With 31 seconds remaining in the game, the Brantford 99ers
pulled their goalie and scored to tie the game 3-3, taunting the Waterloo
Wolves players as they passed the Wolves bench.
Big mistake.
With 12 seconds remaining in the game, the Wolves fired home
the game winning goal to spoil the 99ers come back and win the game 4 to 3.
The Civic Centre wasn’t as packed as it is for Brantford Bulldog
games and that is a shame because this was a fantastic and entertaining game.
Matthew Ball was the hero with the game winner from Ben Morton and Declan
Uniac.
Drew Cribbin earned the team’s 31st win of the
season after playing 2 hours in the team’s Winter Classic the day before and
fought off fatigue and muscle cramps to get the win. Cribbin was, as always,
sharp in net and battled hard.
Morton opened the scoring for the Wolves from Ball and
Uniac. Cole Hunsberger scored from Cole Ledgister and then Ledgister potted a
power play goal from Griffin Beddis.
The Wolves came out buzzing and could have been up three
goals in the first had it not been for the play of the 99ers goalie. Evan
Wallace created several quality chances; Hunter McMurdo was flying all over the
ice and Jack Thompson was a warrior on the boards for his team.
Defensively the Wolves were spectacular for the majority of
the game and showed off great balance between grit and finesse. Jordan Abbott
was hitting everything that moved, Jackson McNichol killed plays at the
blueline effectively and Jack Smith continued his steady hard to play against
play. Riley Webster was effective throwing hits and rushing the puck and Jake
Patterson was a general on the ice making plays and dishing out hits. Evan
Walsh made several nice plays and created opportunity as well.
It was a thriller, no question, and a very important win.
The Wolves need to win all their final regular season games if they have a
chance at winning the league and a tie would have ended that dream. The team
still needs to win their last two games of the season and hope Hamilton either
ties or loses but playing must win hockey is a great opportunity for the
players to get into playoff style of play.
Go Wolves