Timpano has the tools
He was the starting goalie as a 17-year old on the worst team in the Ontario Hockey League and as an 18-year old he endured another losing season with the Sudbury Wolves.
Troy Timpano has the tools and the temperament to be one of the top goalies in the OHL and with a 1997 birth date, he finds himself at the crossroads.
Bypassed at the 2016 National Hockey League draft, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Timpano — who has a late birthday and does not turn 19 until mid-November — will have plenty to prove once the first puck drops on the 2016-2017 OHL season.
After playing with the Wolves as a 16-year old rookie backup in 2013-2014 and posting a 6-1-2 record with a 3.43 goals against average and .894 save percentage, Timpano was thrust into the starter’s role as a 17-year old in 2014-2015.
Considering that he played on a last-place Sudbury team that won only 12 of 68 games in ’14-15, Timpano’s numbers weren’t bad — a 9-36-1 record, 4.49 goals against average and .884 save percentage.
And while the Wolves improved marginally in 2015-2016 — they won 16 of 68 games and finished in 19th place in the 20-team OHL — Timpano’s numbers were about the same, with a 10-22-2 record, 4.74 goals against average and .878 save percentage.
But what the ’15-16 numbers don’t show are that Timpano hurt his ankle last summer and then re-injured it in October and was sidelined for almost two months.
What the numbers do show is that the Wolves have won only 28 games the past two seasons and Timpano has won 19 of them. (Four other goalies have combined for the other nine Sudbury victories.)
Despite that, there is some uncertainty as to who will be manning the Sudbury goal-crease in ’16-17.
As it stands now, the Wolves have three goalies under contract — Timpano, fellow 1997 birth-year veteran Zack Bowman and 1999 birth-year rookie Jake McGrath, who already has a pair of impressive OHL auditions from ’15-16 on his resume.
In the eyes of most, Timpano is clearly an upgrade over Bowman, no slight intended to the latter.
Which could work one of two ways for Timpano — the Wolves could keep him based on what he has done as part of lowly teams the past two years or they could use him as a trade chip and fetch a worthy return.
It’s not as though Bowman — who the Wolves acquired from the Flint Firebirds early last season when Timpano was injured — is lacking. Bowman has proven that he can play in the OHL with 68 appearances over three seasons but what the Wolves have to determine is if they are comfortable with him as their starter and the rookie McGrath in reserve.
If not, or if the Wolves can fetch a decent return for Bowman, then they can continue with Timpano as the starter and McGrath as a blossoming backup.
But if another OHL team comes up with an offer for Timpano that Wolves general manager Barclay Branch can’t refuse, then Sudbury goes with Bowman and McGrath in the hopes that those two can lead it back into the playoffs after two years on the outside looking in. McGrath, being two years younger than both Timpano and Bowman, is almost a shoo-in to begin the season in Sudbury.
As noted in an earlier HockeyNewsNorth.com column, let it be stated that there is little question of the vast ability of Timpano.
Being injured for a good chunk of last season hindered his progress and while he was not selected at this year’s NHL draft, Timpano is said to be every bit as good as two OHL goalies of the same age who were picked, namely Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit (fourth round, New Jersey Devils) and Jeremy Helvig (fifth round, Carolina Hurricanes) of the Kingston Frontenacs.
Timpano has stood the test of a barrage of shots while playing behind two bad Wolves teams in each of the past two seasons.
But will he play the ’16-17 season in Sudbury or in another OHL town?
PHOTO: Sudbury Wolves goalie Troy Timpano.
I say the Wolves move Boweman and ride Timpano all the way. As RR points out look at his numbers compared to the rest.
It is definatly quite clear that Timpano is the guy who can lead the Wolves in to the Playoffs this season. Bowman is fine yes but Timpano is the man and there will be alot of pissed off fans if the Wolves trade Timpano.
Timpano is our guy for sure. Great young man and has a great potential to bring the Wolves far this season.
Trade Timpano! Half the load to McGrath and Bowmen the team is young. Won’t hurt the team as much people think to move Timpano plus the team needs to recoup some draft picks.
Rico! Draft picks????? Are you serious????? The Wolves need to make the Playoffs this year and not worry about Draft picks from 2018 and 2019 which is what OHL teams usually trade these days. Making the Playoffs will be a much easier task with Timpano as the # 1 Goalie.
We will gladley take Troy Timpano off Sudburys hands over here in the “Soo”!
Randy – Just a note to say that I LOVE the coverage of the “O” on your website espesially the Woofers of course.
Rumor has Timpano coming to North Bay.
R.R. have you heard this ?
Been the team MVP for two years. Can’t think of another goalie who’s stopped more quality scoring chances in that time. C’mon Matsos, make those guys play some defence.