Andrew Wilkins has never been much of a goal scorer.
Then again, for most of his career, he didn’t have to be one.
But a two-goal performance last weekend in a pair of wins over Ottawa has coach Joel Scherban hoping it’s is a sign the defensive whiz can also be a force to be reckoned for a team that could use a goal or two from surprising sources.
Scherban isn’t expecting Alexander Ovechkin-type numbers, but he’d definitely like to see a little more than the four goals Wilkins tallied in each of his first two seasons. And the third-year coach, who took over the Wolves the same year his newly minted associate captain arrived, thinks it’s a definite possibility.
“It’s nice to see Wilkins score goals,” Scherban said Tuesday after a rigorous early morning practice at Fort William Gardens.
“He works so hard. He’s so good in every aspect of the game and he has great hands. We’ve been kind of waiting for his offense to come over the first two years. It’s starting to come now. He’s got three goals in four games, so we hope he continues with that.”
Originally a defenceman, Wilkins shifted to forward midway through his major junior career with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, where teammates included current Thunderwolves forward Jadran Beljo and Thunder Bay’s Kale Kerbashian and Trevor Kell.
The 23-year-old quickly made a name as one of the OHL’s hardest working and best defensive forwards, finishing in the top three in the 2007-08 coaches’ poll at season’s end.
Traded to the Owen Sound Attack the following season, the 5-foot-10 Wilkins enjoyed a breakout campaign, scoring a career-best 17 goals, but reverted to his defence-first mentality upon arrival in Thunder Bay in 2009.
But with the Wolves in need of some offensive help, having lost the likes of Brock McPherson and Kris Hogg in the offseason, Scherban said he’s asked the Pickering, Ont. native to concentrate a little more on his scoring.
“I think he’s played more of a defensive role his first two years, and now he’s getting a few more chances on the power play and with offensive wingers. He’s got great hands and poise with the puck, and I expect it to continue from him,” Scherban said.
Wilkins himself isn’t ready to lay claim to the Rocket Richard Trophy – or the OUA equivalent – but said he would like to be a little more involved in the opposing team’s zone going forward.
Last weekend’s performance, which helped the Wolves (2-2-0) sweep Ottawa and return to .500 after a two-loss start to 2011-12, felt good.
“Yeah, it’s always good to produce some offence for the team. Luckily I had two breakaways, so they weren’t too hard-working goals. I actually got lucky on both of them,” Wilkins said. “One was a great play by (Mike Quesnele) who gave me a great pass and the other one jumped over the guy’s stick. I was able to get the puck and get a breakaway.
“It’s good to score goals and help out the team on the offensive side of things.”
Wilkins said he thinks he can be one of those go-to guys whose number is called in crunch time.
“Goal scorers are on the ice at the end of the game and I want to get ice at the end of the game to help the team win. Those are the key situations when you want to be on the ice,” he said.
The Wolves continue their four-game road trip this weekend against the York Lions (1-0-3). Game 2 of the set will be played in Orillia, home of Lakehead’s satellite campus.
Claw marks: Beljo won’t make the trip, still suffering the after-effects of a concussion … Forward Ryan McDonald, who sat out last weekend, skated on Tuesday and will be re-evaluated on Thursday. His status remains day-to-day … Former Wolves forward Scott Dobben has eight points in 12 games with the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League.
