By Marc Thaler
Managing Sports Editor

More articles • Though undersized, he's hardly short on talent • May games will define Manchester's '06 campaign • Defensive back moving to front of line for career INTs • Manchester QB passes pop quiz, leads Wolves to win • It's 'bye' bye to Wolves' perfect season • Wolves plan to make fans big winners • Son of legendary New England Patriot working to make name with Wolves • East Division champs back in business for '06

It’s likely the Manchester Wolves and their fans had Opening Day, Friday, April 7, circled on the calendar for quite some time. Following the team’s best arenafootball2 season in franchise history, which earned the Wolves a No. 2 seed in the 2005 American Conference playoffs, the pack was burned by the Louisville Fire at the Big V last August, 69-56.

Still, the Wolves’ one-year turnaround doesn’t afford the team the luxury of taking a step backward.

“The (fan) expectations are probably higher, but our goals are no different than I’ve had every season,” Wolves head coach Ben Bennett told me on March 16, the first day of training camp. “We fell a little bit short (of our ultimate goal) last season. But considering where we came from, I was quite pleased where we ended up.”

In ’04, the club’s first in Manchester, the Wolves were 5-11. Last year, Bennett’s first campaign in the Queen City, his squad won the East Division title, posting a 12-4 mark.

Building a team for ’06 capable of raising the bar won’t be easy for two reasons – quarterback Jake Eaton and wide receiver JJ McKelvey.

The duo worked wonders in ’05. As a result, both jumped from af2 to the Arena Football League. Eaton, last season’s stellar signal-caller, signed with the Orlando Predators. McKelvey moved to the Jon Bon Jovi-owned Philadelphia Soul.

Without those key playmakers returning to Manchester, the Wolves will look for new stars to rise and take control of the club. Currently, af2 veterans D. Bryant and Kyle Rowley, both in their first season with Manchester, are competing to succeed Eaton at QB.

Meanwhile, fresh faces Steve Gonzalez and Demetrius Forney are eager to impress in camp.

Gonzalez possesses extreme speed. The Wolves want this second-year af2 athlete to fill the vacancy left by McKelvey’s departure. Playing for San Diego’s Riptide Rush a year ago, Gonzalez led af2 in kick-return yards with 1,666. His six kick returns for touchdowns were also tops in the league.

“I feel I have the same ability JJ had to make the big plays – and make the big plays when they count,” said Gonzalez, who ranked fourth in af2 last season with 2,792 all-purpose yards. “I don’t think it’s gonna be a problem for me (to fill McKelvey’s shoes). I’m an exciting player to watch. I’m gonna keep a lot of people on their toes.”

Likewise, the Wolves will need Forney, an af2 veteran, to be a force as fullback and linebacker. Forney played for the Louisville Fire the past four seasons. Last year, he made 30 tackles and posted 3 1/2 QB sacks on defense. He also scored nine TDs on offense.

More than anything, Forney said he’s excited to play in front of the Wolves’ supporters. He’s quite familiar with the challenge Manchester’s fans presented to his former teammates in the Fire’s playoff victory.

“I could barely hear the snap count,” Forney said. “The fans, they get rowdy. They get loud. That’s something I’m looking forward to when opposing teams come in this year.”

Entering his second season in Manchester, former UNH Wildcat David Bailey is focused on proving he can play both receiver and defensive back.

“You’re still trying to make the team whether you were here last year or not,” he said. “You gotta get that spot back.