Paul Fixter new coach of Wolves, as Cull moves on

The Sudbury Wolves hockey team has a new head coach in the wake of Trent Cull accepting a coaching position with a Tampa Bay Lightning AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.

The Wolves' recently hired associate coach, Paul Fixter, will take over the top job, team president Blaine Smith announced Thursday.

Cull concludes a three-year term as head coach of the Wolves, and had a winning percentage of .515 over that time.

Heled the Wolves to two play-off series victories, over the Ottawa 67's in 2011, and over the Brampton Battalion in 2013.

Cull returns to his former training grounds, the Syracuse Crunch, who were formerly a part of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.

"The Sudbury Wolves will be in very good hands under the guidance and leadership of Paul Fixter," Smith said.

"Paul has been patiently waiting for an opportunity to become a head coach of an OHL team, and, after spending five years as an associate coach in Kitchener, his wish has now come true," he said.

Fixter said he is excited to be leading the Wolves this season.

"Its amazing how things change so quickly in the game of hockey. I was looking forward to the opportunity of working with Trent, but now that he has moved up to the pro level I cannot describe how exciting this day is for me and my wife Leslie," Fixter said.

Cull thanked team owner Mark Burgess and his family for giving him his first chance to become a head coach.

Smith expects that a new assistant coach will be named before the end of July.