Sudbury Wolves drop season opener to Barrie 3-1, after losing the lead

Despite a lead at mid-game in front of a near-capacity home crowd at the Sudbury Community Arena, the Sudbury Wolves dropped their first game of their Ontario Hockey League (OHL) regular season to the Barrie Colts, 3-1.

Overage forward Kocha Delic said he saw plenty of promise, as well as plenty of room for improvement from the pack’s season opener Friday night, during the team's post-game press conference.

Sudbury Wolves overage forward Kocha Delic talks with the media following the team's home opener on September 27, 2024. (Sudbury Wolves/X)

“I thought it was a good effort,” said Delic, who was officially named an alternate captain for the Wolves earlier in the day. 

“There was a lot of new faces out there and they were working pretty hard, so that was good to see. Honestly, I think a big thing is some of the guys like me, some of the older guys just have to produce a little bit more in games like that.”

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The Wolves’ Chase Coughlan drew first blood at 5:30 into the second period on the heels of a breakaway by the team’s new captain Donovan McCoy. Though foiled on his initial attempt the puck went off a Barrie defenceman and into the net past Colts goaltender Sam Hillebrandt.

Sudbury Wolves forward Chase Coughlan and new team captain, forward Donovan McCoy on the ice during the team's home opener on September 27, 2024. The pair are pictured here shortly after Coughlan score the Wolves' only goal of the game. (Sudbury Wolves/X)

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Penalty trouble mid-game – including two ejections for slew footing – did not do Sudbury any favours when it came to defending their lead.

A Barrie power-play goal kicked off a turning point in the game as the Colts were able to end the second period up 2-1 before adding a final goal in the third.

“I thought five on five, we were right with them,” said Wolves head coach Scott Barney.

“If you look back at the shots five on five, it’s pretty even – but hey, you lose the game, you lose the game.

Barney also said he thought there were some positives out there, but when you give the other team two five-on-threes and a four-on-three, you can only do so much.

“We didn’t score on our five on three and we lost two forwards for pretty much three-quarters of the game, so that’s tough sledding for the remaining guys,” he said.

Sudbury Wolves head coach Scott Barney talks to the media following the team's home opener on September 27, 2024. (Sudbury Wolves/X)

It was an even game to start the first period though some of Sudbury’s players that were showcasing their talents in a league game for the first time did show some nervousness against a strong Barrie squad at full strength. The pack on the other hand was missing a several key contributors due to NHL camps, injuries and suspensions.

Sudbury at nine shots on Hillebrandt in the first while the Colts had seven quality shots at Wolves goaltender Nate Krawchuk stopped.

Sudbury’s Daks Klinkhammer was ejected for slew footing in the first period before Blake Clayton was removed from the game for a similar incident in the second.

Kieron Walton was also in the penalty box for interference when Barrie’s Kashawn Aitcheson sent a puck flying past Krawchuk at 15:10 in the second period with a five-on-three advantage.

Next, the Colts’ Carter Lowe got another puck past Krawchuk at 17:31 in the period – with Barrie outshooting Sudbury 15-9 in those 20 minutes.

“Those slew foots, they kind of happen and I don’t think the guys mean to do it,” Barney said.

“It’s kind of a quick reaction kind of play – but if you get two five-minute penalties, they’re tough to kill.”

The head coach did say he thought some of the veteran guys did a great job penalty killing –especially on the first one.

“We were down almost near the end to get the second one, but the same guys were going out there, their legs were burning and when you’re down to 10 forwards and you have guys in the box at the same time, after a while, a good team like Barrie is going to put the puck in the net.”

The Colts’ Evan Passmore added some insurance to the visiting team’s lead with a shot that snuck over Krawchuk’s shoulder at 9:22 into the third period.

The Wolves did manage to shut down Barrie’s offence after that and ended the period outshooting the Colts 10-4. However, none got past Hillebrandt.

Sudbury Wolves defencemen Nolan Jackson skating across the ice at the Sudbury Community Arena on Elgin Street in Greater Sudbury, Ont., during the team's first regular game of the OHL 2024-2025 season on September 27, 2024. (Sudbury Wolves/X)

Krawchuk had 29 saves in the 60 minutes and capped the evening off by stopping a puck fired on a breakaway with just 26 seconds left in the game.

“I liked the effort,” Barney said.

“Maybe some guys were hoping-poking kind of thing, I call it, and too much playing with the stick rather than going through guys, but hey, it’s some of the guys’ first game and now, I think they know what to expect.”

The head coach said he does give credit to the team for capitalizing where they could.

“You have your training camp speed, you have your pre-season speed and now, you’ve got your regular-season speed against one of the top teams in the league in Barrie,” he said.

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Friday’s game was Barney’s first as an OHL head coach, he called it an “awesome experience” and credited the local fans for cheering the squad on right to the end of the game.

“That’s extra motivation for our players, to have fan support like that, and the guys will give a hard effort here every night,” he said.

Delic told reporters that the fans created an atmosphere comparable to that of the one they had last year during their playoff run.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get the win, so we’ve got to just keep contributing to everyone’s success,” he said.

“Guys are working hard.”

The Wolves will look to even their season record on Saturday evening on the road in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Soo Greyhounds also lost their season opener on Friday, 6-4 to the Saginaw Spirit.

“Both teams will want to get in the win column,” Barney said.

The puck for both teams' second game drops at 7:07 p.m. on Sept. 28 at GFL Memorial Gardens.