Sudbury signs JOEL VIENNEAU

Press Release

The Sudbury Wolves are pleased to announce that goaltender JOEL VIENNEAU has reported to the Sudbury Wolves Try-out Camp being held at the Sudbury Arena today.

The 6’4”, 185 lb goaltender from Hearst, Ontario made the difficult decision this week to choose the option of playing for the Sudbury Wolves and earning an OHL Education Scholarship over returning to Muskegon of the USHL and the prospect of a NCAA scholarship.

VIENNEAU back-stopped the Muskegon Lumberjacks to their first-ever play-off series win and posted a .910 save percentage in two play-off rounds last season. VIENNEAU played 39 regular season games for the expansion USHL team and recorded 15 wins and a .889 save percentage.

During the 2009-10 season, as a 17 year-old goaltender, VIENNEAU led the KINGSTON VOYAGEURS to the OJAHL finals against the Oakville Blades and posted a 27-4-3 win loss tie record and a .928 save percentage.
"I am really pleased to be here in Sudbury and competing for a goaltending position with the Wolves" notes Vienneau. "Sudbury has a very good team and a good organization and I’m excited about the prospects of playing here this season."

The Wolves acquired VIENNEAU’S rights last season from the Guelph Storm as part of the Dan Maggio trade which saw the Wolves receive two 2nd round picks, a 5th round pick and the rights to VIENNEAU. VIENNEAU was selected in the 7th round of the 2008 OHL Priority Selection by Guelph.


"Joel was a goaltender that we were very high on in his draft year" notes Wolves' GM Blaine Smith. "We are pleased that he has made the decision to report to Sudbury and provide us with another excellent goaltender and depth at our goaltending position.” Smith adds that Vienneau is a ‘big goaltender that uses his size and challenges shooters. Joel has a positive attitude and excellent character.”

The Wolves now have 8 goaltenders in camp including: JOHAN MATTSSON (19), JOEL VIENNEAU (19), ALEX LAINO (19), JACOB RILEY (18), BRENDAN O'NEILL (17), TAYLOR DUPUIS (17), RILEY CORBIN (16) and BRYAN RAYMOND (16).

VIENNEAU's decision to leave the USHL for the OHL was a difficult one but he’s glad that he did. "The OHL is a better league and NHL scouts watch every OHL game. At this point of my hockey career, my goal is to play hockey as long as I can, attend college and graduate from university down the road. I believe that the OHL is the best fit for me at this point of my career. I look forward to the challenge of earning a job with the Wolves and concluding my junior career in Sudbury."

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