SUDBURY, Ontario — The Sudbury Wolves look to new head coach Craig Duncanson to lead a skilled locker room. The addition of Greater Sudbury Area native Duncanson indicates that the Wolves are looking to retain their spot amongst league leaders for the upcoming year. This may prove to be a challenge, as much of the Wolves’ leadership group and roster from previous years have moved on.

Duncanson is sourced from the Wolves’ alumni. He led the team through a rough patch of campaigns between 1983-85. At 16 years old, Duncanson was named team captain, the youngest player to do so in franchises history at that time. A gritty and passionate player, Duncanson averaged over one point and almost three penalty minutes a game while playing with the Wolves.

Duncanson has a similar story to former Wolves’ superstar Quinton Byfield. Both were drafted in the first round of the NHL entry draft by the Los Angeles Kings, Byfield second and Duncanson ninth. Duncanson played in five seasons for the Kings before having an opportunity with the Winnipeg Jets for a year. He then played a handful of games for the New York Rangers before spending three excellent years with their AHL team, the Binghamton Rangers. Duncanson would play for another two years in the IHL with the Orlando Solar Bears, as well as the Fort Wayne Komets and the Cincinnati Cyclones.

After retiring as a player, Duncanson maintained a close connection with hockey. Totaling a decade of head coach experience, Duncanson has held positions for Laurentian University, the NOHA All-Stars, as well as Team NOHA. At the 2017 Universiade Games (University Olympics), he was the assistant coach for Team Canada, leading the team to a bronze medal. He has also been the assistant coach for the Nickel City Sons U16 AAA team, and associate coach for the Sudbury Wolves Minor Midget AAA.

Duncanson’s professional experience and ties to the community bode well for a Wolves team that is looking to compete for an OHL championship. The question of if the addition of Duncanson is enough to mitigate the loss of Byfield will be revealed as the season unfolds. Regardless of performance in the standings, expect this year’s Wolves to play with grit and passion.

The Wolves remain one of the few OHL teams to have never won a championship. With Gudbranson in and Byfield out, the instability of moving pieces suggests the team may face unexpected adversities. Having a level-headed coach with ties to the community and franchise may be a strong approach to an uncertain situation.

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.