Wolves Sign Baptiste

Press Release

The Sudbury Wolves Hockey Club is pleased to announce that they have signed first round selection (6th overall) NICHOLAS BAPTISTE to an OHL contract.

BAPTISTE, 16 (as of yesterday), led the Ottawa Senators AAA Minor Midgets in scoring with 39 goals, 48 assists and 87 points in just 42 games. He also added 38 penalty minutes. The 6’1”, 175 lb right winger played for Team Ontario U16 team at the Canada Winter Games and was recognized by the OHL for his leadership skills at the OHL Cup banquet in March.

“I am very excited to be in Sudbury and playing for the Sudbury Wolves” stated Baptiste. “Sudbury has excellent coaches and a very good group of returning players and I am looking forward to contributing to the Wolves’ success this season.”

BAPTISTE had the opportunity to watch the Wolves defeat the Ottawa 67’s in a first-round sweep of the favoured 67’s in the 2011 OHL play-offs.

“I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Burgess, Mr. MacKenzie and Mr. Cull in Ottawa during the play-offs and I knew from talking with them that Sudbury would be an excellent fit for me. They are all very dedicated hockey people who want to see the Sudbury Wolves win a championship. That is my goal - to help Sudbury win a championship.”

BAPTISTE was one of four players drafted from the OTTAWA area including: Evan deHaan, Patrick Crampton and Daniel Disipio. BAPTISTE is also familiar with a number of other Ottawa players in Sudbury’s system including: Eric O’Dell, Sam Schutt and Nathan Pancel.

“We are honoured to have drafted the best prospect from the Ottawa area and one of the best prospects in the Province of Ontario” notes Wolves’ President & GM Blaine Smith. “Nick is an outstanding hockey player with excellent leadership skills. Our fans will be absolutely thrilled watching him perform in Sudbury and anyone who meets him will be impressed with his excellent people skills. The Sudbury Wolves organization is very excited to have a player the calibre of Nicholas Baptiste in our line-up.”

Wolves’ Head Scout Norm Robert was instrumental in the selection of Baptiste and rated the Ottawa forward as one of his top selections from the start of the season. “Nicholas is a highly skilled and competitive forward with a very good hockey sense. He can play wing or centre. He possesses good offensive instincts and he is an offensive threat who can execute with precision. I fully expect Nick to be named to Ontario’s U17 team when he returns to the line-up.”

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)