, as Sheldon Souray returns to the lineup for Game 2 after suffering an undisclosed injury in the final game of the regular season. The Alberta-natives booming shot will be a welcome addition from the point.

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Denver, CO- It took until after the final game of the season, but the Thunder Bay Timberwolves now know their opponent in the first round of the 2009-10 CCHL Playoffs.
>>>
>>>The Timberwolves travel to Colorado and will take on the Spurs for Game 1 in Denver on Friday.
>>>
>>>"This should be a very good match-up for both clubs," said Timberwolves general manager, Blake Wendt before the team took off from Thunder Bay International. "We're very similar in alot of ways. I know Dick (Poelker, Denver GM) has put together a good group over there. Like us, they weren't expected to do much this season. Should be a fun series for the fans."
>>>
>>>The Timberwolves are 2-2-0 this season against the Spurs. Winning their last meeting together 4-3 off a Patrick Sharp "Gordie Howe Hat trick".

WIERCIOCH SIGNS

Thunder Bay, ON- Already having signed six players from the NCAA to minor-league deals, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves announced Thursday of the signing of defensemen, Patrick Wiercioch from Denver University.

>>>Wiercioch was acquired from the Dayton Musicmen in 2008 along with fellow blueliner, Ian Cole who also signed this week with the Timberwolves. He is also the second Pioneer sign on the dotted line. Patrick's teammate and captain, Rhett Rakhshani.

>>>The Maple Ridge, British Columbia-native played two seasons at DU after a successful USHL career with the Omaha Lancers. A club that the Timberwolves have no issue plucking players from. Along with Wiercioch, prospects Ryan Thang, Nick Petrecki, Danny Kristo, Louis Leblanc, Nico Sacchetti, Adam Comrie and Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard all wore the orange and black before.

>>>Wiercioch and the other NCAA signees will watch their new club take on Dayton on Saturday. Decisions will be made by Sunday if all or some will move down to Duluth and finish the season with the Pups, or stay in Thunder Bay to train and prepare for the summers prospect camps.