TWO TRICKS AND ALL TREATS ON HALLOWEEN EVE

Thunder Bay, ON- The goals came quick, and the goals came often on Saturday for the Timberwolves against the visiting Lawmasters at Canadian National Gardens.

>>>It took only seven seconds for Marian Gaborik to put the home team on top. Beverly Hills', Darren Helm tied things up at 9:16, but Mike Fisher (pictured) would net two of his own to close out the opening period with the Timberwolves up 3-1.

>>>Gaborik opened up the second period with an end-to-end rush to make it 4-1 at 3:24. Less than ten minutes in, the flashy Slovak netted his first hat trick of the season at 9:58. Douglas Murray would notch another one for Timberwolves to head into the final intermission with a 6-1 lead.

>>>"We focused in the morning skate to not let off the gas," said Gaborik between periods. "We were expecting them to come out swinging, so we knew we had to counter that and push our game and maintain puck possession."

>>>Not to be outdone by his teammate, Fisher netted his third goal at 1:54 into the third for his own hat trick.

>>>Dany Heatley would net one for the Lawmasters at 3:44, but it was took little too late for the boys from SoCal. Ales Hemsky would finish things off with a break-away tally and close out the scoring at 8-2.

>>>"The hardest thing in games like this to remain consistent," said Timberwolves GM, Blake Wendt after the game. "You don't want to form bad habits by letting up, and I don't think we did. Overall, I was impressed."

>>>The Timberwolves depart for their first road trip of the season on Sunday morning for a five day trek to Wisborg, Reykjavik and Calgary.

>>>"This will be a good, early test for us," said Wendt. "Wisborg is also un-beaten and a team built similarly to us. Reykjavik is in a re-building mode, but those are sometimes the most dangerous clubs. And of course, we all know what Calgary is capable of as they went to the Final last season."

WOLVES TAKE HOME OPENER

Thunder Bay, ON- After their 4-2 win over the North Dakota Ibex on Thursday, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves are now 3-0-1 in Home Openers.

>>>"It's always nice to start off on the right foot," said starting netminder, Brian Elliott (pictured) after the game. "We just need to maintain some consistency and stay even keeled to be successful."

>>>Elliott's backstopping to the opening win streak also comes with another interesting scenerio... the number 30. As in the Newmarket, Ontario-native's jersey number. It is the only number thus far to be worn by the Timberwolves starting goaltender in the Home Opener in the club's brief existence. Tim Thomas wore is last year, and Antero Niittymaki the two years before.

>>>To the game itself, obviously the Timberwolves won. But there was room for improvement.

>>>"I thought the guys played within their limits," said interim head coach, Ryan McGill. "Nobody tried to be too fancy out there and we played well enough to get the 'W'. But we're a little slow-footed out there. So were the Ibex, and so were I'm sure most of the league in their first games. But we're better than this and we'll eventually get to the level we're capable of."

>>>Not making an impact on the stat sheet in their first pro game were rookies, John Tavares, Matt Duchene and Carl Gunnarsson. All were held point-less, but all were given opportunities and did not look out of place.

>>>"I thought they looked as good as to be expected in their first game," said Timberwolves forward, Patrick Sharp. "It's a big deal to make it to this level. It's a bigger deal to have your first game be in front of your fans in an electic enviroment where the adrenaline can overwelm you. They didn't succumb and didn't try to push things out there. They played tight, but didn't get burned either. They'll loosen up and get to what got them here and we'll all benefit from it."

>>>The Timberwolves next game is Saturday against the Beverly Hills Lawmasters at Canadian National Gardens. No line-up changes for Thunder Bay are planned accourding to their head coach.

>>>"We'll play the same guys. No need to change things up too much at this point," said McGill. "We might move guys around some. But nothing major."

HOME OPENER LINE-UP CARD SUBMITTED

Thunder Bay, ON- On the eve of the 2010-11 CCHL season, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves have released their line-up for their Home Opener against the 2-time CCHL Cup Champions, North Dakota Ibex.
>>>Up front there are no surprises.
>>>Marc Savard will centre the top line with Marian Gaborik and Patrick Sharp. The second line will start the season with 2009 first overall pick, John Tavares centring Simon Gagne and Ales Hemsky. Newly married, Mike Fisher pivots the third line with Antti Miettinen and TJ Oshie. Finally, rookie Matt Duchene will centre the fourth line with Milan Lucic and Colby Armstrong.
>>>"We're are finally seeing the face of this club come to life," said Timberwolves GM, Blake Wendt. "We have lines with roles filled with players that fit that designated role. We are fast up front. We are abrasive and we have legitmate scorers with legitimate linemates to set them up."
>>>On the back end, captain Keith Ballard partners with Anton Volchenkov on the top pairing. Douglas Murray and Erik Johnson anchor the second pairing, and Nick Schultz with Carl Gunnarsson shore up the third pairing.
>>>"Our blueline looks very versitile this season," said Wendt. "I like the way we're set-up to start the season. We've got guys that will carry and drive the puck, guys that will step up and force the opposition to earn everything inside the blueline, and we're confident that we can do it all with every pairing."
>>>In goal, Brian Elliott solidified his position as the number one with a solid pre-season. Solidified it for at least the first game. Last years team MVP, Jonas Hiller will start the season on the bench.
>>>"Jonas has started off a little sluggish and Brian took the reigns," said goaltending coach, Felix Potvin. "We fully expect the competition to continue throughout the season. It may not be game-to-game, but they will both see their share of games."
>>>With Tavares, Duchene and Gunnarsson in the line-up, that means Thunder Bay will roll with three rookies expected to contribute early and often. It's also the first Blake Wendt-drafted players to start for the Timberwolves.
>>>"It's rewarding," said Wendt. "We've completely turned around the identity of this club. That turn around starts first in the draft. It may have taken a little longer to get these first guys up, but it looks well worth the wait. I'm excited about this season and the overall future of the Thunder Bay Timberwolves."

WOLVES CLICKING IN PRE-SEASON

Duluth, MN- Three games into the pre-season and the Thunder Bay Timberwolves are 2-1-0 and getting contributions from throughout their lineup.

>>>"I've been pleased with the output thus far," said Timberwolves interim-head coach, Ryan McGill. "Like every team at this point before the season, we have rust to knock off and lapses out there. But we've got some chemistry on some lines that we're hopeful can push us through the season."

>>>One of those lines is to no surprise, the top line of Marc Savard, Patrick Sharp and Marian Gaborik (pictured). Who combined have 12 points through three games.

>>>Beyond that, rookie centres John Tavares and Matt Duchene seem to be deadlocked at who opens the season on the second line with Simon Gagne and Ales Hemsky.

>>>"Too early to tell," said McGill. "But regardless, they will both get their fair shots. Given what they earn. Like it's been drilled into every player that's ever played for this hockey club... nothing is given and everything is earned."

>>>Currently Duchene is second on the team in points with four (goal, 3 assists) behind Gaborik's seven. Tavares has two goals through three games. Both seem to have no hesitance in taking their shots (Tavares 15; Duchene 11) and both are plus players.

>>>The Timberwolves third line through most of this pre-season has taken somewhat of a beating. Mike Fisher, Milan Lucic and TJ Oshie are all minus players. But all three also play against the opposition's top lines.

>>>"Nothings set in stone," said McGill regarding who will open the season where. "We're very flexible at this point, and likely will be all season. Movement amongst lines will not be unusual here."

>>>The blueline appears to be ironing itself out as Opening Night nears. Captain, Keith Ballard started the pre-season with fellow University of Minnesota alum, Erik Johnson. But has since been paired with another wrecking ball, Anton Volchenkov. Johnson has been moved down to the second pairing with Douglas Murray and Nick Schultz with rookie, Carl Gunnarsson as the fifth and sixth d-men.

>>>In net it's anyones guess who will start on the 28th. Jonas Hiller lost the first game in Victora 5-4 in OT to the Ronin. Brian Elliott has had the last two starts and won both, 4-2 against the Linz Black Wings in Omaha, Nebraska and 4-1 against the Havana Moon in Duluth, Minnesota. Hiller has a 4.62 goals against average and a .844 save percentage. Elliott has a 1.50 and a .923. The edge appears in Elliott's favour, but Hiller has final two games and a team MVP in his corner.

>>>Opening Night is the Thursday at the Canadian National Gardens in Thunder Bay against the 2-time CCHL Cup Champions, North Dakota Ibex.

2010-11 PRE-SEASON CALDER TROPHY PREVIEW

>>>
Thunder Bay, ON- The wave of youth has reached the Lake Superior northshore. A movement that began when owner/general manager, Blake Wendt took over a struggling hockey franchise from Hoboken, New Jersey in 2006. That franchise would eventually be moved to the Northwest Ontario and the hockey hotbed of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
>>>What Wendt took over was an organization that was hemorrhaging at every level. Finances were in the gutter, the fanbase was non-existent in Hoboken, and there was no future star players on the horizon.
>>>The moves were swift, the house was cleaned and the stockpile of draft picks was acquired.
>>>The 2009 Entry Draft has and thus far will be the point at which the Thunder Bay Timberwolves were completely turned around. Coming off a season that only produced nine wins, Wendt made moves throughout the season to position the Timberwolves well in the draft.
>>>First came the trade of defenseman, Alex Edler to Springfield for their first round pick. That pick would eventually end up a lottery pick that by sheer luck became the first overall pick. The Timberwolves own pick ended up being fifth overall after finishing dead last in the league. That pick would end up being flipped to Budapest with prospect Jamie McBain, for the third overall pick.
>>>The first overall selection in 2009 was John Tavares from the OHL's London Knights. A pick that Blake Wendt had no hesitation in taking, and didn't. Making the announced pick a day prior to the start time of the Entry Draft.
>>>Now, for the first edition of the 2010-11 Pre-Season Calder Trophy Preview...
>>>
>>>JOHN TAVARES (Centre), Thunder Bay Timberwolves:
>>>Tavares will make his long-awaited CCHL debut centering the Timberwolves second line with Simon Gagne and Ales Hemsky on his wings. He is considered a franchise player, but will be given nothing in Thunder Bay. "Tavares is an elite talent," said Wendt. "But he is still a rookie and will have to earn everything here like every other player. We expect he will and will strive to be everything he was in junior. A dominate player throughout his pro career."
>>>
>>>TYLER MYERS (Defense), River Cities Renegades:
>>>Myers is expected to have an immediate impact on the Rens blueline. "At minimum we see him as a top four d-man and he could find himself paired with Duncan Keith on the top pairing if the chemistry is good," said Renegades general manager, Chris Kash. "He will see time on the power play and on the penalty kill. Myers should easily average twenty minutes a game for us. Looking ahead, we see him as a franchise defensemen along with Keith. Myers is the best of a deep group of young d-men in our system, along with Roman Polak, and prospects like David Runblad, Dylan McIllrath and Cody Golobeuf."
>>>
>>>MATT DUCHENE (Centre), Thunder Bay Timberwolves:
>>>Taken third overall in the 2009 Entry Draft, Duchene is expected to start the season on the Timberwolves fourth line with Antti Miettinen and Colby Armstrong. Depth at centre for Thunder Bay forces the club to put the versitle pivot in a position to have to earn ice-time. But Wendt is confident that the Haliburton, Ontario-native will earn that time. "Duchene isn't a fourth liner. But he is better suited for that role than any of our other options right now. " Duchene is likely to rotate between the fourth line and second with Tavares throughout the season. Marc Savard is cemented as the top centre with Marian Gaborik and Patrick Sharp, and Mike Fisher isn't likely to move from the third line with Milan Lucic and T.J. Oshie.
>>>
>>>VICTOR HEDMAN (Defense), Winnipeg Ferrets:
>>>The Ferrets, a team that has always taken a "defense first" approach, were thrilled to be in a position to draft Victor Hedman, a defenseman projected to anchor Winnipeg's defensive corps for the next decade. By all accounts, he is a special player. The likes of which do not come around very often.
>>>
>>>JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK (Left Wing), Dayton Musicmen:
>>>At 6'3", 200 lbs, vanRiemsdyk has the pro-size to go along with an impressive resume at every level of hockey prior to the CCHL. The Middletown, New Jersey-native honed his skill-set with USA Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan prior to a very successful two years at the University of New Hampshire, where he was over a point-per-game player. With Nikita Filatov being sent to the minors for Dayton, it looks like initially that vanRiemsdyk will being fighting with Ryan Malone for second line minutes, but looks to fall no further than the Musicmen's third line.

COACH HARTSBURG TO HAVE HEART SURGERY

Thunder Bay, ON- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves announced Monday that head coach Craig Hartsburg will undergo surgery on his heart after being diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm.
>>>Hartsburg will undergo a heart catheterization at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Wednesday, with surgery to follow in the coming weeks. He is expected to be sidelined through the first half of the season.
>>>Assistant head coach Ryan McGill will handle the bench in Hartsburg's absence, along with Wes Walz.
"The most important thing at this time is for Craig to get healthy," said Blake Wendt, Timberwolves owner and general manager. "We're all in full support of the Hartsburg family and look forward to Craig's full recovery."
>>>Hartsburg is the Timberwolves only head coach in the club's brief history since moving to Thunder Bay in 2007 from Hoboken, New Jersey.

ICE READY... DROP THE PUCK ALREADY!!!

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PRE-SEASON ROSTER SET AFTER FINAL CUTS

Thunder Bay, ON- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves have finalized what looks to be their Opening Night lineup for the 2010-11 season. After some hefty contracts were sent to the minors and a change in club policy will limit those inactive from game action while on a practise squad.

>>>First the cuts, and some major ones indeed. Many vets were re-assigned to Duluth. In the likes of Ethan Moreau, Dean McAmmond, Tom Kostopoulos and Thunder Bay-native, Taylor Pyatt were sent to the Pups. They join a youth-laden cast in Magnus Paajarvi, Brandon Pirri, Matt Halischuk, etc.

>>>That leaves the rookies John Tavares and Matt Duchene up front with Marc Savard, Marian Gaborik, Ales Hemsky, Simon Gagne, Patrick Sharp, Mike Fisher, Milan Lucic, TJ Oshie, Antti Miettinen and Colby Armstrong.

>>>On the blueline, with the acquisition of Anton Volchenkov (pictured) and Douglas Murray for Matt Niskanen, things were already tight for roster spots before Training Camp. Along with these two, the Timberwolves also had three rookies looking to add their name to the game 1 media guide. John Carlson, Jason Garrison and Carl Gunnarsson made things very interesting. The ladder of those three in the end was the only one to make it past the final cut. Carlson and Garrison were re-assigned to Duluth. The play of Gunnarsson made things difficult for veteren defensemen Sheldon Souray and Adam Foote. Both were expected to solidify the 6th and 7th spots. But both will start the season down the Lake Superior shore. Yes, Souray and his $12 million/per will be playing in the minors.

>>>"It's a tough pill to swallow from a financial aspect," said Timberwolves GM, Blake Wendt. "We'd love for Sheldon to be up here and playing to that contract. But he simply was outplayed and lost his spot. This is a game of performance, not how much someone is making. Obviously I have and am going to continue to take heat for sending a guy with $24 million left on his contract to the minors. That's fine. We're just hopeful at this point that Sheldon refines his game in Duluth and we see him back up in Thunder Bay soon and earns what he's being paid."

>>>With no pairings set for now, the top-6 will be captain, Keith Ballard, Volchenkov, Murray, Gunnarsson, Nick Schultz and Erik Johnson who missed all of last season due to injury.

>>>In net, there are no changes. Jonas Hiller and Brian Elliott will battle this pre-season for who starts in game 1. But after that, it is likely that the two will alternate from game-to-game. 2010-draftee, Chad Johnson made a push, but was ultimately sent to Duluth.

>>>Now in respect to running a practise squad of 4-to-5 players as in years past, that will no longer be the case according to Wendt and head coach, Craig Hartsburg.

>>>"No one sits is basically what's going to happen," said Wendt. "This is why you're seeing some of these veterens sent down that normally would still be with the top club and practise and travel, but not play unless there were an injury. This is good for the player as they still get in game action and good for the logistics of travel and the added luggage, equipment and hotel rooms. But I will add that for any extended periods in Europe, we will bring in a player or two simply because it'd be impossible to fly over a guy that would be ready for a game with little to no rest."

>>>As the league awaits for a finalized pre-season schedule, the 20 Timberwolves will spend the next week in Ely, Minnesota for some "team building".