The Williams Lake TimberWolves have another busy weekend ahead of them as they continue their extensive season opening home stand tomorrow.
Game four, Friday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m. against Victoria Salsa, pits off-season acquisition, Marc Fulton against his former team mates.
Then on Sunday the pack suits up against Trail Smoke Eaters for a 6 p.m. game.
After two games into the season, not counting last night’s contest against Quesnel which occurred after the Tribune’s press deadline, the `Wolves have put up some impressive numbers.
The club’s 2-0 record start to the regular season, is obviously the best in the team’s brief history.
In those two games the TimberWolves outscored their opponents 14-4 and listed four players among the BCHL’s top ten scoring leaders, including Marc Fulton’s league leading six points (three goals and three assists).
Goaltender Peter Vetri stopped 80 of the 84 shots he faced in recording both wins last weekend.
This translates to a sparkling 2.00 goals against average and a remarkable 95.45 save percentage in his first two outings.
Coach Rick Pitta says his defence has stepped up this year, and that it’s nice to have four returning defencemen with a year under their belts.
“Mattie Gow’s been in the league a couple of years, so he’ll prosper.
Aaron Peace has got a year under his belt, the same with Zach (Gieszler) and the same with Dave (Simoes). Those four guys are pretty key guys so obviously we’re going to lean on them quite a bit defensively.”
Pitta predicts it won’t be long until Alex Ward and Alex Greenlay are on par with their counterparts.
“But it’s nice having four veteran defencemen.”
The coach says last year was both mentally and physically a tough year.
“The guys that survived it that are here, are here for a reason,” he says. “That’s because they’re mentally capable of handling it, physically capable of handling it, and getting the job done. And that’s important.”
So far Pitta has named captain John Mazzei to wear the `C’ for the team, and Jake Morissette to wear an `A’ as one of three assistant captains.
He’ll name the two remaining assistant captains at a later date.
