WOLVES NET EIGHT IN WIN

BUD 3
THU 8

Thunder Bay, ON- The expansion Budapest Honved had no warm welcome in their first visit to the Canadian National Gardens on Wednesday night.
>>>Bryan McCabe opened up the scoring for the Timberwolves at 4:04 in the first period with assists from Ethan Moreau and Radek Dvorak.
>>>A minute and fourteen seconds later, Raffi Torres tied things up for Honved.
>>>The first period scoring ended only after two more tallies from rookie, Bryan Little and a power play goal from Marian Gaborik (pictured).
>>>The Timberwolves would end up putting 28 shots on Evgeni Nabokov with five lighting the lamp.
>>>"I thought we did a pretty good job of not letting off the throttle," said Marc Savard.
>>>Second period scoring started with a breakaway putting Niklas Kronwall alone on Jonas Hiller and the Swiss goalie being beat top shelf at 2:30 in.
>>>Less than a minute later, Savard netted his 7th of the season with helpers coming from David Perron and Keith Ballard.
>>>The scoring in the middle period would end there.
>>>In the third, Budapest would score first. This time off the stick of Eric Perrin at 11:05.
>>>Honved's scoring would end there, but not so for the Timberwolves. Back-to-back powerplays goals put the game completely out of reach for Budapest. McCabe would score is second of the night off the first and Gaborik would also score his second with the third goal with the man-advantage for Thunder Bay.
>>>Marian Gaborik did not have enough and would close out the scoring for both clubs with his third of the game and 22nd of the season.
>>>"Very pleased with the entire game," said head coach Craig Hartsburg. "We managed to take them off their game very early and we didn't let up. Sometimes it's not good to score early because guys sometimes let up. We didn't, and that's what we as a coaching staff would like to see games like these on a consistant basis."
>>>The Timberwolves took off after the game for the first of three in four nights at the second rated River Cities Renegades tomorrow night. This will be the first time Savard and Hiller have faced their former team. The same for Tim Thomas and David Backes for RC.
>>>"I enjoyed my time with those guys," said Savard. "But we have something very special here and I'm thrilled to be a Timberwolf. I'm sure there will be some chirping going back and forth. But it's all good."
>>>IN OTHER NEWS...
>>>The 2010 World Junior Championship came to a dramatic end in Saskatoon, with an overtime winner off the stick of Timberwolves prospect, John Carlson and Team USA their first gold medal in six years over the heavily favoured Team Canada.
>>>Along with Carlson, the Timberwolves had seven other prospects that medaled at the tournament.
>>>Gold (USA): Carlson, Mike Lee, Danny Kristo, A.J. Jenks and team captain, Derek Stepan
>>>Silver (Canada): Martin Jones and Alex Pietrangelo
>>>Bronze (Sweden): Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson
>>>
>>>"The WJC is the best event to watch the best young players on the planet," said general manager Blake Wendt. "Obviously we have a vested interest with so many of our prospects in it this year. But it's also great to get a peek at the guys that are either draft eligible or have been overlooked from previous drafts."
>>>Timberwolves scoring rank (Top-30):
>>>01)Derek Stepan (7 4-10-14)
>>>05)Alex Pietrangelo (6 3- 9-12)
>>>09)Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (6 3- 7-10)
>>>17)Danny Kristo (7 5- 3- 8)
>>>28)John Carlson (7 4- 3- 7)

RIVALRY RENEWED

THU 4
NIA 5 OT

NIAGARA FALLS, ON- Since their move to western Ontario, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves have always had a spirited rivalry with their cross-province brethren in Niagara Falls. Friday night's contest against the Thunder was no different.
>>>Said Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard before the game. "You have to up the tempo and keep your head up against these guys. You either turtle and they plow through you. Or you square up and punch them in the chin."
>>>Needless to say, there was an edge to the game even before the puck dropped.
>>>After taking a hooking penalty, David Perron put his club down early in early in the first. But an quick outlet pass from Ballard and a 2-on-1 rush by Ethan Moreau (pictured) and Ryan Johnson capped off by a Johnson goal made things right for the Timberwolves.
>>>Radek Dvorak would turn a breakaway into a goal at 14:20 and Thunder Bay took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
>>>Less than a minute into the second period, Sheldon Souray winded up and blasted his signature hard, heavy shot over the head of a ducking Nikolai Khabibulin to make it 3-0 Timberwolves.
>>>Kris Draper would pull the Thunder within one at 7:06 in the second.
>>>The chirping and extra curricular jabs after whistles finally came to a head after the Timberwolves Bryan McCabe anialated Marco Sturm at the blueline with the German's head down. There was no penalty on the play, but Niagara Falls' Craig Rivet took exception to the hit and slashed McCabe across the knee and took a 2-minute minor. McCabe did not return to the game.
>>>"The hit was clean, but I can understand wanting to stick up for a teammate," said Souray. "But drop the gloves and address the matter that way. Don't be a (expletive) and bury your stick into someone's knee. But I really expected nothing less from these (expletive)."
>>>At 2:46 into the third period, Marc Savard was baited into dropping the gloves with Sean Avery and took a 2-minute minor.
>>>Eleven seconds later, Ethan Moreau found a willing combatant in David Clarkson as the two dropped their mitts and slugged it out until Clarkson slew footed Moreau that felled both players.
>>>"They can't backup their constant yapping and then when one actually has the balls to fight, they take out the guys legs?" said Ballard. "(expletive) 'em."
>>>T.J. Oshie matched the Thunder powerplay tally with one of his own at 5:16 into the third to put the Timberwolves up 4-2.
>>>Jonathan Toews answered with a pair at 7:05 and 12:23 to tie things up for Niagara Falls.
>>>With the head games in full effect, Sean Avery was a kid in a candy shop.
>>>After taking a deflected shot in the neutral zone to his 'lower regions', Jay McKee skated off the ice to Avery in his ear. The very next shift, Matt Niskanen who is not known for the fisticuffs got into a shoving and gloved punching match with Avery as the two skated by the Timberwolves bench. Then to no ones surprise, as the two were being restrained by the linesmen, Avery speared Niskanen in his 'lower regions'. Niskanen was not injured, but Avery did get the gate with a game misconduct.
>>>"It what he does," later said Niskanen. "He does anything and everything to get under your skin. Often he crosses the line. Like he did again tonight. But whatever you need to do to stay up here I guess. He's pretty much worthless otherwise."
>>>Still agitated, Niskanen would end up taking a unnecessary penalty six seconds into overtime only to be answered with an RJ Umberger goal three seconds later to win it for the Thunder.
>>>"They drew us in and took us completely off our game," said Timberwolves head coach Craig Hartsburg. "They got called on alot of their actions, and we should've capitalized on those powerplays we were given. We didn't and they sucked us in and capitalized for three powerplays of their own. We can't give in to teams like this."
>>>The Timberwolves play again tonight at home against the North Dakota Ibex (13-16-2). Their third in a row. North Dakota is also coming off a third period debacle where they held a 2-1 lead only to lose to Springfield 3-2.
>>>
>>>3-STARS
>>>***Joe Corvo (NIA) - Goal & Assist
>>>**RJ Umberger (NIA) - Game winning goal & Assist
>>>*Jonathan Toews (NIA) - 2 goals & Assist

In 1970 the City of Thunder Bay was formed by the mergers of the cities of Fort William and Port Arthur and the geographic townships of Neebing and McIntyre.

>>>

In commemoration of this event, the Thunder Bay Timberwolves will be wearing the above uniforms tonight against Karlstad at the Canadian National Gardens. This, the last day (New Years Eve) before the 40th Anniversary of the formation of the City of Thunder Bay.

>>>

The Timberwolves will wear a '40' patch on their right chest for the duration of this season and the remaining games in 2010 next season.

>>>

"I think this is a great way to honour the history of Thunder Bay and to pay homage to the former cities and communities that combined to form this beautiful, great city," said Timberwolves General Manager, Blake Wendt.

>>>

Wearing Fort William jerseys: Marian Gaborik, Jonas Hiller, Mike Fisher, Ryan Johnson (Thunder Bay native), T.J. Oshie, Bryan Little, Ales Hemsky, Matt Niskanen, Jay McKee & Bryan McCabe

>>>

Wearing Port Arthur jerseys: Keith Ballard, Joey MacDonald, Marc Savard, David Perron, Ethan Moreau, Taylor Pyatt (Thunder Bay native), Dean McAmmond, Nick Schultz & Sheldon Souray... Patrick Sharp (Thunder Bay native) who is on the Injured Reserve until mid-January is the 10th player.

WOLVES WIN WITH HILLER'S 56 SAVES

THU 6
BEV 2
>>>
BEVERLY HILLS, CA- Despite the loss of Patrick Sharp until mid-January with injury. The Thunder Bay Timberwolves came to California swinging.
>>>Patrick Sharp, a Thunder Bay native was injured in Wednesday nights game at home against Wisborg while blocking a shot that ended up catching the forward underneath the shoulder.
>>>With Sharp out of the lineup, Taylor Pyatt was recalled from Duluth for the west coast trip and Ryan Johnson was named an alternate captain in Sharp's absense. All from Thunder Bay.
>>>Replacing Sharp on the top line with Marc Savard (pictured) and Marian Gaborik, was David Perron.
>>>Rookie T.J. Oshie assumed Perron's spot on the second line with fellow rookie, Bryan Little and Ales Hemsky.
>>>Pyatt made his 2009-10 debut on the third line with Mike Fisher the pivot with he and Dean McAmmond.
>>>Johnson centered the forth line with Ethan Moreau and a double-shifted Gaborik.
>>>Despite being thoroughly outshot by thirty, Jonas Hiller kept his club in the game and a pair of powerplay tallies from Gaborik helped the Timberwolves skate out of California with a solid 6-2 win.
>>>"If not for Jonas, we're toast," said Timberwolves head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "We've relied on our goalies to bail us out far too often this season. If not for our offense exploding, the Lawmasters could have done alot of damage."
>>>"It's always a good thing to come home for a couple extra days off with a win," said defenseman Sheldon Souray. "Hiller did a great job behind us, and you could feel the confidence of the guys building with every save."
>>>Thunder Bay does not play again until Tuesday, when they welcome the defending Cup champion Remparts to the Canadian National Gardens. The Timberwolves won their last game against Quebec 5-1.
>>>
>>>3-STARS
>>>
>>>*** Marc Savard (THU) - Goal & 2 assists
>>>** Marian Gaborik (THU) - 2 powerplay goals
>>>* Jonas Hiller (THU) - 56 saves on 58 shots for the win
>>>
>>>Other news and notes...
>>>With the World Junior Championship fast approaching, it's time to take stock of the Timberwolves' prospects who will take part in the tournament:
>>>
>>>Canada:
>>>Alex Pietrangelo (D)
>>>Martin Jones (G)
>>>Louis Leblanc was a last day cut and Patrick Wiercioch re-aggrivated a previous knee injury from earlier in the >>>year at Denver University.
>>>
>>>United States (not final):
>>>Derek Stepan (F)
>>>A.J. Jenks (F)
>>>Danny Kristo (F)
>>>John Carlson (D)
>>>Mike Lee (G)
>>>
>>>Sweden:
>>>Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (F)
>>>
>>>Czech Republic:
>>>Andrej Nestrasil (F)
>>>
>>>Prospect Denis Reul (D) has been loaned to Alder Mannheim of the Deutchland Elite League. Reul, a German-native had been assigned to the Timberwolves top minor-league affiliate in Duluth, Minnesota after two seasons in the QMJHL.

WOLVES FIND HOLES IN DONUTS

THU 6

WIS 2

>>>

WISBORG, Sweden- The Thunder Bay Timberwolves came to Sweden with one thing on their mind. A win.

>>>The Timberwolves left the same night that they lost to Beverly Hills 5-2 at home on Friday for their trans-atlantic trek.

>>>"It was planned this way whether we won or lost," said Timberwolves General Manager, Blake Wendt. "So there shouldn't be too much read into it. Our plane is setup nice for everyone to sleep well and be ready for these games across the pond."

>>>Upon arriving in Stockholm, the team traveled by bus to Wisborg and hit the ice within an hour of arriving there.

>>>Under different circumstances some teams might take advantage of the shopping in Sweden so close to the holidays. Not the Timberwolves.

>>>"After the skate the guys got a bite to eat and we then had an extended team meeting," said head coach Craig Hartsburg. "With all the new guys coming in this past week and even addressing the guys we lost. It was important to address the makeup of this team and our overall goals for the season. I thought it went very well."

>>>Sunday night the Timberwolves finally met their opponent in the Wisborg Donuts.

>>>Coming off injury, Bryan McCabe made it known that he was just fine. Taking on a rush with forwards Marian Gaborik and the newly acquired Marc Savard, McCabe drove the net and backhanded his own rebound over Wisborg's Erik Ersberg to put Thunder Bay on top just 24 seconds into the game.

>>>Milan Michalek answered the bell for Wisborg 44 seconds later to tie it up.

>>>One minute and fifty-eight seconds after Michalek's tally, Marian Gaborik scored his 12th of the season on a feed from Savard and Keith Ballard.

>>>"For awhile there I thought it was going to be a 12-10 end to the game," said Hartsburg.

>>>The first period scoring would end with the Gaborik goal.

>>>After a minor penalty on Wisborg's Fredrik Modin at 1:28 into the second, Marc Savard scored his first as a member of the Timberwolves and fifth of the season from McCabe and Patrick Sharp.

>>>Mike Fisher made it 4-1 Thunder Bay at 18:06 of the second and into the last intermission.

>>>"Everything was clicking for sure," said Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard. "(Jonas) HIller was great there in the second and really helped force the puck on Ersberg."

>>>The newly acquired Hiller (pictured) was playing in his third game since being acquired from River Cities.

>>>"Jonas is a very quiet guy," said Wendt. "Much like Timmy (Tim Thomas) was here, but even more so. His demeanor in the room translates in his crease. He plays a quiet, relaxed game. Tight butterfly, and is set for almost every shot. Doesn't flop around and get himself into trouble. Clean and makes every save look routine. I've been impressed for sure."

>>>Third period scoring was started by the Donuts and off the stick of Travis Zajac at 8:29.

>>>At 12:27, Wisborg's Mikael Samuelsson tripped up Patrick Sharp for a 2-minute minor. At 14:14, Marian Gaborik scored his second of the night and 13th of the season, unassisted.

>>>Matt Niskanen would close out the scoring with his 3rd of the season from Ballard and Fisher.

>>>"All in all it was a pretty solid all-around game," said Wendt. "There's always things to be worked on. But these are the games to build on and learn to win from."

>>>The Timberwolves next game isn't until Wednesday at home against these same Donuts. The team will have Monday off and spend it in Sweden. Blake Wendt and the Timberwolves scouts will observe a game featuring Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson in the Swedish Elite League.

>>>"We've not met with Magnus in person since we acquired him from Dayton," said Wendt. "We'll talk before or after his game and formally give him his Timberwolves sweater."

>>>

>>>3-STARS

>>>***Marc Savard (THU) - Game-winning goal and 2 assists

>>>**Jonas Hiller (THU) - 37 saves and 2 goals against (Stopped all 17 shots faced in 2nd)

>>>*Marian Gaborik (THU) - 2 goals and an assist

TRADE WINDS HOWL THROUGH WOLVES COUNTRY

THUNDER BAY, ON- In an effort to light a fire under the butts of his players while keeping an eye on the future, Blake Wendt made several roster moves in the past 24 hours.
>>>None no bigger than that with the River Cities Renegades.
>>>To Thunder Bay: Marc Savard, Nick Schultz, Jonas Hiller and Nick Petrecki
>>>To River Cities: Tim Thomas, David Backes and Roman Polak
>>>The biggest names on both sides in this deal are of course centre, Marc Savard and goaltender, Tim Thomas. Thomas being far an away the Timberwolves best player before being dealt.
>>>"This was not an easy trade to make by any stretch of the imagination," said Wendt. "Tim Thomas was the cornerstone of our club so far this season. Without him, we were winless. With him, we were in every game. To move a guy like him while also selling to your players and your fans that you are not packing it in, is a hard sell. Jonas Hiller is a very good goalie. We are confident that we have not taken a step back him."
>>>Wendt continued on with the rest of the deal with the Renegades.
>>>"What we gained in this deal was a world-class centre with an uncanny ability to setup his linemates. Marc Savard is the real deal. He will immediately show our fans what he brings to the table on a line with Gaborik and next season possibly with guys like John Tavares and or Matt Duchene."
>>>"The dark horses in this deal are the defensemen. Nick Schultz was here last season for a short time. We're very high on him. Very responsible in this own end and is excellent with the puck and providing an offensive push from the backend. Nick Petrecki is a bruiser. He's been on our radar since the USHL with the Omaha Lancers. He continued from a solid program there to a national champion at Boston College. He's still a little raw and will not be rushed out of Duluth (minor-league affiliate). But when he gets up here, he's going to be a force.
>>>Within the same hour as the announcement of the previous trade, Wendt sent Samuel Pahlsson to Beverly Hills for Rhett Rakhshani.
>>>Pahlsson seen intermitten games and was often a healthy scratch. Rakhshani is a senior captain at the University of Denver. The Orange, California native the first player from the Golden State ever for the Timberwolves.
>>>"With having Patrick Wiercioch in Denver, we've seen alot of Rakhshani," said Wendt. "Plays bigger than he is (5'10 170), and has great leadership qualities. Like alot of kids coming out of California, he plays a solid all around game and skates like the wind. We're very excited to have him in our organization."
>>>After lunch, it was back to business. Discussions with the Reykjavik Puffin had been ongoing since Wendt sent Kyle Brodziak to Iceland for defenseman, Niclas Wallin. By mid-day, another trade was in place.
>>>The Timberwolves sent Scottie Upshall to the Puffin for Brett Hextall and North Dakota's 4th Round Pick.
>>>"Scottie's an excellent hockey player," said Wendt. "This season, with the depth we have on the wings, he just wasn't able to crack the lineup on a regular basis."
>>>"Brett Hextall obviously has the pedigree (Ron Hextall's son). But more than that, he's mastering his craft with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. With other guys like Danny Kristo, David Toews and Ben Blood of ours there. We're more than confident in his development. Hextall is a go-go-go guy on every shift. Solid skater, very good set-up guy, digs in the corners and backchecks with the best of them."
>>>While Blake Wendt was in Thunder Bay making these moves, the Timberwolves were in Quebec readying for the defending champion, Remparts.
>>>"There's no good time to move guys out and bring guys in. I didn't wake up this morning thinking I was going to alter this roster the way it was. Moves needed to be made though, and I am hopeful that this is eye opening to these guys that things need to change and that we are not bowing down to anything but the best every night."

THOMAS BACK, WOLVES WIN

THUNDER BAY, ON- Tim Thomas returned to the ice for the Thunder Bay Timberwolves to a thunderous ovation at the Canadian National Gardens on Tuesday night.
>>>After being injured five days ago in Karlstad, Sweden, the Timberwolves have lost all three games since.
>>>"We simply were not getting the job done," said head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "The simple things were not being executed. The others teams exposed that and we paid. In my opinion this wasn't about Thomas not being there. Ells (Brian Elliott) and (Joey) MacDonald weren't getting the support they needed."
>>>Even while on the road, the fans back home were quite aware of what was going on, and growing impatient with the effort on the ice. Thus a standing ovation for who many would say is the best player on the roster. Tim Thomas.
>>>With the Reykjavik Puffin in town and playing Roberto Luongo. It looked as if this would be a showdown with two of the leagues best netminders. A close, low-scoring contest. The latter would not be the case.
>>>Within the first 90 seconds, the Puffin had put two behind Thomas. There was a hush amongst the sellout crowd. Maybe it wasn't just their beloved goalie.
>>>Keith Ballard would answer at 2:48 in the first. Easing some heartache.
>>>At 14:53, and on the power play, Sheldon Souray danced the blueline and after finding his spot through a screened Luongo, blasted a shot from the top of the circle past the Puffin tender to tie things up.
>>>Nigel Dawes would end up breaking the tie and the Puffin would go into the first intermission with a one goal lead.
>>>"We knew that Roberto was beatable tonight," said Ballard. "He's a world class goalie, and it's often that you feel this way about scoring on him. But going into the room, we felt we could beat him."
>>>Despite their confidence, the Timberwolves would soon be down two goals after Devon Setoguchi would score at 8:39 in the second.
>>>Bryan Little did his part to bring Thunder Bay back from the brink. The rookie took an errant pass from a Puffin player and broke away uncontested. Beating Luongo after a series of dekes and quick snap over the glove.
>>>David Backes (pictured) took a 5-minute major for dropping the gloves and taking shots at Reykjavik's Matt Greene. Greene immitated a punching bag and Backes sat alone in the penalty box.
>>>Greene and the Puffin would pay for not wanting to dance. Ethan Moreau intercepted a cross ice pass at the Timberwolves blueline and drove up the ice with Bryce Salvador and Dean McAmmond. The speedster McAmmond would end up the shooter. Putting the puck behind Luongo with a shorthanded goal to tie things up once again.
>>>For good measue, Backes would end up scoring two goals for himself in the third period.
>>>Matt Greene scored the final one. But it was not enough and the Timberwolves would win 6-5.
>>>
>>>3 STARS
>>>*** Dean McAmmond (THU) - Shorthanded tying goal
>>>** Henrik Zetterberg (REK) - Goal & 2 assists
>>>* David Backes (THU) - 2 goals, including game winner
>>>
Next game: Thursday, vs Winnipeg (8-6-1) at the Canadian National Gardens