“No more tinkering with the line up,” insists Orillia Tundras owner, Tom Ruff. “I am done signing players and now its their job to put it all together.” In the course of the last four weeks, Ruff has been extremely busy.

After starting the season winless in their first four starts, Ruff started making moves to improve the Tundras fortunes as he relieved Director of Hockey Operations, Wayne Crawford and assistant coach, Norm McIlveen of their duties. He then installed himself as “interim” bench coach and signed last season's Captain, John Vecchiarelli and defenceman Matt Smith into the lineup and as assistant coaches. The Tundras fortunes changed immediately as they won their first game that weekend but the success was short as the Tundras lost to the Whitby Dunlops that weekend.

For the next weekend, the Tundras were able to add former NHLer Bob Babcock and former Terrier and last season assistant coach Andrew Morris to strengthen the defensive corp of the Tundras. That weekend was a big test for the Tundras as they had two games on the road in Dundas and Norwood. When the weekend was over the Tundras found themselves with a weekend sweep with a 7-1 shocker in Dundas and a 5-4 overtime victory in Norwood after trailing 4-2 during the 2nd period. Morris potted two goals in Norwood and ex Terrier Orillia's Matt Raymond potting the goal in OT.

After a major setback the following week with two losses to the Brantford Blast but an improved record to 3 wins and 7 losses from a 0-4 start, Ruff decided it was time to step away from the bench with the hiring of Jenya Feldman. Feldman played part of last season with the Tundras before an injury sidelined him and currently owns and operates Scanlon Creek Hockey School with defenceman Matt Smith. Feldman previously coached the Bradford Rattlers of the Greater Metro Hockey league and was named Coach of the Year in 2007.

Last week, the Tundras added more local flavor with 3 more signings, defenceman Mike Torkoff, and forwards Jeff Hopkins and Joel Kitchen. All three played in last Friday's game versus the Norwood Vipers at Rotary Place which was also Feldman's official debut behind the bench. When the excitement ended, the Orillia Tundras had defeated the Norwood Vipers 6-5 via a shootout victory. All three additions contributed, Torkoff had three assists, Hopkins had a goal and Joel Kitchen got the game winner in the shootout.

The Tundras currently have 6 Couchiching Terrier graduates in the lineup, Morris,Kitchen , Raymond as well as Ryan Crowther, Bryan Black and the league's leading scorer Leiland Gauley (13G 10A 23 PTS). To add to the local flavour, Babcock resides in Orillia, Torkoff in Washago and Jeff Hopkins teaches at Patrick Fogarty. Add goalie and Sunrise Toyota sales consultant Ron Bertrand and Georgian College student as well as this season's Captain Dennis Dewar to the list of locals. The Tundras are definitely an Orillia team.

This weekend the Tundras face the Norwood Vipers for a home and away series with the Vipers coming to Rotary Pace on Friday night with a 7:45 puck drop. At that game as well as the following home game, the Tundras will be collecting canned goods to help support the Orillia's food bank, the Sharing Place. The Tundras ask all their loyal fans to help those less fortunate in this season of giving and caring.