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."