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OHL North Bay Battalion

Wolski returns to Battalion as captain

October 26, 2005 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


BRAMPTON, Ont. - Wojtek Wolski, assigned to the Brampton Battalion by the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday and expected to face the Toronto St. Michael's Majors on Thursday night, will return to the Troops as captain.

"He said he'll play if he can skate in the morning," Battalion coach Stan Butler said after telling Wolski in a telephone conversation that he's the choice as the seventh captain in the Ontario Hockey League club's eight-year history.

Left winger Wolski, scheduled to fly in to Toronto on Wednesday night, appeared in nine National Hockey League games with Colorado, scoring two goals and earning four assists for six points. He scored in a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the visiting Edmonton Oilers.

Wolski, chosen by Colorado in the first round, 21st overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avalanche on Sept. 15.

"I'm sure the news he got today was tough to take," said Butler of the 19-year-old Mississauga resident's reassignment. "But Wojtek's a competitive player who wanted to stay in the NHL and that's understandable.

"I feel confident that Wojtek has a lot of character and he has other goals to achieve, like making the Canadian national junior team and having a productive season here once he gets back. He'll do a good job for us."

Added Butler: "From a positive standpoint, Wojtek can look at it that he was the last 1986-birth player from the Canadian Hockey League left in the NHL. That shows that he might be a better player than people thought, and now he just has to build on that."

Wolski, in his fourth season with the Battalion, succeeds the graduated Ryan Oulahen as captain. Right winger Brock McPherson and defencemen Nick Duff and Phil Oreskovic were named alternate captains before the season. In McPherson's absence because of a broken ankle, defenceman John de Gray will serve as an alternate, as he did in the team's last two games.

Craig Billington, Colorado's director of player development, was quoted as saying that the Avalanche looked to the big picture in reassigning Wolski.

"We feel he gained valuable experience, but at this time his development and longterm career is our main concern," said Billington.

Wolski, the Battalion's first-round choice, third overall, in the 2002 OHL Priority Selection, has led the Troops in scoring in each of the last two seasons. He had 29 goals and 44 assists for 73 points in 67 games last season after recording 29 goals and 70 points in 66 games in 2003-04.

The Battalion visits Toronto at 7:30 p.m. Thursday before engaging in a home-and-home set with the Mississauga IceDogs on Friday night and Sunday.

The Troops have won their last two games, with goaltender Daren Machesney posting shutout victories over the host Sudbury Wolves and visiting Ottawa 67's last weekend on the way to recognition as the OHL Player of the Week and the CHL Goaltender of the Week.

The Battalion has a won-lost record of 6-5 for 12 points, third in the Central Division and four points behind second-place Toronto, which is 8-5. The teams have met once this season, with the Troops winning 3-2 at home on Oct. 10.

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