SUDBURY—Local artist Michael Cywink, formerly of Whitefish River First Nation (WRFN) who now lives in London, Ontario was proud to have been requested to design the Sudbury Wolves hockey team jersey for their annual Indigenous celebration night last Friday in a game against the North Bay Battalions. For the third year in a row, the Wolves honoured the Indigenous community by commissioning specially designed hockey jerseys.
Mr. Cywink told Sudbury.com he was influenced by the Northern Ontario landscape. “I was kind of thinking about the local area. I live down south right now, and whenever I think about home, and I think about this area, I think about the abundance of trees, the connection to land, connection to water, that type of stuff. You can see the transformation of the landscape as you drive down this area. And whenever I’m driving home, I kind of get that sense of like happiness, right? Like that feeling of happiness. So, I include a lot of the trees. I was thinking about big, tall, strong trees, as kind of representative of that, that Indigenous spirit, that Indigenous resilience. I was super honoured and thankful and grateful to be a part of this.”
The 2025 Indigenous logo features the stylized version of the traditional wolf head surrounded by trees, water and stars.

Mr. Cywink’s design incorporates elements of the Woodlands style, blending traditional motifs his own artistic vision, a Sudbury Wolves release explains. “The incorporation of orange, symbolizing hope and the strength of indigenous peoples, aligns with the significance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the Orange Shirt Day movement. The design prominently features circles, a symbol of respect and equality which holds deep meaning in Ojibwe culture.”
“The jersey also includes natural elements such as water, trees, and the land, reflecting the vital connection Indigenous peoples have with their environment. The shoulder patches, featuring a paw in a handprint, represent the Wolves commitment to supporting Indigenous communities,” the Wolves release states. “Additionally, features on the jersey symbolize truth, trust, and wisdom, while the stars in the bands are a tribute to those who did not make it home and represent Father Sky.”
Jordan Assinewe, manager of community relations and health promotion at the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre, said he was pleased with the new logo and the continued partnership with the Sudbury Wolves.

“We are excited to unveil the Sudbury Wolves Indigenous jersey as a powerful symbol of our commitment to honouring and celebrating the vibrant culture and contributions of the Indigenous community,” Sudbury Wolves owner Dario Zulich told Sudbury.com. “This partnership reflects our shared values of respect, unity and the ability of sport to unite people. We are grateful for this collaboration and look forward to continuing to build meaningful connections that inspire and strengthen our community.”
“With our collective efforts towards reconciliation, we celebrate the resiliency of the Indigenous people in our community,” said Mr. Assiniwe. “As we celebrate together on Indigenous Celebration Night, let’s cherish the bonds that connect us all, and it is our duty to celebrate the similarities and differences amongst all people for future generations.”
Sudbury Wolves players wore the jerseys in Friday’s game and then the jerseys were auctioned off, with proceeds going to Play it Forward through the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre and the Urban Indigenous Sacred Circle of Sudbury, who were co-sponsors of the game.