It’s hard to believe there can be any positives out of the season the Wolves are going through, but there are more than you might think.
“No pain, no gain” is the phrase that comes to mind.
Many sports see teams have to take it on the chin for a year or two before they start to climb back up to success — junior hockey is no different.
Besides the odd exception, most teams go in cycles and build towards those one or two seasons where they go for it and take a run at a championship. For the Wolves, that was last season. They spent a number of years developing the nucleus and added pieces along the way to get to a level where it was thought they had what it took to contend.
It doesn’t always work out as planned and it was the consensus that this Wolves season was going to be a year to rebuild and start looking a couple of years down the road.
While wins have hard to come, there are areas where the team is definitely heading in the right direction.
I think No. 1 on the list has been the development of defenceman Kyle Capobianco. Just last week, the 17-year old cracked NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings, coming in at No. 67 for this June’s draft.
If you’ve watched Capobianco’s progression this year, it’s no surprise. Not only has his offensive game improved, his overall game has gone to another level. Beyond that, his increased confidence makes it obvious we’re watching a future leader of the hockey team.
Rebuilding also gives a number of younger Wolves a great opportunity to develop faster than they might have on a team built with older players. Michael Pezzetta, Brady Pataki, Trenton Bourque, Reagan O’Grady, David Zeppieri, Austin Clapham and Cole Mayo are all getting invaluable experience that will make them better next year.
It may not seem like it, but goalie Troy Timpano is also on pace to be so much better in time for the 2015-2016 season.
Facing 40 or 50 shots a game and giving up four, five or six goals may not seem like a good way to get better, but for a goalie it’s the best way to improve. After the season the Wolves have had, you would think Timpano would be throwing up his arms and saying no more.
Instead, this kid is going out there night after night and learning how to be a better goaltender.
So, while going through a season like the Wolves are going through isn’t easy for anyone, it’s hoped in the long run the pain will be worth the gain.
Stew Kernan is the radio and television voice of the Sudbury Wolves, and the News Director at KiSS 105.3 and Q92.
