Duininck trade couldn't come at a better time

Defence wins championships — that’s the old saying in a lot of sports, but I think it really holds true in hockey.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a saying the Sudbury Wolves can boast about over the first two months of the season.

Factoring in last weekend's games, the Wolves have given up 101 goals against after 23 games, the third worst defensive record in the league.

However, a move made last week is a signal management feels enough is enough. It also signals that if this team is serious about taking a run at the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference, they have to tighten up defensively.

The Wolves picked up Sarnia Sting captain and overage defenceman Craig Duininck last week in a move that can only be seen as an attempt to shore up the blue-line.

Sudbury also picked up a tenth round draft pick. Heading to Sarnia is overage defenceman Jimmy McDowell and a second round pick.

Duininck is best described as a shut-down defenceman. General Manager Blaine Smith probably summed it up best in the press release announcing the trade.

“The Sudbury Wolves have acquired one of the most experienced leaders in the OHL,” Smith said. “We feel we have addressed an important need and have made a significant addition to an already strong leadership group.

“Craig is one of the best shot-blockers in the league.”

You can pick out a few keywords in that quote: “experienced leader,” “important need” and “best shot-blockers.” All those help describe what Duininck can bring to the Wolves and it certainly didn’t take long for him to make an impression.

Since his arrival, three defencemen have gone down with injuries, even as injured captain Kevin Raine sits on the shelf. Because of that, Duininck, in his first three games with the Wolves, has logged plenty of top minutes and has shown he can be more than just a steadying force on the blue-line.

While Duininck comes in known as a defensive defenceman, he has also shown the ability to contribute to the offence.

He had four goals and six assists for 10 points in 20 games with the Sting, and already has a goal and two assists in his first three games in a Wolves uniform.

Again, because of the injuries, he has taken on a regular shift, as well as delivered on both the power play and the penalty kill — and he's been effective at all of it.

Duininck also has experience in winning.

Before Sarnia, he broke into the OHL with Windsor and was a member of the Spitfires 2010 Memorial Cup winning team. Currently, he's the only player in the league with a Memorial Cup ring.

In total, he has 47 games of playoff experience, a number he hopes to see increase dramatically with the Wolves when the playoffs begin in March.

Duininck comes in at just the right time. As mentioned, the Wolves defence is banged up — four regulars are injured as of the end of last weekend. He will be expected to pick up the slack and anchor the blue-line until the injured players return. Then, he will be able to settle into a role, along with Kevin Raine, as a blue-line leader.

Duininck will also be expected to bring some of that Memorial Cup playoff experience to help get this team past the second round for the first time since 2007.

But first, team defence has to be better and that’s where Duininck can help make a difference.

Stew Kernan is the radio and television voice of the Sudbury Wolves, and the News Director at KiSS 105.3 and Q92. This column appears every other week in Northern Life.