Skip to content

GNML notebook: High hopes for Nickel City Wolves

The Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves are still a week or two from finalizing their roster for the 2015-2016 Great North Midget Leagu e (GNML) season, but already, expectations are high.
260815_nickel_caps
Final cuts are still more than a week away, but hopes are running high around the Nickel Capital Wolves' camp. File photo.
The Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves are still a week or two from finalizing their roster for the 2015-2016 Great North Midget League (GNML) season, but already, expectations are high.

With the Nickel City Major Midget AAA Sons taking a leave of absence from the GNML this year, the Nickel Caps will have a bigger talent pool to draw from this season.

Of course, that is offset by the glut of junior franchises now residing in Northern Ontario, but that is a story for a different day. For now, coach Peter Michelutti Jr and company will assess the players that show up at tryouts, the first of which started last night at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Arena.

Though the Nickel Capital Wolves graduated seven players from their 14-15 roster, with others also moving on, there will remain a returning nucleous, among which sits versatile forward Kyle Liinamaa, who also manned the point on the power-play from time to time.

"I'm going to try and be a leader this year," said Liinamaa. "Hopefully, I'll get a letter."

An under-sized centerman/right winger, the Sudbury product plays a "thinking man's" game, using his foot-speed to the full advantage that the Countryside Complex provides.

With a year of GNML play under his belt, he offers some thoughts on how the locals might advance further than their semi-final appearance last winter.

"We need to stay more focused, get more prepared for the games, take it more seriously," said Liinamaa. "And we have to keep things simple."

With more than half the team likely to make their inaugural appearance, this year, in the northern midget "AAA" league, players are sure to have plenty on their mind.

Goaltender Justin Richer spent a season playing minor midget AAA hockey last year, knowing the challenge that now lies ahead.

"I need to play further out," said Richer. "I play too deep in my net too much, and I'm a shorter guy. Players have developed harder shots, more accurate. I have to make myself look bigger."

And then there are the quasi-hostile crowds the Sudbury crew encounters when they are out-of-town.

"I like playing in Kapuskasing," said Liinamaa with a smile. "It's a small town, they fill the rink up, and the fans are pretty wild."

The Nickel Capital Wolves host the North Bay Trappers on Sept. 3 in a pre-season game, with points counting for real when the Kapuskasing Flyers make a visit to Sudbury on Sept. 12 and 13.

Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.