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For other uses, see Sudbury Wolves (disambiguation).

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

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 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and winning a regular season division title in 2019-20.[11]

Championships

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

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

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

Award winners

NHL alumni

Season-by-season results

Regular season and playoffs results:

Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SL = Shoot-out losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Memorial Cup champions League champions League finalists
Season Regular season Playoffs
GP W L T OTL SOL Pts Pct GF GA Finish
1962–63 40 11 29 0 – – 22 0.275 127 222 5th NOJHA Did not qualify
1963–64 39 26 12 1 – – 53 0.679 213 170 2nd NOJHA
1964–65 40 7 33 0 – – 14 0.175 167 275 5th NOJHA Did not qualify
1965–66 40 23 16 1 – – 47 0.588 267 211 3rd NOJHA
1966–67 40 21 19 0 – – 42 0.525 213 189 3rd NOJHA
1967–68 40 19 19 2 – – 40 0.500 211 198 4th NOJHA
1968–69 48 31 15 2 – – 64 0.667 229 160 2nd NOJHA
1969–70 48 33 11 4 – – 70 0.729 341 192 2nd NOJHA
1970–71 48 39 7 2 – – 80 0.833 353 159 1st NOJHA
1971–72 52 23 23 6 – – 52 0.500 214 194 2nd NOJHA
Wolves joined the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior A Series by purchase of the Niagara Falls Flyers
1972–73 63 21 32 10 – – 52 0.413 289 379 7th OHA Lost quarterfinals (Ottawa 67’s) 8–0[14]
1973–74 70 31 26 13 – – 75 0.536 298 288 5th OHA Lost quarterfinals (Kitchener Rangers) 8–0[15]
1974–75 70 31 29 10 – – 72 0.514 324 289 5th OHA Won quarterfinals (Ottawa 67’s) 8–6
Lost semifinals (Toronto Marlboros) 9–7[16]
1975–76 66 47 11 8 – – 102 0.773 384 224 1st Leyden Won quarterfinals (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 9–5
Won semifinals (Ottawa 67’s) 8–2
Lost OMJHL finals (Hamilton Fincups) 8–2[17]
1976–77 66 38 24 4 – – 80 0.606 385 290 2nd Leyden Lost quarterfinals (Kingston Canadians) 4–1–1[18]
1977–78 68 16 42 10 – – 42 0.309 255 377 6th Leyden Did not qualify
1978–79 68 40 27 1 – – 81 0.596 397 361 2nd Leyden Won quarterfinals (Oshawa Generals) 8–2
Lost semifinals (Peterborough Petes) 8–2[19]
1979–80 68 33 33 2 – – 68 0.500 299 309 5th Leyden Won division quarterfinals (Kingston Canadians) 3–0
Lost quarterfinals (Peterborough Petes) 4–3[20]
1980–81 68 20 45 3 – – 43 0.316 284 380 6th Leyden Did not qualify
1981–82 68 19 48 1 – – 39 0.287 274 401 7th Emms Did not qualify
1982–83 70 15 55 0 – – 30 0.214 269 422 7th Emms Did not qualify
1983–84 70 19 50 1 – – 39 0.279 287 427 8th Emms Did not qualify
1984–85 66 17 46 3 – – 37 0.280 224 348 8th Emms Did not qualify
1985–86 66 29 33 4 – – 62 0.470 293 330 5th Emms Lost division quarterfinals (Guelph Platers) 8–0[21]
1986–87 66 20 44 2 – – 42 0.318 285 377 8th Emms Did not qualify
1987–88 66 17 48 1 – – 35 0.265 208 339 8th Emms Did not qualify
1988–89 66 23 36 7 – – 53 0.402 262 334 7th Emms Did not qualify
1989–90 66 36 23 7 – – 79 0.598 295 267 3rd Emms Lost division quarterfinals (Owen Sound Platers) 4–3[22]
1990–91 66 33 28 5 – – 71 0.538 288 265 6th Leyden Lost division quarterfinals (Oshawa Generals) 4–1[23]
1991–92 66 33 27 6 – – 72 0.545 331 320 4th Leyden Won division quarterfinals (Oshawa Generals) 4–3
Lost quarterfinals (North Bay Centennials) 4–0[24]
1992–93 66 31 30 5 – – 67 0.508 291 300 4th Leyden Won division quarterfinals (Newmarket Royals) 4–3
Lost quarterfinals (Peterborough Petes) 4–3[25]
1993–94 66 34 26 6 – – 74 0.561 299 275 3rd Leyden Won division quarterfinals (Oshawa Generals) 4–1
Lost division semifinals (Ottawa 67’s) 4–2[26]
1994–95 66 43 17 6 – – 92 0.697 314 208 2nd Central Won division quarterfinals (Kitchener Rangers) 4–1
Won quarterfinals (Windsor Spitfires) 4–2
Lost semifinals (Detroit Junior Red Wings) 4–3[27]
1995–96 66 27 36 3 – – 57 0.432 262 288 6th Central Did not qualify
1996–97 66 21 37 8 – – 50 0.379 251 302 6th Central Did not qualify
1997–98 66 25 34 7 – – 57 0.432 257 268 5th Central Won division quarterfinals (Barrie Colts) 4–2
Lost quarterfinals (Guelph Storm) 4–0[28]
1998–99 68 25 35 8 – – 58 0.426 261 288 2nd Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Belleville Bulls) 4–0[29]
1999–2000 68 39 23 5 1 – 84 0.610 262 221 2nd Central Won conference quarterfinals (Kingston Frontenacs) 4–1
Lost conference semifinals (Barrie Colts) 4–3[30]
2000–01 68 35 22 8 3 – 81 0.574 237 196 1st Central Won conference quarterfinals (Barrie Colts) 4–1
Lost conference semifinals (Toronto St. Michael’s Majors) 4–3[31]
2001–02 68 25 33 5 5 – 60 0.404 171 216 3rd Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Barrie Colts) 4–1[32]
2002–03 68 16 46 4 2 – 38 0.265 175 273 5th Central Did not qualify
2003–04 68 25 32 6 5 – 61 0.412 185 220 5th Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Toronto St. Michael’s Majors) 4–3
[33]
2004–05 68 32 23 6 7 – 77 0.515 201 185 4th Central Won conference quarterfinals (Brampton Battalion) 4–2
Lost conference semifinals (Ottawa 67’s) 4–2[34]
2005–06 68 34 28 – 1 5 74 0.544 227 222 3rd Central Won conference quarterfinals (Kingston Frontenacs) 4–2
Lost conference semifinals (Peterborough Petes) 4–0[35]
2006–07 68 29 30 – 3 6 67 0.486 225 241 3rd Central Won conference quarterfinals (Mississauga IceDogs) 4–1
Won conference semifinals (Barrie Colts) 4–0
Won conference finals (Belleville Bulls) 4–2
Lost OHL finals (Plymouth Whalers) 4–2[36]
2007–08 68 17 46 – 2 3 39 0.287 175 292 5th Central Did not qualify
2008–09 68 26 35 – 3 4 59 0.434 227 282 5th Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Belleville Bulls) 4–2[37]
2009–10 68 26 35 – 4 3 59 0.434 193 267 5th Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Barrie Colts) 4–0[38]
2010–11 68 29 35 – 2 2 62 0.456 235 276 4th Central Won conference quarterfinals (Ottawa 67’s) 4–0
Lost conference semifinals (Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors) 4–0[39]
2011–12 68 36 26 – 4 2 78 0.574 242 240 4th Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Brampton Battalion) 4–0[40]
2012–13 68 29 27 – 5 7 70 0.515 214 234 3rd Central Won conference quarterfinals (Brampton Battalion) 4–1
Lost conference semifinals (Belleville Bulls) 4–0[41]
2013–14 68 33 24 – 3 8 77 0.566 219 228 3rd Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Barrie Colts) 4–1[42]
2014–15 68 12 54 – 1 1 26 0.191 149 323 5th Central Did not qualify
2015–16 68 16 46 – 5 1 38 0.279 183 328 5th Central Did not qualify
2016–17 68 27 34 – 7 0 61 0.449 207 263 2nd Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Oshawa Generals) 4–2[43]
2017–18 68 17 42 – 9 0 43 0.316 197 291 5th Central Did not qualify
2018–19 68 43 20 – 3 2 91 0.669 254 206 2nd Central Won conference quarterfinals (Mississauga Steelheads) 4–0
Lost conference semifinals (Ottawa 67’s) 4–0[44]
2019–20 63 34 27 – 1 1 70 0.556 259 240 1st Central Playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[45]
2020–21 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[46]
2021–22 68 23 38 – 3 4 53 0.390 223 297 4th Central Did not qualify
2022–23 68 31 28 – 6 3 71 0.522 272 260 3rd Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Peterborough Petes) 4–0[47]
2023–24 68 38 23 – 4 3 83 0.610 328 272 3rd Central Won conference quarterfinals (Mississauga Steelheads) 4–1
Lost conference semifinals (North Bay Battalion) 4–0[48]
2024–25 68 32 31 – 5 0 69 0.507 245 269 3rd Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Kingston Frontenacs) 4–0[49]
2025–26 68 27 39 – 2 0 56 0.412 211 262 4th Central Lost conference quarterfinals (Brantford Bulldogs) 4–0

Uniforms and logos

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.[50] The team unveiled several special edition jerseys during the 2022-23 season, including a fiftieth anniversary jersey,[51] as well as a limited edition Shoresy Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs themed jersey.[52]

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

Arena

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.[53]

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

In the 2009-10 hockey season, Wolves games were broadcast on CJTK-FM in Sudbury.[54] As of 2018, Wolves games are broadcast on CKLU-FM.[55]

See also

References

  1. ^ “Sudbury Wolves Ownership Transferred”. OurSports Central. July 29, 2016.
  2. ^ “Wolves Introduce Scott Barney as Head Coach”. Sudbury Wolves. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  3. ^ “‘He was hard as nails, but fair and firm’ — Sudbury hockey community mourns Bud Burke”. thesudburystar. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  4. ^ “The Hockey Factory – Sudbury Wolves”. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Miller, Scott. “Leading the Pack: 50 Years of Sudbury Wolves History”. Latitude 46 Publishing. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  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 September 29, 2022.
  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. ^ a b c “Sudbury Wolves Statistics and History [OHL]”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  14. ^ “1972–73 OHA Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  15. ^ “1973–74 OHA Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  16. ^ “1974–75 OHA Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  17. ^ “1975–76 OHA Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  18. ^ “1976–77 OHA Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  19. ^ “1978–79 OHA Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  20. ^ “1979–80 OHA Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  21. ^ “1985–86 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  22. ^ “1989–90 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  23. ^ “1990–91 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  24. ^ “1991–92 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  25. ^ “1992–93 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  26. ^ “1993–94 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  27. ^ “1994–95 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  28. ^ “1997–98 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  29. ^ “1998–99 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  30. ^ “1999–2000 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  31. ^ “2000–01 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  32. ^ “2001–02 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  33. ^ “2003–04 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  34. ^ “2004–05 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  35. ^ “2005–06 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  36. ^ “2006–07 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  37. ^ “2008–09 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  38. ^ “2009–10 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  39. ^ “2010–11 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  40. ^ “2011–12 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  41. ^ “2012–13 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  42. ^ “2013–14 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  43. ^ “2016–17 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  44. ^ “2018–19 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  45. ^ Pyette, Ryan (March 18, 2020). “COVID-19: OHL cancels rest of regular season, confirms draft and playoff hopes”. The London Free Press. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  46. ^ “OHL, top NHL Draft talent supplier, cancels season”. National Hockey League. April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  47. ^ “2022–23 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  48. ^ “2023–24 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  49. ^ “2024–25 OHL Playoff Results”. HockeyDB. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  50. ^ “New Look for Wolves Hockey Salutes Past – Sudbury Wolves”. sudburywolves.com. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  51. ^ “Wolves Unveil 50th Anniversary Jersey in Support of Ten Rainbows Children’s Foundation – Sudbury Wolves”. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  52. ^ “Wolves Unveil Shoresy Jersey in Partnership with New Metric Media – Sudbury Wolves”. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  53. ^ “Full story: The KED is dead”. Sudbury.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  54. ^ “Wolves move away game broadcasts to FM dial”, Northern Life, September 11, 2009.
  55. ^ “Wolves Announce Branden Scott to Host Audio Broadcast”. sudburywolves.com. September 21, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2019.