Sudbury played a very key role in Culina comeback
KITCHENER — Rob Papineau was always a believer in Kitchener Rangers goalie Mario Culina.
“We just thought this guy was too good to not still be playing in our league,” said the Sudbury Wolves general manager.
So Papineau — and his staff — persuaded the one-time Windsor Spitfires backup to leave Ryerson University in late November and give the Ontario Hockey League one final shot as an overage netminder in Sudbury.
The 20-year-old’s journey from U Sports back to the OHL has been one of the best stories this season. Culina is 11-2 with a 2.26 goals-against average since the Wolves sent the overager to Kitchener at last month’s trade deadline.
“We felt that this guy was going to be one of the best acquisitions at the deadline,” said Papineau, who got an eighth-round pick in return. “I’m really happy for Mario. I’m glad it’s working out.”
Culina will get a chance to face his former club when Kitchener hosts Sudbury on Friday at the Aud at 7:30 p.m.
The Soo native spent two seasons with the Spits and latched on with Ryerson after he couldn’t find any OHL takers this past summer.
Sudbury associate skipper Jordan Smith used to coach Culina with the Soo Thunderbirds on the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League circuit.
And, when the Wolves ran into injury issues earlier this season, they renewed acquaintances.
“Mario is just a high-end competitor,” said Papineau. “He’s a guy that really wanted to show the world what he’s capable of. I’m not surprised at all, with what he has become.”
It has been a trying season for the Wolves. The team owns an OHL-worst record of 14-36-7-0. And, if it holds, it would mark the third time in the past five years the club has finished last in the 10-team Eastern Conference.
Injuries to players such as forwards Macauley Carson, Ryan Valentini and David Levin and rearguard Kyle Rhodes haven’t helped.
“It’s obviously not the position we wanted to be in when September started,” said Papineau, who was named GM last year. “We had some good hope and optimism to build off after last year’s return to the playoffs.”
The Wolves finished sixth in the East last season and lost to Oshawa in six games in the first round of the playoffs.
They would have loved to ride Culina to the end this time around.
But, by Christmas, the club was struggling and decided to give recently-turned 19-year-old Jake McGrath and rookie Marshall Frappier the reins in the crease.
“From our perspective, we’re just trying to build the franchise the right way,” said Papineau. “That’s with good, young, skilled players.”
Part of that plan was giving Culina a chance to play meaningful minutes on a team destined for bigger things.
And it’s happening here in Kitchener.
One day, Papineau hopes to see similar success in Nickel City.
“It doesn’t happen overnight, but we believe, if we continue to treat people the right way, over time we will build this into a championship team that Sudbury deserves,” he said.