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Wolf Tracks: What does it all mean?

The funny thing about training camp is that it tells you a lot, and absolutely nothing, all at the same time. 

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The funny thing about training camp is that it tells you a lot, and absolutely nothing, all at the same time. 

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Fans get to see how much taller some of the young guys are and which players have beefed up during the summer. Or, in some cases, how much they’ve trimmed down. Rugged veteran Macauley Carson actually took the unconventional path of slimming down to increase his shot at a successful season. 

You also learn which goalies appear to have added confidence in the crease and which skaters seem to have a little more spring in their step. 

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So you’ve gained knowledge, right? Yes, yet the real test is figuring out what it all means.

When the puck drops on opening night, and as the season progresses, often what you thought was real at training camp was merely a mirage. That kid who seemed faster in the pre-season scrimmages and exhibition games might have been a cardio wizard in the off-season, which gives him a slight advantage early but dissipates over time. And that player who seemed to have so much confidence in late August may have next to none by October because the game can be cruel. 

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You just never know.

Also unknown as the 2019-20 Sudbury Wolves training camp begins is which returnees are destined to elevate their impact. Every team needs that player who overachieves or, in a perfect world, several of them. 

The Wolves have many candidates, in every age range, starting with their three overagers in Carson, David Levin and Shane Bulitka. All have been solid OHLers, but any of the three has a realistic shot at having a breakout year that gets them attention from pro scouts. Outside of trades, all three are a lock to make the team. 

The same can’t be said for all of the 19-year-old players on the roster, which is kind of a junior hockey, pre-season tradition. 

If a player hasn’t established himself as a sure thing by 19, there’s always the possibility a younger prospect can eat their lunch, so to speak. Fourth-year forward Owen Gilhula is a great example of a player who honestly has the skill and experience to not only make the team, but be a high-end impact player. But the former second-round selection has battled injuries in his junior career and struggled to be a consistent contributor. When he’s healthy and humming, he can look really good. You hope he’s able to deliver that and make a difference. 

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Last season, Gilhula was put on a line at times with young stars Quinton Byfield and Blake Murray and didn’t look out of place. With a no-nonsense coach like Cory Stillman, veterans like Gilhula will be well aware of the fact they have to make their presence known early and often. Some fellow 2000-born players will also be fighting to not only confirm their spot on the team, but also demonstrate they deserve more playing time this season. 

On the flip side, winger Nolan Hutcheson could easily have been in that position too, but his breakout 24 goal season in 2018-19 elevated him from fight-for-your-job status to being a legitimate consideration for the top-line this season. 

The fact the Wolves’ two import picks are not in Sudbury — at least not yet — is unfortunate for the organization, but it just gave every bubble player at training camp about a 5 to 10 per cent better chance of securing a roster spot. So that’s exciting for them and interesting for fans. 

The first chance for fans to see some of the hopefuls in real action, even if it’s just pre-season games, comes on Saturday night at the Sudbury Community Arena when they host the Soo Greyhounds for a 7 p.m. start. The locals will then make the long trip to Kanata for an exhibition tilt with the Ottawa 67’s on Sunday afternoon. 

Who knows what those games will tell us — probably nothing. 

But for the fans who couldn’t wait for hockey’s return, it’s still really fun to see it all unfold.

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

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