Wolves begin 2012-13 season in Russia - Stew Kernan

Training camp for the Sudbury Wolves doesn’t officially get underway for a couple of weeks, but the team is getting a head start on the competition, courtesy of a trip to Omsk, Russia.

The Wolves are taking part in the Junior Club World Cup starting Aug. 18 and running to Aug. 26.

Some say “Why take your team so far away so close to the beginning of the OHL season?” I say “Why not?”

First off, what better way to prepare for the long and competitive season than going up against some of the best junior hockey players in the world? The Wolves will be in Group B with Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Denmark, while Group A consists of Russia, USA, Czech Republic, Belarus and Norway.

There is not a lot of time to get ready for such a high level of competition, but the Wolves do have the advantage of bringing many regulars back from last season, meaning systems should still be in place.

Head coach Trent Cull will no doubt tweak a few things with a number of new players in the lineup, but for the most part look for the emphasis to be on fitting players in with new line-mates and in new situations.

There are going to be pressure situations during the tournament that the players and coaches are going to be able to look back on during the season
I also like the fact that the team is going to have two weeks together to bond.

That can sometimes be an overused cliché, but I think, in this case, it is so true. This group of returning players is so close already, but there are a number of new players that will have to find their way.

Don’t forget this trip is all about what happens off the ice just as much as what happens on the ice. They’re going to experience the famous Red Army training facility and then see some historic sites away from the rink, including Red Square and the Kremlin.

They’re going to be together day and night for two weeks and should return home as a very cohesive unit, no matter what happens during the tournament.

The experience gives the coaches and management the chance to begin the decision-making process on what the Wolves roster may look like at the start of the OHL season.

They are in Russia for the Junior Club World Cup, but at the same time, it’s a golden opportunity to start looking at the battles that are going to develop for jobs when the team returns home.

There will be battles at pretty well every position, including going into camp with five quality players at the overage position.

Five years ago, the Wolves made a similar pre-season trip to Poland, won the tournament and went on to have a dream season, that included an OHL Eastern Conference Championship and a near berth in the Memorial Cup. There is no reason to think that history will repeat itself, but then again, why not?

New faces behind the bench

- Head coach Trent Cull has received a contract extension that will take him through the 2013-14 season. Cull has taken the team to the playoffs in both his years behind the bench, including putting together the team’s best regular season record in 11 years during an injury-plagued 2011-12 season.

- With the departure of Jeff Beukeboom, the Wolves have rounded out Cull’s coaching staff with the additions of David Bell and Jason Young. Bell played in the OHL for the Ottawa 67’s and has league coaching experience with Barrie and Owen Sound.

He comes to Sudbury after spending last season with the CHL’s Quad City Mallards. Young is a former Sudbury Wolf who played most of his pro career in Europe. He is coming off a stint as the head coach of the Nickel City Sons in the Great North Midget League.

- The Wolves will start the season with a new head scout. Andrew Shaw has been hired to oversee the Wolves scouting staff. He has OHL scouting experience in Sarnia and Brampton. Shaw has also served as a regional scout for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

Stew Kernan is the radio and television voice of the Sudbury Wolves, and the news director at EZ Rock and Q92.