OHL North Bay Battalion

Aquino to return against Wolves

Published on November 6, 2004 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


BRAMPTON, Ont. – Right winger Luch Aquino will return to the lineup Sunday as the Battalion hosts the Sudbury Wolves. Game time for the Ontario Hockey League matchup is 2 p.m.

Aquino missed the Troops' 3-2 overtime road loss to the Kingston Frontenacs on Friday night after suffering an injury in the third period of the Battalion's 4-1 win over the visiting Plymouth Whalers last Sunday.

The 19-year-old rookie left the ice on a stretcher as a precautionary measure after going head-first into the boards.

"It was one of the scariest things that has ever happened to me," said Aquino. "I fell and the Plymouth guy was on top of me and I couldn't get my hands out in front of me to protect myself.

"I had something similar happen to me when I was younger. It was almost the same incident where I tried to hit a guy, but ended up going head-first into the boards. I was okay after that and I am okay now.

"I need to play a lot to get into my rhythm. I have enough confidence in myself to know I'll be ready to go Sunday."

The game will be the third of eight regular-season meetings between the Central Division rivals. The clubs played to a 2-2 tie at Sudbury on Oct. 15 but Wolves centre Bobby Chaumont scored three of his club's four third-period goals as the visiting Wolves skated to a 6-3 win Oct. 24.

"This game is the kind of challenge I'm looking for," said Aquino. "Sudbury is a contender in our division and it's a huge game for us. We can't have a repeat of the last game."

Aquino leads the Troops in scoring with four goals and 15 assists for 19 points, good for fourth among OHL rookies. He admitted he finds offence tougher to come by than he did in 2002-03 when he led the Provincial Junior A League in scoring with 48 goals and 54 for 102 points assists as a member of the Wexford Raiders.

"The game has changed since I was younger," the Mississauga resident said.

"When you come out of Junior A with 100 points you think it's easy. But every level is a stepping stone and you have to get used to it. Goals are tough to come by, but playing hard and getting chances should always be part of your game. You don't lose any of the talent or work ethic you have, but in this league every goal that you score is so important."

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2004


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