PRESIDENTS' TROPHY IN HAND, WOLVES FACE FERRETS IN 1ST RD



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Calgary, Alb.- Despite ending the season with a 1-0 loss to the Calgary Chinook, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves had actually clinched first-overall throughout the playoffs and awarded the CCHL's Presidents' Trophy the night before when they beat the Keflavik Whalers, and the Dayton Musicmen lost to the Winnipeg Ferrets.

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Having secured their place in the post season, Thunder Bay sat many of their starters against Calgary in preparation for a first-round bout against their rival in Winnipeg.

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"This is an accomplishment we can all be proud of," said Timberwolves captain, Patrick Sharp. "It was one of our goals coming into the season, and we worked really hard to keep the pace with Dayton for the last couple months. But we cannot be satisfied. This was not our only goal, and was definitely not our ultimate goal. We have a lot of work to do and it starts with a very capable club in Winnipeg."

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For the Timberwolves, despite predictions that would say otherwise, they are taking the Winnipeg Ferretts very seriously.

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"We respect every opponent, every game," said head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "This doesn't end with a 1 versus 16 match-up against the Ferretts. They've proven they can play the spoiler [see previous win over Dayton]. They are coming here with all intentions of burying us and I can assure you, are not buying into these predictions and being swept and all that other bullsh*t. We're not either. We're treating them the way they should be treated, and that's as a formidable opponent that made the post season that isn't going to give you an inch."

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Game 1 is Saturday at Canadian National Gardens in Thunder Bay.

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Thunder Bay, Ont.- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves continued their run through the regular season with another victory over the last-place, rebuilding Reykjavik Puffin who were beat before a capacity crowd at Canadian National Gardens on Thursday by a 5-1 score.

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In the win, the Timberwolves marked another historic feat when at 7:08 in the second period, forward Rick Nash notched his 50th goal of the season. The second Thunder Bay player and third consecutive 50-goal scorer after Marian Gaborik accomplished the mark in 2010 and 2011.

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"It's a tough thing to do in the CCHL," said Nash's head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "It's a testimate to the work Rick put in in the offseason, every day, every game and every shift. He's a leader for us and a prime example of what we are all about."

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"This is not just about me," said Nash. "I play with some extrordinary linemates [Sidney Crosby and Patrick Sharp routinely] and this is their accomplishment as much as it is mine. We're given great opportunities by the coaches everyday to succeed. With the pre-game preperations and in-game execution. I will enjoy this. But it's back to work tomorrow and back to going after something special as a team here."

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Nash's 50 goals are the second most in the CCHL, behind Portland's Ryan Kesler's 53. With eight games remaining in the regular season, the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy [league's top scorer] is within grasp. But don't think that is something the big winger is thinking too much about.

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"It's not even something I've thought about honestly. Sure it's been brought up. But my focus is game-by-game and focusing on what's at task for that moment. If it happens, great. I hope to score every game. But my job is to help us win games. If I score and we lose, well... it didn't matter."

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With the Timberwolves win and a Dayton Musicmen tie on Thursday, Thunder Bay moved into a first overall tie with Dayton at 112 points. Something that as a team, the Timberwolves are strictly focused on to finish out their regular season.

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"If there is one team we pay attention to outside of our direct competition for that day, it's Dayton," said captain Patrick Sharp. "We are striving for the Presidents' Trophy and home ice throughout the post season. We don't play them again, so we need to do our jobs every game and get some help from other teams. It's one of those things, that when we get back to the room after a game, we turn on CCHL Network and see what happened in their game."

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The Timberwolves next game in Saturday at home against the Linz Black Wings [25-43-6]. A team fighting for the last playoff spot and fresh off a 3-2 overtime win over the Fort Erie Falcons.

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"They're a resilient club that are fighting for their post season lives," said Hartsburg. "Like every opponent, we'll take them very seriously and will have to play them hard and dictate the tempo with our game early and throughout."







'WE ARE NOT SATISFIED'



Rick Nash

Thunder Bay, Ont.- According to the Chinese, 2012 is the year of the dragon.
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According to some in the CCHL and most definitely those in northwest Ontario, 2012 is the year of the Timberwolves.
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As the frozen ponds of the northland thaw (did they ever really freeze during this mild winter?), and the hearty people of Thunder Bay and surrounding communities ready their boats and load up on mosquito spray, there is still that extension of winter to be played at Canadian National Gardens for what many hope ends in the raising of a banner in the fall.
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"It's getting exciting here (in Thunder Bay)," remarked Timberwolves assistant coach, Dean McAmmond. Who spent parts of three seasons as a player here before coming back as a coach. "There's always a passion for the game here, and a love of this hockey club. But it amps up this time of year, and especially this year when so much is expected of us. We are hopeful to deliver, and confident we will make them very proud."
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Thunder Bay currently sits 2nd overall (52-14-6 110 points) behind the Dayton Musicmen (53-14-5 111 points) with 10 games left in the season. The playoffs are more than secured. Tuesday's match-up with their cross-province rival and 3rd-place, Fort Erie Falcons (49-17-6 104 points) concludes the regular season games against their Ontario brethren. Already clinching the inaugural Golden Oar Challenge with a 9-1-1 record against the other Ontario-based hockey clubs (next closest is Fort Erie at 5-4-2; Niagara Falls 5-6-1 and Hamilton 2-10-0), the Timberwolves are set for the post-season. Or are they?
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"Absolutely not. We are not set. We are not satisfied," said forward Eric Staal. "We want the Presidents' Trophy and home ice throughout. We are not content with just making it and playing whoever, wherever. We want to win as many games as possible in front of our own fans."
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The players, coaches and fans want so much more for this team. But they have already won so much this season. Literally.
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They've won more games already then they ever have (previous high was 48).
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They're on pace to score more goals then ever, and allow less then ever.
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For the third year in a row, they are likely to have at least one 50-goal scorer (Rick Nash currently has 48 and Sidney Crosby 41).
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But lets make one thing very clear. Of all of these team and individual accomplishments, there is still only one true goal that matters...
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Win the CCHL Champions Cup.
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That is all that matters.