Wild will have more foes in second season as the league has expanded
By Bill Rea

Dave Manning, fresh from Australia, was suited up for the Wild Thursday.

The King Wild are getting ready for their second season in the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League.

The team is in the midst of training camp, although they took to the ice Thursday in Vaughan, and posted a solid 8-2 win over the Toronto Canada Moose. This was an impromptu game, shortened by 10 minutes, and there wasn't a game sheet, meaning it was hard to know who got the goals and assists.

Head Coach Paul Hampton said it was a little early for assessments of the talent he has this year. They have had a couple of skates, but this was the first time he had a large group out.

"We lost a lot of talent, which is good because that's what we're here for," he remarked, pointing our some of the top performers from last year have either passed the age limit or are trying out with higher level teams.

He added it's too early to tell what the impacts will be for the coming season. "The other teams, they're looking at new kids too."

But a couple of new players have been signed, including an import from Australia.

Dave Manning hails from Adelaide in South Australia. The 19-year-old is here on a work visa, employed by Upper Canada Paving in King City.

Hockey in Australia is growing, and he said there are a number of Canadian juniors who play there.

"It's Canadian driven," he said, meaning there's a more bump-and-grind style, as opposed to the way the game is traditionally played in Europe. "It doesn't have a European feel to it."

Manning just arrive in Canada last week, so he was still getting used to his new surroundings when he took to the ice Thursday. He added he was still coping with jet lag.

"It's really weird, skating on good ice again," he remarked.

The coming season is going to see some changes in the Greater Metro league, not the least of which is a large expansion. There will now be 13 teams in the loop, with the Douro Dukes, Elliott Lake Bobcats, Espanola Kings, Innisfil Lakers, Tamworth Cyclones and Temiscaming Royals joining the field.

Hampton said that's going to mean a lot more travel.

"We'll see if it waters it down or makes it better," he remarked.

Club President Naz Marchese is enthused with the expansion.

"I think it's good news," he said. "It shows there's a lot of areas in Ontario and Quebec that want junior A hockey.

The wild will play their home opener in King City Sept. 6. The opponents will be the Moose, with the puck due to be dropped at 5:30 p.m. Marchese added there will be a pasta dinner served to those who buy tickets for the game.