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First-year North Stars coach looking for players with a willingness to win

Gary Wenzel saw plenty of talent skate past him over the weekend, as the Thunder Bay North Stars opened training camp at Fort William First Nation Arena. But there was one skill in particular he was looking for – a willingness to win.
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Returning forward Kenny Turner had eight goals and 21 points for the Thunder Bay North Stars last season. (Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com)

Gary Wenzel saw plenty of talent skate past him over the weekend, as the Thunder Bay North Stars opened training camp at Fort William First Nation Arena.

But there was one skill in particular he was looking for – a willingness to win.

Talent’s important, the first-year coach said, but it’s the intangibles that bring home championships.

“The biggest thing in hockey, whether you’ve already made the team or you want to make the team, you have to compete,” said Wenzel, whose hockey pedigree includes time coaching both the Thunder Bay Kings and the Thunder Bay Flyers and NHLers including Alex Auld, Taylor Pyatt and Ryan Johnson.

“You have to want it. You’ve got to win your battles all over the ice. You can’t get intimidated. It’s a rough game and those are the types of players we need.”

They also need to fit into the dressing room, be a member of the family, so to speak, said Wenzel, who takes over, under new ownership, from the departed Jeremy Auduono, last year’s Superior International Junior Hockey League coach of the year.

“It’s important that we gel as a unit. We’ll be successful that way because we’re tight and we’ve got each other’s backs and that’s what we’re looking for, a character player both on and off the ice.”
The Stars are coming off a roller coaster season that saw them finish in fourth place in the standings, win their way into the semifinals, only to drop the first three games to eventual champion Fort Frances and bow out in five.

Wenzel said he likes what he sees up front, with a list of returnees that include 31-goal scorer Nicholas Nigro, Kenny Turner, Avery Siau and Cashen Tighe, as well as Brad Arabia, fresh off a season in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

In net both Eric Mann and Nathaniel Dupuis are back, and Wenzel is confident he’ll have a solid blue-line in place by the time the regular season kicks off in Dryden on Sept. 18.

Gone are leading scorer Matthias Gardiman, rookie-of-the-year Bradley Belisle and captain Kris Kellaway, who stepped into an ownership role in the off-season.

“I think we’re going to be very competitive,” Wenzel said. “If we get some more help that I think we’re going to get on defence, we’re going to be a tough team to beat and if everything falls together we can be successful for the city and the league for sure. I think we’ve got a really good chance.”

Turner, who had eight goals and 13 assists last season, said the anticipation is building.

“We’re looking forward to having a big year, having the city behind us and having a good push here,” said Turner, being counted on to step into a more offensive role this season.

“We’ve got a good group of core guys returning to the team. We’ve got to fill a couple of spots, but we’re ready to get the ball rolling.”

The Stars home opener is Sept. 27 at Fort William Gardens against the Minnesota Iron Rangers.


 



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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