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Sudbury Wolves

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Sudbury Wolves (disambiguation).
Sudbury Wolves
CitySudbury, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionCentral
Founded1962 (1962) (NOJHA)
1972 (OHL)
Home arenaSudbury Community Arena
ColoursBlue, white and grey
     
Owner(s)Dario Zulich[1]
General managerRob Papineau
Head coachScott Barney[2]
CaptainDavid Goyette
AffiliateSudbury Cubs (NOJHL)
Websitesudburywolves.com
Franchise history
1945–1960Barrie Flyers
1960–1972Niagara Falls Flyers
1972–presentSudbury Wolves
Current uniform

The Sudbury Wolves are an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) ice hockey team based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Sudbury has had various hockey teams competing at the junior and senior ice hockey levels of the game known as the "Wolves" (or "Cub Wolves") nearly every year since around the time of World War I. The current junior franchise came into existence in 1972 when local businessman Mervin "Bud" Burke purchased the Niagara Falls Flyers and relocated the team to Sudbury.[3]

The current franchise has never won the Memorial Cup, nor has it captured the J. Ross Robertson Cup. Despite this lack of championships, the team has been one of the top development franchises in major junior over its history,[4] with over 120 players drafted in to the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1973. The Wolves have been a central part of Sudbury's history for decades, and the team is among the most iconic junior hockey franchises in all of North America.[5][6]

History

[edit]

Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the Wolves or Cub Wolves nearly every year since around WWI. This team name was informally adopted around 1920 as the "Wolves of the North," likely a reference to the "voracity and tenacity that typified the play of these men from Sudbury."[7]

The Sudbury Cub Wolves junior team began play in the 1920s as a member of the Nickel Belt Hockey League. Under the management of Max Silverman, and coached by Sam Rothschild, the Cub Wolves won the Memorial Cup in 1932 with a roster that featured future NHL players such as Hector "Toe" Blake, Nakina Smith, and Adélard Lafrance. In 1935, the Cub Wolves lost in the Memorial Cup finals to the Winnipeg Monarchs.

A senior team competing under the banner of the Sudbury Wolves, again coached by Silverman, have twice been chosen to be Canada's representatives at the Ice Hockey World Championships, winning the title for Canada in 1938 and the silver medal in 1949.[8] An iteration of the Wolves competed as the Eastern Canada entry at the 1954 Allan Cup senior national championship, falling to the Penticton Vees from Western Canada.

A professional Sudbury Wolves team competed in the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL) from 1959 until the league folded in 1963. Players such as Don Cherry, Dave Keon, and Gerry Cheevers suited up for the club during its brief existence.

A junior version of the Wolves emerged in the early 1960s as a member of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association, winning the league championship in 1969 and 1971.[5]

The OHL - then known as the Ontario Hockey Association and later the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League - arrived in Sudbury in 1972 when local businessman Bud Burke, who was a shareholder in the NOJHL Wolves, purchased the Niagara Falls Flyers from Leighton "Hap" Emms and moved the team to Northern Ontario. In 1975-76, the Wolves, coached by Jerry Toppazzini, who won the Matt Leyden Trophy that season, won Hamilton Spectator Trophy for having the best regular season record in the league with a roster of future NHL players such as Randy Carlyle, Ron Duguay, Rod Schutt, and Mike Foligno. Sudbury advanced to the 1975-76 OHL finals, but lost to the Hamilton Fincups in five games. In 1979, Burke sold the team to a large ownership group headed by future Hockey Canada board of directors chair Joe Drago.[9] From 1973 to 1979, a young Joe Bowen began his broadcasting career covering the Wolves on local Sudbury radio.[5]

The Wolves were the worst performing team in the entire Canadian Hockey League (CHL) in the 1980s, making the playoffs only once and not winning a single postseason game in the process. The club did manage to develop some notable players in this era, such as Pat Verbeek and Jeff Brown. A turning point in franchise history came in 1986 when local businessman Ken Burgess purchased the struggling club and initiated a major organizational turnaround. Sam McMaster was hired as general manager in 1988, and under his direction the team experienced renewed success, winning its first playoff series since 1979-80 when they defeated the Oshawa Generals in the first round of 1991-92 OHL playoffs. McMaster was named OHL Executive of the Year in 1989–90.[5]

From the early 1990s to the mid-2000s, the Wolves experienced mixed success. The club lost in Game 7 of the 1994-95 OHL semi-finals to the Detroit Junior Red Wings. A string of disappointing seasons came to an end in 2006–07 - the Wolves' 35th anniversary - when the team advanced to the OHL Finals, but ultimately lost to the Plymouth Whalers in six games. Coached by Mike Foligno, the Wolves roster that season featured several future NHL players, namely Marc Staal, Nick Foligno, Adam McQuaid, and Akim Aliu.[5]

From 2007 to 2016, the team generally struggled, including posting the worst season in franchise history in 2014-2015. In August 2012, the Wolves were sent to represent Canada at the 2012 Junior Club World Cup. Sudbury defeated the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League in the championship finals by a score of 2-0.[10] In 2016, the Burgess family, at the time the longest-serving ownership group in the OHL, sold the team to Sudbury businessman Dario Zulich. Since Zulich's takeover, the team has been moving in a positive direction, drafting players such as Quinton Byfield and Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen, and winning a regular season division title in 2019-20.[11]

Championships

[edit]
Sudbury Wolves make an entrance on home ice

The current Sudbury Wolves have never won the OHL championship, and have never participated in the Memorial Cup tournament. The team currently holds the third-longest Memorial Cup championship drought in the CHL, and the longest in the OHL.

The team has twice lost in the OHL finals, once in 1976 and again in 2007, winning the 1976 Leyden Trophy and the 2007 Bobby Orr Trophy in the process. The Wolves have twice won the Emms Trophy as the regular season Central Division champions, first in 2000-01 and then in 2019-20.

Coaches

[edit]

Jerry Toppazzini was awarded the Matt Leyden Trophy as the league's coach of the year in 1976, leading his team to a first-place finish in the regular season.

List of Sudbury Wolves coaches with multiple years in parentheses.

Players

[edit]
Sudbury Wolves against the Ottawa 67's in Ottawa

The Sudbury Wolves have retired six players' numbers, and have had over 120 players drafted to the NHL.[citation needed]

Retired numbers

[edit]

Award winners

[edit]

NHL alumni

[edit]

Yearly results

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
  • 1962–1972 NOJHL
  • 1972–1974 OHA
  • 1974–1980 OMJHL
  • 1980–present OHL

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL SL Points Pct % Goals
For		 Goals
Against		 Standing
1962–63 40 11 29 0 - - 22 0.275 127 222 5th NOJHL
1963–64 39 26 12 1 - - 53 0.679 213 170 2nd NOJHL
1964–65 40 7 33 0 - - 14 0.175 167 275 5th NOJHL
1965–66 40 23 16 1 - - 47 0.588 267 211 3rd NOJHL
1966–67 40 21 19 0 - - 42 0.525 213 189 3rd NOJHL
1967–68 40 19 19 2 - - 40 0.500 211 198 4th NOJHL
1968–69 48 31 15 2 - - 64 0.667 229 160 2nd NOJHL
1969–70 48 33 11 4 - - 70 0.729 341 192 2nd NOJHL
1970–71 48 39 7 2 - - 80 0.833 353 159 1st NOJHL
1971–72 52 23 23 6 - - 52 0.500 214 194 2nd NOJHL
1972–73 63 21 32 10 - - 52 0.413 289 379 7th OHA
1973–74 70 31 26 13 - - 75 0.536 298 288 5th OHA
1974–75 70 31 29 10 - - 72 0.514 324 289 5th OHA
1975–76 66 47 11 8 - - 102 0.773 384 224 1st Leyden
1976–77 66 38 24 4 - - 80 0.606 385 290 2nd Leyden
1977–78 68 16 42 10 - - 42 0.309 255 377 6th Leyden
1978–79 68 40 27 1 - - 81 0.596 397 361 2nd Leyden
1979–80 68 33 33 2 - - 68 0.500 299 309 5th Leyden
1980–81 68 20 45 3 - - 43 0.316 284 380 6th Leyden
1981–82 68 19 48 1 - - 39 0.287 274 401 7th Emms
1982–83 70 15 55 0 - - 30 0.214 269 422 7th Emms
1983–84 70 19 50 1 - - 39 0.279 287 427 8th Emms
1984–85 66 17 46 3 - - 37 0.280 224 348 8th Emms
1985–86 66 29 33 4 - - 62 0.470 293 330 5th Emms
1986–87 66 20 44 2 - - 42 0.318 285 377 8th Emms
1987–88 66 17 48 1 - - 35 0.265 208 339 8th Emms
1988–89 66 23 36 7 - - 53 0.402 262 334 7th Emms
1989–90 66 36 23 7 - - 79 0.598 295 267 3rd Emms
1990–91 66 33 28 5 - - 71 0.538 288 265 6th Leyden
1991–92 66 33 27 6 - - 72 0.545 331 320 4th Leyden
1992–93 66 31 30 5 - - 67 0.508 291 300 4th Leyden
1993–94 66 34 26 6 - - 74 0.561 299 275 3rd Leyden
1994–95 66 43 17 6 - - 92 0.697 314 208 2nd Central
1995–96 66 27 36 3 - - 57 0.432 262 288 6th Central
1996–97 66 21 37 8 - - 50 0.379 251 302 6th Central
1997–98 66 25 34 7 - - 57 0.432 257 268 5th Central
1998–99 68 25 35 8 - - 58 0.426 261 288 2nd Central
1999–2000 68 39 23 5 1 - 84 0.610 262 221 2nd Central
2000–01 68 35 22 8 3 - 81 0.574 237 196 1st Central
2001–02 68 25 33 5 5 - 60 0.404 171 216 3rd Central
2002–03 68 16 46 4 2 - 38 0.265 175 273 5th Central
2003–04 68 25 32 6 5 - 61 0.412 185 220 5th Central
2004–05 68 32 23 6 7 - 77 0.515 201 185 4th Central
2005–06 68 34 28 - 1 5 74 0.544 227 222 3rd Central
2006–07 68 29 30 - 3 6 67 0.486 225 241 3rd Central
2007–08 68 17 46 - 2 3 39 0.287 175 292 5th Central
2008–09 68 26 35 - 3 4 59 0.434 227 282 5th Central
2009–10 68 26 35 - 4 3 59 0.434 193 267 5th Central
2010–11 68 29 35 - 2 2 62 0.456 235 276 4th Central
2011–12 68 36 26 - 4 2 78 0.574 242 240 4th Central
2012–13 68 29 27 - 5 7 70 0.515 214 234 3rd Central
2013–14 68 33 24 - 3 8 77 0.566 219 228 3rd Central
2014–15 68 12 54 - 1 1 26 0.191 149 323 5th Central
2015–16 68 16 46 - 5 1 38 0.279 183 328 5th Central
2016–17 68 27 34 - 7 0 61 0.449 207 263 2nd Central
2017–18 68 17 42 - 9 0 43 0.316 197 291 5th Central
2018–19 68 43 20 - 3 2 91 0.669 254 206 2nd Central
2019–20 63 34 27 - 1 1 70 0.556 259 240 1st Central
2020–21 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0.000 0 0 Season Cancelled
2021–22 68 23 38 - 3 4 53 0.390 223 297 4th Central
2022–23 68 31 28 - 6 3 71 0.522 272 260 3rd Central
2023–24 68 38 23 - 4 3 83 0.610 328 272 3rd Central

Playoffs

[edit]
  • 1972–73 Lost to Ottawa 67's 8 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1973–74 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1974–75 Defeated Ottawa 67's 8 points to 6 in first round.
    Lost to Toronto Marlboros 9 points to 7 in second round.
  • 1975–76 Defeated S.S. Marie Greyhounds 9 points to 5 in quarter-finals.
    Defeated Ottawa 67's 8 points to 2 in semi-finals.
    Lost to Hamilton Fincups 8 points to 2 in finals.
  • 1976–77 Lost to Kingston Canadians 4 games to 1 with 1 tie in quarter-finals.
  • 1977–78 Out of playoffs.
  • 1978–79 Defeated Oshawa Generals 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 8 points to 2 in semi-finals.
  • 1979–80 Defeated Kingston Canadians 3 games to 0 in first round.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals.
  • 1980–81 Out of playoffs.
  • 1981–82 Out of playoffs.
  • 1982–83 Out of playoffs.
  • 1983–84 Out of playoffs.
  • 1984–85 Out of playoffs.
  • 1985–86 Lost to Guelph Platers 8 points to 0 in first round.
  • 1986–87 Out of playoffs.
  • 1987–88 Out of playoffs.
  • 1988–89 Out of playoffs.
  • 1989–90 Lost to Owen Sound Platers 4 games to 3 in first round.
  • 1990–91 Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in first round.
  • 1991–92 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 3 in first round.
    Lost to North Bay Centennials 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
  • 1992–93 Defeated Newmarket Royals 4 games to 3 in first round.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals.
  • 1993–94 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in division semi-finals.
  • 1994–95 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
    Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
    Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 3 in semi-finals.
  • 1995–96 Out of playoffs.
  • 1996–97 Out of playoffs.
  • 1997–98 Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
    Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
  • 1998–99 Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 1999–2000 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2000–01 Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2001–02 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2002–03 Out of playoffs.
  • 2003–04 Lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2004–05 Defeated Brampton Battalion 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2005–06 Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2006–07 Defeated Mississauga Ice Dogs 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
    Defeated Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in conference finals.
    Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in finals.
  • 2007–08 Out of playoffs.
  • 2008–09 Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2009–10 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2010–11 Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2011–12 Lost to Brampton Battalion 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2012–13 Defeated Brampton Battalion 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2013–14 Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2014–15 Out of playoffs.
  • 2015–16 Out of playoffs.
  • 2016–17 Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2017–18 Out of playoffs.
  • 2018–19 Defeated Mississauga Steelheads 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  • 2019–20 Cancelled.
  • 2020–21 Cancelled.
  • 2021–22 Out of playoffs.
  • 2022–23 Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  • 2023-24 Defeated Mississauga Steelheads 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Lost to North Bay Battalion 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.

Uniforms and logos

[edit]

From 1972 to 1988, the Sudbury Wolves' colours were green, white and gold. The tradition of Sudbury teams wearing green jerseys dates back to the mid-1910s. In 1988–89, Ken Burgess - who famously asked "Who ever heard of a green wolf?" - changed the team's colours to blue, white and grey, which happened to be the corporate colours of the business that bore his name. These have been the Wolves' colours ever since, though the team has occasionally donned throwback green jerseys. The iconic blood-toothed, wily wolf-head logo has subtly evolved since the current franchise's inception, but overall has remained relatively unchanged and today is one of the most recognizable logos in the CHL.[5]

There have been various alterations and versions of the team's primary jersey design over the years, as well as the introduction of third alternate jerseys, such as black and grey ones that were introduced in the mid-1990s and again in the early-2010s.[13] The team unveiled several special edition jerseys during the 2022-23 season, including a fiftieth anniversary jersey,[14] as well as a limited edition Shoresy Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs themed jersey.[15]

Jake Cardwell of the Wolves wearing the 2009 version of the away jersey

Arena

[edit]

The Sudbury Wolves play their home games at the downtown Sudbury Community Arena, which was constructed in 1951. The City of Greater Sudbury and the Wolves have upgraded the facility over the years, but since the mid-2010s there have been intensified debates about the building of a new arena.[16]

Every time the Wolves score a goal, a taxidermic wolf rolls out on a pulley system from the rafters of the Sudbury Arena in the direction of the opposing team's bench. This tradition began in the 1950s when The Sudbury Star donated a stuffed wolf to the local Wolves team as a token of appreciation.[5]

Media

[edit]

In the 2009-10 hockey season, Wolves games were broadcast on CJTK-FM in Sudbury.[17] As of 2018, Wolves games are broadcast on CKLU-FM.[18]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sudbury Wolves Ownership Transferred". OurSports Central. July 29, 2016.
  2. ^ "Wolves Introduce Scott Barney as Head Coach". Sudbury Wolves. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  3. ^ "'He was hard as nails, but fair and firm' — Sudbury hockey community mourns Bud Burke". thesudburystar. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  4. ^ "The Hockey Factory – Sudbury Wolves". Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Miller, Scott. "Leading the Pack: 50 Years of Sudbury Wolves History". Latitude 46 Publishing. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  6. ^ "Wolves to stay in Sudbury as OHL team celebrates 50 years, says owner".
  7. ^ Pagnucco, Frank (1982). Home-Grown Heroes: A Sports History of Sudbury. Miller Publishing.
  8. ^ Holland, Dave (2008). Canada on Ice; The World Hockey Championships, 1920–2008. Canada On Ice productions. pp. 46–47, 56–57. ISBN 978-0-9808936-0-1.
  9. ^ "Joe Drago honoured by Hockey Canada". thesudburystar. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  10. ^ "Wolves Win 2012 World Junior Club Cup – Ontario Hockey League".
  11. ^ "Update: Zulich issues statement regarding purchase of Sudbury Wolves". Sudbury.com. July 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "Sudbury Wolves Name Craig Duncanson Head Coach". OurSports Central. July 14, 2021.
  13. ^ "New Look for Wolves Hockey Salutes Past – Sudbury Wolves". sudburywolves.com. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  14. ^ "Wolves Unveil 50th Anniversary Jersey in Support of Ten Rainbows Children's Foundation – Sudbury Wolves". Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  15. ^ "Wolves Unveil Shoresy Jersey in Partnership with New Metric Media – Sudbury Wolves". Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  16. ^ "Full story: The KED is dead". Sudbury.com. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  17. ^ "Wolves move away game broadcasts to FM dial", Northern Life, September 11, 2009.
  18. ^ "Wolves Announce Branden Scott to Host Audio Broadcast". sudburywolves.com. September 21, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
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