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Wolf Tracks: Byfield's absence an opportunity for McCallum

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In a game that ended 1-0, you knew the goaltenders would take first- and second-star honours.

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Christian Purboo was solid for the Sudbury Wolves in a losing cause last Friday, making 24 saves, while 17-year-old rookie Brett Brochu had a dominant 29-save shutout for London.

The easy choice for third star would have been the Knights Jonathan Gruden, who scored the game’s only goal. But instead, the nod was given to Wolves rookie Landon McCallum.

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Could you accuse the person selecting the stars of being a homer? Probably. A forward on a team that gets skunked being named a star will always raise an eyebrow. But McCallum deserved some recognition for what might have been his best game in a Wolves uniform, and earned increasing ice time as the game went along from an appreciative coaching staff.

Sudbury’s first-round pick, 15th overall, in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection had 17 goals and 49 points in 31 games for the Brantford 99ers last season. So getting picked as one of the three stars after no goals, no assists and being even in the plus-minus category is not something a player of his calibre expects.

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But it’s performances like this one that the Wolves hope offer a signal what’s to come.

As a team the Wolves are struggling without their superstar, having lost four straight since Quinton Byfield departed for the world juniors. The last two were shutouts, and the goalless drought stretches back to David Levin’s power-play marker in a 7-3 loss to the Erie Otters on Dec. 13, making it a span of 127:50 without finding the back of the net.

Having eight days off for the Christmas break should help a team that had been nursing a number of injuries. Players like Owen Gilhula, Nolan Hutcheson and Kosta Manikis got back into action before the break, but should be fully healed and chomping at the bit come Saturday night in Sault Ste. Marie.

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This is good, because without Byfield for four more games at the very least, and likely more, the Wolves are going to need everyone to step up to avoid sliding right down to being a sub .500 team. Right now, they’re 18-15-1-0, still first in the Central Division, but with the Niagara IceDogs creeping up quickly.

Although he’s only 16, McCallum is one of those players who has the skill level to step up. The burden for the slide has to fall on the veteran players, but the effort from the young kids can sometimes inspire the whole group. McCallum didn’t get rewarded on the scoreboard in the London game, but if he keeps playing the way he did, his 2-2-4 totals through 27 games will surely be on the rise.

With the trade deadline just two weeks away, this is the time of season teams speak to their general managers through their play. Four straight losses is not sending the right message if the current pack of Wolves want their GM to add, rather than subtract, for the stretch drive and playoffs.

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Missing Byfield hurts, but both London and Owen Sound were also without players due to the world juniors, so that excuse doesn’t really fly. The one obvious difference is that while Sudbury has a deep roster of players who make significant contributions in different ways, Byfield might be their only true game-breaker — a guy who can carry the club on his back to victories.

When No. 55 is in the lineup, he makes snipers like Blake Murray and David Levin that much more effective and allows heart-and-soul players like Shane Bulitka and Macauley Carson to focus on their roles. It’s not just missing what that one players brings as an individual, but also how he contributes to the success of others.

The silver lining of Byfield’s absence is the opportunity it affords a player like McCallum. If he can keep earning ice time like he did last Friday, the long-term impact might be greater than any mid-season losing streak.

Jeff Giffen’s Wolf Tracks column runs weekly during the hockey season.

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