Read "Bluelines: Summer Edition" every Tuesday, written by Ranjan Rupal (right), the play-by-play voice, and Greg Theberge (left), a former Memorial Cup winner and Washington Capitals defenseman and hockey analyst for The OHL Tonight on TVCogeco.
Our junior hockey radar has detected suspicious activity on our western front.
Normally I’m not one for fear mongering, but if a hockey rendition of the North Korea-South Korea thing is building between North Bay and Sudbury, we ought to be ready.
Reports out of the nickel city suggest the lowly Sudbury Wolves are amassing talent in an attempt to develop what is one of the youngest rosters in the OHL, one that now includes David Levin, the first overall pick in this year’s Priority Selection and, using their 3rd overall selection in the CHL Import Draft, Dmitri Sokolov, a top-rated game breaker.
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The front office has also been solidified.
Enter Barclay Branch, recently hired as General Manager, who brings tremendous depth to the position following eleven seasons with the Belleville Bulls in a similar capacity.
Though he’s the son of OHL Commissioner David Branch, he arrives in the Nickel City not as the Son of David, but as a proven and well-respected hockey executive who has operated as the inimitable George Burnett’s right-hand man for the past decade. Having learned the junior hockey business from Burnett will serve Branch well in his new post, for Burnett is one of the most respected hockey minds in the country, and the one who guided the Bulls to respectability, reaching the conference finals four times in nine seasons.
In Sudbury, Branch will have his work cut out for him.
Following a lacklustre exit from the first round of the playoffs the previous year, the Wolves then crashed spectacularly with a 12-54-1-1 record. On the way to the ditch, a well-publicized, expletive-laden meltdown during a mid-season media scrum by head coach Paul Fixter signaled that the franchise had indeed hit rock bottom.
In a season notable for sparse crowds at the Sudbury Arena, a growing number of discontented fans took to the Twitterverse, demanding action, including that the team be sold. Team owner Mark Burgess and then-GM Blaine Smith responded: first by putting Fixter out of his misery, and then by promoting assistant coach Dave Matsos to the vacant post.
Though fans craved a coach with NHL credentials, Matsos stepped bravely into the breach and carried on as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. His job was to fix a dysfunctional room, and by and large that’s what he did, with only half a season remaining, and though the wins didn’t pile up, his team responded with a more honest effort.
But hockey can be an unforgiving business. Matsos, a vestige of the old Wolves, hasn’t had much of a chance to beef up his goodwill account with Branch, his new boss. All eyes are on Branch, and fans are expecting results. In a competitive Eastern Conference, that puts pressure to perform squarely on Matsos.
But Matsos won’t be alone behind the bench. And this is where it gets interesting.
The first puck of the season hasn’t been dropped and the Wolves have fired two salvos across North Bay’s bow. First, the hiring of Branch had the unexpected consequence of knocking Dave Gray, a scout who had been with the Battalion since inception, off the Troops' scouting staff. Gray accepted the promotion to head scout with the Hamilton Bulldogs, following Branch’s departure there. In hiring Branch, the Wolves scored a raise takeout that Brad Jacobs would be proud of.
And prior to that, the Wolves announced that Drake Berehowsky, yes, our Drake Berehowsky, had been hired as the Wolves’ assistant coach for the upcoming season. Okay, so we don’t have proprietary rights on Bear, but at a psychological level we may have been poached.
Suffice to say, things are getting awfully serious on our western front. With another 8 regular season meetings between the two teams lined up, it’s unlikely the Wolves will giftwrap 14 points for the Battalion as they did last year. With even a modest improvement from just one win to, say, three wins, the Wolves have the potential to scupper the Troops’ hopes for a division crown in a tight Central Division, and could even send us tumbling down the standings.
To learn more about the winds of change in Sudbury, I spoke with new Wolves’ General Manager Barclay Branch…
Ranjan: Hi Barclay. It’s late in the summer to be making a career change. Is there any comfort in familiarity - the fact that any one team operates similarly to the next?
Barclay Branch: I think so. What you see right across the board is there’s a very similar structure. Just in terms of scheduling, whether it’s the day-to-day scheduling for your hockey club, or the overall League scheduling for games and practices, it’s pretty universal.
Ranjan: Will there be much of a difference between the new position in Sudbury and your old position in Belleville?
Barclay Branch: Obviously the big difference is in the title. I spent the last 11 years as the Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel of the Belleville Bulls. I was very fortunate to work for an experienced, and very well-thought of person like George Burnett. He showed a lot of faith in me along the way, and gave me quite a bit of responsibility in my role, with the idea that when the right opportunity to be a GM in the OHL came along, that it would be a relatively seamless transition. But just in terms of the job description, it’s very similar to what I have been doing.
Ranjan: Tell me about Belleville, a town that is rapidly fading in your rear-view mirror...
Barclay Branch: I spent a decade in Belleville working for the Bulls. It was an unbelievable time for me, both personally and professionally. It’s a wonderful town full of great junior hockey fans. We experienced a high degree of success while we were there and it was a great time, a great experience. It’s unfortunate that, at this time, they’re without a team, but I will have nothing but fond memories of my time there. They are very deserving fans, and I hope that junior hockey returns there soon.
Ranjan: You had a chance to work with one of the great junior hockey minds in George Burnett. What are the takeaways from that experience?
Barclay Branch: I’ve got to tell you, there’s probably too many to list. I learned so much from George. It’s no mistake that he’s won 600-plus games in the Ontario Hockey League and he’s been successful wherever he’s coached. If there’s one thing that I could point to, it’s that there’s no off switch when you’re in charge. There are no structured hours. It’s not a 9 to 5 job...it doesn’t matter if your phone is ringing at 7 AM or at midnight. You’re always on. He’s a person who’s always thinking of ways to get better, and every year, with every team, he always has the bar set high, and he doesn’t ask anything of his players that he doesn’t do himself. He’s constantly working, constantly committed to getting better.
Longtime Belleville Bulls GM and coach George Burnett is credited with developing Sudbury Wolves' GM Barclay Branch
Ranjan: Was there a first lesson from George?
Barclay Branch: First and foremost he was a mentor. He took a lot of time to teach me the parameters of what it takes to be successful in the OHL. It was a daily learning process; a lot like attending Hockey University. Every day you came to work there was something that I would learn, and often it was simply by watching him, how he conducted himself and his commitment to excellence.
Ranjan: The Bulls caravan packed up and moved to Hamilton. Why not join George in Steeltown?
Barclay Branch: I did, originally. It’s funny...I’ve always been a person who prided myself on being with one team, in that I wasn’t jumping around from organization to organization. I started my junior hockey experience working with George with the Oshawa Generals for four years, and then made the move the Belleville for 11 seasons. But in this year alone I’ve been with three teams! I’ve got a good collection of business cards going! It’s been a different experience and I was lucky enough to be part of the transition process from Belleville to Hamilton where I led our scouting staff in Hamilton’s first Priority Selection, and my daily routine was geared towards making sure the transition was a success. Up until the opportunity in Sudbury came about, I was fully committed to the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Ranjan: Will your vision for the Sudbury Wolves be different than George Burnett’s vision for the Belleville Bulls?
Barclay Branch: I would say that it would be very similar. That vision is not a big secret. The vision in Belleville was to build through the Priority Selection, and develop your own players. The time may come to supplement with necessary trades, but the trades are minimal. The core of your team, its foundation, is built through the draft, and you develop your own players, and the most important thing is that you develop an element of stability.
Ranjan: Organizatons have character. Is that something you need to evaluate in Sudbury?
Barclay Branch: There are different elements that go into the composition of a hockey team. I arrive in Sudbury with patience. All the players will be given an opportunity to show what they bring to a hockey team. My job over the next few months will be to see what elements we do have, and give the players an opportunity to show their strengths and demonstrate what they can add to the group and work off that. I don’t consider myself the solution, I consider myself part of the solution. It’s going to be a group effort, and we already have a lot of strong hockey people within the organization. As far as our on-ice product, we have to be a team that comes to work every night. Win or lose, we’re not going to get outworked. In order to do that, we’ve got to find the right mix of players. Having said that, there are many strong elements in the group that we have coming to training camp.
Ranjan: Sudbury’s fan base is very knowledgable but patience has worn thin. In a new GM, they’re looking for someone who will walk the walk. What do you say to them?
Barclay Branch: The one thing I would say is that I’m very proud of my track record from my days in Belleville. We showed we have the ability to put together championship-calibre teams, and that’s the goal coming to Sudbury as well. Now, it won’t happen overnight...it’s a process. The key is that all of us, not just our players, but our staff as well, commit to the idea that we’re all going to get better every day, and I think that the results will speak for themselves.
Ranjan: You have called Sudbury a cornerstone franchise in junior hockey. What do you mean?
Barclay Branch: There’s a long history with Sudbury and the Wolves organization. It’s a team that’s been around a long time, and there’s a proud history here. When you think of junior hockey, and you think of cornerstone clubs, Sudbury always comes to mind. It has to do with the tremendous fan base - proud and passionate - and these elements, the team and its fans, create an extremely important market for the Ontario Hockey League.
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Selected by the Arizona in the 3rd round of the 2015 NHL Draft, defenseman Kyle Capobianco will lead by example
Ranjan: In Belleville a much-needed new arena never got done. Does your long-term view include a new arena for the Wolves in Sudbury?
Barclay Branch: Well, I think that’s something that may be discussed in the future, but I haven’t really stopped to think about it. But I can tell you that I’ve been with a team that had to come into Sudbury Arena, and faced 4,000-5,000 fans. It wasn’t fun, and we never looked forward to it. Quite honestly, you’d look at your schedule and you’d point at those games where you had to come to Sudbury to play and you knew they were going to be difficult nights. The Sudbury Arena is a very difficult environment for an opposing team. That’s an asset for the Wolves, and one that I found very appealing. Today we’re in an era of cookie-cutter facilities. Don’t get me wrong, there are some nice buildings out there, but many lack the character and environment of a place like Sudbury Arena. I’m looking forward to being on the other side, the home side, now.
Ranjan: In that sense, you’re now on the receiving line for the dreaded Northern swing...
Barclay Branch: You’re right. It’s a very difficult experience when, as a visiting team, you have to go through North Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. That’s a tough swing. I’m looking forward to being on the home side for it.
Ranjan: I don’t even think your name is on the door yet, but my hockey analyst on The OHL Tonight on TVCogeco, Greg Theberge, texted me a question for you: what do you feel is the most important thing that the Sudbury Wolves need to address right now?
Barclay Branch: That’s a good question. The way I’ll answer that is this: I see an organization with a very strong, young nucleus and, moving forward, that’s exciting for us. But the key is to make sure the right veteran players surround those young players. We want guys who show up to the rink every day, and work hard, and lead by example.
Ranjan: In Belleville you knew every player, prospect and work-in-progress. Now you’re walking into relatively unfamiliar territory. Have you had an opportunity to evaluate the Wolves’ on-ice talent?
Barclay Branch: Part of my responsibilities when I worked for Belleville was to make sure I had a strong knowledge of the League: what each team had, what each team’s strengths and weaknesses were. Having said that, I’m familiar with our group of players, but right now I don’t know them well enough. I plan to familiarize myself over the next couple of weeks and months, through training camp and into the exhibition season, and I’ll see what each player brings to the table, their strengths, and who can be a part of a really strong team effort.
Ranjan: There were some pretty dark days for the Sudbury Wolves in 2014-15. Behind the bench, interim and now new head coach Dave Matsos began the process of rebuilding. You’ve observed Coach Matsos from a distance, what have you seen?
Barclay Branch: I see a very bright, young, up-and-coming coach with a lot of strengths. In the times I’ve had a chance to talk to David, I see an undeniable passion for the game, for coaching and teaching, for making our players better. I’m very excited to have an opportunity to work with Dave. I think he’s one of the game’s bright young coaches.
Ranjan: What is your expectation of the players arriving at Camp in September?
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GM Barclay Branch expects veterans like overager Danny Desrochers to have a big influence this year
Barclay Branch: First and foremost, it’s very simple: I expect it to be a very competitive Camp. I’m looking for a lot of internal competition for jobs. I’m hoping that the players that are coming to Camp are coming with the idea of showing us what they bring as a player, and how they’ll be a critical component of a successful team moving forward. Each player who wants to play for the Sudbury Wolves will have to give us a reason why we should keep them. One thing I noticed, with Belleville in the past, was that our best seasons always followed highly competitive Camps.
Ranjan: Hockey fans and observers suggest an imbalance exists in the League... that there are ‘have’ teams and ‘have not’ teams. Do you subscribe to that theory?
Barclay Branch: I’ve heard that discussed on and off over the past number of years. Personally I don’t buy into that. I’ve also heard, along the same lines, that the Western Conference is stronger than the Eastern Conference. But I think that, if anything, last year showed that’s not the case. The Oshawa Generals win the OHL Championship and win the Memorial Cup. The Eastern Conference is loaded with elite coaching, elite management and elite scouting. So the notion that there’s an imbalance, of any sort, is exaggerated.
Ranjan: What can you do to make Sudbury a city and a franchise that midget prospects are excited about?
Barclay Branch: When you consider the criteria that parents and families of young hockey players are looking at, then you quickly see that Sudbury offers them all. From education, to the playing environment, Sudbury meets all the requirements. It’s one of those things where if you have to create a culture where players are comfortable and enjoy coming to the rink every day. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.
Ranjan: You’re no stranger to the idea of rivalry. Kingston and Belleville were geographical rivals. But lately the North Bay Battalion has had their way with the Sudbury Wolves. With 8 games and 16 points up for grabs, how do build your team to rectify that?
Barclay Branch: It’s a very good question. Those are 16 huge points. So when I look at an organization like North Bay, and I have a deep respect for Stan Butler, and the job he does. One of the things I admire is his history of drafting well, and developing their own players. Sometimes in the right situation they may supplement the group with the odd trade, but they’re not known for making a lot of trades. Those were the same elements we strived for in Belleville, and that’s what we will put into place in Sudbury. We want to give the fans a competitive rivalry.
Ranjan: Earlier in the summer I spoke with Steve Staios of the Hamilton Bulldogs. His goal was to build a team that Hamiltonians could be proud of. You’ve publicly stated a similar sentiment for Sudbury and the Wolves. How long will it take?
Barclay Branch: I don’t want to put a timeline on it, but I think the key is you have a vision, and you have a plan. As long as you stick to the vision, and the plan, and you don’t get off track, then you will see results, perhaps even earlier than anticipated. I don’t want to make promises, because that’s not fair to the players, but our expectation is that we’re going to get better every day, and that’s got to be the focus of the players, and everyone on staff. There are no shortcuts.
Hey Battalion fans! Pre-season OHL hockey is just around the corner!
Sunday September 6 @ 2:00PM: North Bay Battalion at Sudbury Wolves
Tuesday September 8 @ 7:00PM: Sudbury Wolves at North Bay Battalion
Hey Battalion fans! Missed our conversation with Sudbury Wolves' head coach Dave Matsos?
Bluelines June 30, 2015: Better days ahead for Sudbury Wolves http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=80176
Hey Battalion fans! It's never too late to catch up on your summer reading!
Bluelines August 18, 2015: Catching up with... Mathew Santos http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=82678
Bluelines August 11, 2015: Rivalry with Barrie Colts promises to heat up http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=82384
Bluelines August 4, 2015: Catching up with... Jake Smith http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=82189
Bluelines July 28, 2015: The secret life of goalies http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=81806
Bluelines July 21, 2015: Catching up with...Miles Liberati http://www.baytoday.ca/content/sports/details.asp?c=81301
